Immigration Law — Connecticut
I represent Connecticut individuals and families in two specific areas of immigration law: family-based immigration and asylum. I take a limited number of matters at a time, which allows me to give each case thorough preparation, clear client communication, and careful follow-through.
Call (860) 560-8382 or complete the contact form to schedule a consultation.
What I Practice
My immigration practice is focused rather than full-service. I handle these areas:
Family-Based Immigration Petitions by U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents for qualifying family members, including:
- I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
- I-485 Adjustment of Status (green card application from within the U.S.)
- Consular processing (green card application from abroad)
- I-751 Removal of Conditions on a marriage-based green card
- I-90 Green Card Renewal
- I-864 Affidavit of Support
- Family-based waivers of inadmissibility (I-601, I-601A)
See my Family-Based Immigration page for detailed information.
K-1 Fiancé Visa For U.S. citizens bringing a foreign fiancé to the U.S. for marriage. See my K-1 Fiancé Visa page for detailed information.
Citizenship and Naturalization N-400 naturalization applications for lawful permanent residents, and N-600 Certificate of Citizenship applications for individuals who acquired U.S. citizenship through a parent. See my Citizenship and Naturalization page for detailed information.
Asylum Both affirmative asylum (USCIS Asylum Office) and defensive asylum (before the Immigration Court), along with related forms of protection including withholding of removal and Convention Against Torture (CAT) relief. See my Asylum page for detailed information.
The Current Immigration Landscape
U.S. immigration law has changed substantially in 2025-2026. Clients considering filing should know:
Processing delays. USCIS processing times for many immigration benefits have increased across the board. What used to take 12-15 months often now takes 20-24 months or more.
Country-specific processing restrictions. Beginning in late 2025, USCIS paused processing of certain benefits for nationals of a defined list of countries subject to travel restrictions. As of early 2026, partial resumption has occurred for some countries; others remain paused. If you or your family member is from an affected country, we address this at the outset.
Fee increases. USCIS filing fees have risen, and new fees — including asylum application fees and annual asylum fees — now apply in some categories.
Enhanced scrutiny. Current policy involves more extensive vetting of applications, including social media reviews for certain case types. Thorough, well-documented case preparation matters more than ever.
Enforcement actions. ICE enforcement at immigration courts and related government appointments has been documented in multiple jurisdictions. For clients in removal proceedings, this affects strategy and client counseling directly.
None of this means immigration cases cannot succeed. They can and do. But the current environment requires realistic expectations and thorough preparation.
How I Work
I'm a Connecticut-licensed solo attorney and a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Connecticut Chapter. That means:
- You work directly with me. No handoffs, no junior associates, no surprise when someone you haven't met shows up at an interview.
- Careful scope. I take a limited number of matters at a time because immigration work — especially asylum — requires real time and attention to do well.
- Clear fee arrangements. Most family-based and naturalization cases are handled on flat-fee engagements, with fees discussed and agreed before we begin. Asylum engagements include both fee-paying and reduced-fee or pro bono cases; we discuss fee structure at the initial consultation.
- Honest communication. I tell clients what I realistically expect to happen in their case, including the risks and the timeline. I don't overpromise.
Who I Serve
My immigration practice serves:
- Connecticut families seeking to reunite with spouses, parents, or children abroad
- U.S. citizens engaged or married to a foreign national and navigating the K-1 or marriage-based green card process
- Lawful permanent residents ready to pursue U.S. citizenship through naturalization
- Individuals with legitimate asylum claims under current U.S. immigration law — including those in affirmative posture and those facing removal proceedings
If you're not sure whether your situation fits, reach out. An initial consultation is where we figure out together whether I'm the right fit for your case — or whether a referral to another attorney is the right answer.
Schedule a Consultation
If you're navigating any of the family-based, K-1, naturalization, or asylum situations above, let's talk.
A reminder for asylum seekers specifically: the one-year asylum filing deadline is strict. If you've been in the U.S. for close to a year and are considering an asylum application, don't wait.
Call (860) 560-8382 or complete the contact form to schedule a consultation.
Law Office of Aakash Sharma, LLC 750 Main Street, Suite 100 Hartford, CT 06103 (860) 560-8382 [email protected]
Aakash Sharma is admitted to practice in Connecticut. This page is attorney advertising. The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Immigration law changes frequently; this page reflects information current as of April 2026. Submitting a contact form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
