Our Services

The Kain Immigration team specializes in helping immigrants and their families navigate the complex and constantly evolving immigration laws of the United States. We have particular experience handling the most intricate and high-stakes areas of immigration law and policy.

We are based in Boston and routinely handle cases throughout New England, the U.S. and internationally at the U.S. Consulates. We also regularly attend immigration interviews at the USCIS offices throughout New England, and hearings at the Boston Immigration Court and the Chelmsford Immigration Court. We are available to appear at other USCIS offices throughout the U.S. with proper planning and coverage of travel costs.

Following are the most common legal matters that we handle:

  • We work closely with immigrants to keep them together with their families here in the U.S. We offer the following kinds of family-based immigration services:

    • I-130 family petitions for immigrant relatives including spouses, parents, children and siblings

    • Consular processing for those applying for immigrant visas overseas

    • I-485 adjustment of status (“green card”) applications for individuals in the United States

    • I-601 and I-601A waiver applications

    • I-360 Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (“SIJS”) petitions

    • J-visa waivers of the 2 year residency requirement

    • Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”) I-360 petitions for survivors of domestic violence

    • I-751 petitions to remove conditions of residence - both joint and waiver filings

    • Representation at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services interviews and Immigration Court hearings


  • Being detained or placed in removal proceedings is unsettling. We have significant experience representing individuals and their families before the Boston Immigration Court and Chelmsford Immigration Court. We handle a range of matters, including:

    • Asylum defense for those who fear returning to their home country

    • Cancellation of removal for both permanent residents and those who have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years (“10 year rule”)

    • Permanent residence (“green card”) applications, I-485 applications, I-601 inadmissibility waivers and related cases

    • “Crimmigration” advice for those who are facing removal proceedings due to criminal history.


  • We understand that many immigrants travel to the United States in search of a safer place to live. Many of our clients have fled home and are recovering from persecution because of their gender, political opinion, religion, or status in society. We represent immigrants in their I-589 asylum applications with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) and the Immigration Court, and we really take time to develop our clients’ affidavits and supporting documents to present their strongest case. We are also experienced in handling appeals of adverse asylum decisions with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), from the EOIR-26 Notice of Appeal to briefing.

    Once a client is granted asylum status, we are also experienced in assisting them in petitioning for their spouse and children with Form I-730, applying for refugee travel documents with Form I-131, and handling their applications for adjustment of status (also known as permanent residence or green card) on Form I-485.

  • Some immigrants qualify for an immigration benefit based on harm they’ve suffered in the U.S. or on their journey to the U.S. We are sensitive to a client’s personal and family histories and are humbled to participate in their immigration journey - often a significant component of the recovery process. We provide a range of legal services, including:

    • U visas for victims and witnesses of crime, Form I-918

    • I-360 VAWA self-petitions for survivors of domestic violence

    • I-360 Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions

    • I-751 Removal of Conditions with a waiver of joint filing due to divorce, death or abuse

    • Humanitarian parole and family reunification petitions, Forms I-131 and I-131A

    • DACA, Form I-821D

    • Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”), Form I-821

    • Other temporary and deferred action applications

    • B-1/B-2 tourist visa extensions based on extenuating circumstances, Form I-539

    • I-90 Application to replace or renew a green card

    • I-131 Reentry permits and refugee travel documents

    • I-485 adjustment of status for those granted asylum status or refugee status

  • The overlap between criminal and immigration law is complex. We analyze each criminal disposition to determine its potential immigration consequences. We advise our clients on their ability to apply for immigration benefits, travel outside the U.S., and seek relief from criminal convictions. Attorney Jeannie Kain regularly advises criminal defense attorneys regarding the immigration consequences that their clients may be facing, and how to minimize these consequences. For clients who are inadmissible or deportable due to their criminal history, we handle their Immigration Court removal proceedings and help them apply for cancellation of removal with Form EOIR-42A, waivers of inadmissibility, including under INA 212(h), using Form I-601.

  • The naturalization (citizenship) application process is often the final stage on one’s immigration path, and naturalization oath ceremonies are happy events for our clients and us! Naturalization enables our clients to vote in U.S. elections, serve on juries, run for elected office, petition for a wider group of family members including parents, and travel more freely. We guide naturalization applicants to ensure eligibility, advise about the process, draft and file N-400 applications, prepare applicants for the interview, and provide representation at interview. We handle disability waivers and language waivers with Form N-648. We help the minor children of U.S. Citizens with automatic acquisition of citizenship and derivation of citizenship, including with Form N-600 and the consular report of a birth abroad or CRBA. We have followed many clients from the beginning of their immigration journey through naturalization and such experiences are incredibly rewarding.