Times have been hard for the people of Venezuela. The Economy has crashed the government has become more and more authoritarian and many in the country have been forced to flee the country under fear of violence from government crackdowns. One of the richest countries in Latin America have suffered a severe downfall. But there is hope for many Venezuelans who have been forced to flee their country.
The United States has various options for many Venezuelans including the asylum process, applying for temporary protected status (TPS) and now a policy similar to the one enacted for Ukraine has been instituted where Venezuelans inside the United States can request/sponsor family members abroad to come to the United States legally.
As many Venezuelan embassies have been inactive due to the loosening of diplomatic ties between Venezuela and many countries it is important for persons leaving Venezuela to have their documents in hand and not expired as it could become difficult to renew said documents in other countries. Documents they should have with them should be copied and if possible uploaded to a cloud or emailed to a family member. Here are some documents to keep:
- Passports (not Expired)
- Marriage Certificates
- Birth Certificates (Them, Their Children)
- Prior Divorce Certificates
- Military Records
- University diplomas, transcripts, or other documents from their education in Venezuela
- Proof of any police reports they have from crimes or persecutions suffered
- Documents of any property they own in Venezuela
- Any visas or entry stamps
- Any documentation of any contact with immigration
As many Venezuelans are likely not able to return to their country for some time and will need to start new lives these documents will be helpful both in their asylum and/or TPS claims as well in any attempts to resettle and start a new life.
Abraham Cepeda
Attorney at Law
Cultura Law
