Westbury, Nassau County, New York
Mandi Law Group serves the Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Honduran, and Central American communities of Westbury and Nassau County. TPS, SIJS, family petitions, U visa, green cards, and deportation defense. Call (518) 698-0347.
Westbury and neighboring New Cassel in central Nassau County have one of Long Island's largest Central American immigrant populations. Salvadoran families make up the largest group, with many having lived in the area since the 1980s and 1990s. Guatemalan, Honduran, and Mexican families are also well-established. The community has deep roots — there are Salvadoran-owned businesses, churches, and community organizations that have served the area for decades.
Many Westbury families face complex immigration situations: long-term TPS holders seeking permanent status; parents without documentation whose children were born in the U.S.; unaccompanied minors who may qualify for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status; and crime victims who may qualify for U visa protection. The USCIS Garden City Field Office serves all Nassau County residents for their immigration interviews and appointments.
Call (518) 698-0347 to speak with a Long Island immigration attorney today.
We handle all areas of immigration law for the Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Honduran, and broader Central American communities of Westbury and Nassau County.
Westbury has a large Central American population — Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Honduran families who have lived in Nassau County for 20, 25, and 30+ years. We file I-130 family petitions for relatives of U.S. citizens and LPRs. For Salvadoran nationals, consular processing runs through the U.S. Embassy in San Salvador. Central Americans in immediate relative categories (spouses, parents, minor children of U.S. citizens) have no visa number backlog.
Westbury's Central American community includes many long-tenured TPS holders — particularly Salvadorans who have had TPS since 2001 (following earthquakes), Hondurans since 1998 (Hurricane Mitch), and Guatemalans more recently. We handle TPS registrations, renewals, and EAD extensions for all designated countries. We also advise on pathways from TPS toward permanent residence through family or employer sponsorship.
Westbury and Nassau County have youth who came to the U.S. as unaccompanied minors fleeing gang violence, domestic abuse, or poverty. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) allows certain children and young adults (up to 21 in New York) who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned to obtain a green card. SIJS requires a Nassau County Family Court order — we coordinate with family law attorneys and handle the full immigration process.
Westbury residents in removal proceedings appear at the NYC Immigration Court. For long-term Central American residents with 10+ years in the U.S. and U.S. citizen or LPR family members, cancellation of removal may be available. The stop-time rule is critical — the clock stops when an NTA is properly served. We evaluate whether the 10-year threshold has been met and whether qualifying hardship can be established.
I-485 adjustment of status for Westbury residents with approved immigrant petitions. USCIS interviews take place at the Garden City Field Office (711 Stewart Ave, Garden City, NY 11530). For Central American families with long periods of unlawful presence, we evaluate whether adjustment is possible in the U.S. or whether consular processing with a waiver is the better path. We prepare clients for USCIS interviews and accompany them.
Westbury and Nassau County have immigrant crime victims who may qualify for U visa status — available to individuals who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as victims of certain qualifying crimes and have been helpful to law enforcement. The U visa provides 4-year status and work authorization, and after 3 years, U visa holders can apply for a green card. We handle U visa petitions for Central American and other immigrant crime victims in Nassau County.
TPS does not automatically convert to a green card, but after 25+ years in the U.S., you likely have options: (1) If you have a U.S. citizen child who is 21 or older, they can file an I-130 immediate relative petition for you — no visa number wait; (2) If you have a U.S. citizen spouse, same — immediate relative with no wait; (3) If an employer is willing to sponsor you for an EB-3 green card; (4) If you were ever lawfully admitted to the U.S. (even with a tourist visa, even if you then overstayed), you may be able to adjust status in the U.S. rather than going through consular processing. The Second Circuit case law on whether TPS constitutes 'admission' is also relevant. With 25+ years here, your situation almost certainly has viable pathways — a consultation will identify them.
As an unaccompanied minor from Guatemala, your nephew may be eligible for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) if he has been abused, neglected, or abandoned. In New York, SIJS requires a Family Court order finding that: (1) he has been abused, neglected, or abandoned; (2) reunification with one or both parents is not viable; and (3) it is not in his best interest to be returned to Guatemala. Once SIJS is approved and a visa is available, he can apply for a green card. Guatemalan SIJS cases have a significant backlog due to per-country limits. He should also apply for asylum and may have a credible fear claim based on gang violence or other persecution. Time is critical — he should apply for asylum within 1 year of arriving.
The U visa is for victims of certain serious crimes who have suffered substantial abuse and have been, are being, or are likely to be helpful to law enforcement. Qualifying crimes include domestic violence, sexual assault, felonious assault, kidnapping, trafficking, and other listed offenses. To qualify: (1) you must have been a victim of a qualifying crime; (2) you must have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse; (3) you must have information about the criminal activity; (4) law enforcement must certify that you have been or are likely to be helpful (Form I-918B — law enforcement certification). Even undocumented victims qualify. The Nassau County Police Department and DA's office issue certifications. There is a 10,000/year cap on U visas, so there is currently a long waitlist — but applicants on the waitlist may receive deferred action and work authorization. We handle U visa cases throughout Nassau County.
Westbury residents are served by the USCIS Garden City Field Office at 711 Stewart Ave, Garden City, NY 11530 — approximately 5-7 miles south of Westbury. This office handles adjustment of status interviews, citizenship interviews, and biometrics for Nassau County residents. It is accessible by the Hempstead Branch LIRR (Garden City station) or by car. Mandi Law Group accompanies clients to all USCIS appointments and prepares them in advance.
Yes. We serve clients throughout Nassau County including Westbury, New Cassel, Uniondale, Hempstead, Mineola, Garden City, Elmont, Valley Stream, Freeport, and all other Nassau communities. Our Nassau County practice focuses primarily on Central American (Salvadoran, Guatemalan, Honduran, Mexican) and Caribbean (Jamaican, Haitian, Trinidadian) communities, as well as all other immigrant populations in the county. Call (518) 698-0347.
Contact Mandi Law Group for a confidential consultation about your immigration case in Westbury or anywhere in Nassau County and Long Island.