Do I Need to Be in Florida to Work with Fitenko Law?

Immigration law is federal — Fitenko Law represents clients from all 50 states and worldwide via secure video consultations.

Do I Need to Be in Florida to Work with Fitenko Law?

No. You do not need to live in Florida, visit our Hallandale Beach office in person, or even reside in the United States to retain Fitenko Law. U.S. immigration law is entirely federal, which means the same statutes, regulations, and USCIS policies apply whether you are in Miami, Manhattan, Montana, or Moscow. As a remote immigration attorney, Ekaterina Fitenko represents clients from all 50 states and dozens of countries, handling every stage of a case through secure video consultations, encrypted document portals, and electronic signatures. Your location affects logistics, never the quality of your legal representation.

Does it matter which state I live in if the firm is in Florida?

Immigration is governed by the Immigration and Nationality Act, enforced by federal agencies including USCIS, the Department of State, ICE, and CBP. Unlike family law or real estate, immigration is not licensed state-by-state. An attorney admitted to any U.S. state bar in good standing may represent clients before USCIS anywhere in the country, and before U.S. consulates abroad. That is why working with an out of state immigration lawyer is not only legal, it is standard practice. The rules governing a green card, work visa, or naturalization application are identical in Florida, California, Texas, and every other state.

How does remote representation actually work?

Clients begin with a scheduled video consultation immigration meeting via a secure, HIPAA-grade platform, typically Zoom or Microsoft Teams. From there, we collect documents through an encrypted client portal, sign Form G-28 and retainer agreements electronically, and file petitions directly with USCIS online or by mail. When an in-person USCIS interview is required, attorney Fitenko appears alongside you either physically at your local field office or via approved video conferencing, depending on the interview type. For clients abroad, we coordinate directly with the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate during consular processing.

When Does the State You Live In Actually Matter?

State law can become relevant around the edges of an immigration case, never at its core. For example, if you are filing a marriage-based family green card, your marriage certificate and any prior divorce decrees must comply with the state or country where they were issued. USCIS also assigns your case to a field office based on your U.S. residence, which affects interview scheduling but not the legal analysis. Criminal records, name changes, and vital documents all follow state procedures. None of this requires that your attorney be physically located in your state.

How Fitenko Law Represents Out-of-State and International Clients

Our practice is built for nationwide and worldwide service. Every new matter begins with a private video consultation, followed by access to a secure document portal where you can upload records, track deadlines, and communicate with attorney Fitenko directly. Retainer agreements and Form G-28 are handled through compliant e-signature software. We have extensive experience in consular processing for clients overseas, as well as E-2 and EB-5 investor visas, EB-1A, EB-2 NIW, and H-1B employment matters, and naturalization. All services are offered in fluent English and Russian.

The Dates and Thresholds That Actually Decide Residency

Immigration status is federal and does not depend on your state. Florida residency is a separate question with its own deadlines, and those deadlines are strict.

How many days do I need to spend in Florida?

Florida itself imposes no day count for immigration purposes, but the state you are leaving usually does: many states treat 183 days or more of physical presence as continued residency and will keep taxing you on that basis. Counting days in both directions matters more than the move itself.

What are the homestead exemption deadlines?

You must own and occupy the property as your permanent residence as of 1 January of the tax year, and the application is filed with the county property appraiser by 1 March. The exemption removes up to $50,000 from the assessed value and caps annual increases at 3% or the change in the consumer price index, whichever is lower, under Save Our Homes.

How long do I have to change my licence and registration?

Florida gives new residents 30 days to obtain a Florida driver licence once residency is established, and 10 days to register a vehicle brought into the state. These deadlines are short, and the paperwork they generate is exactly the evidence a Declaration of Domicile relies on.

Does any of this affect my immigration case?

Not directly — U.S. immigration law is federal, and your case is adjudicated the same way in any state. What changes is which USCIS field office schedules your interview, and that follows your address, so a move mid-case has to be reported on Form AR-11 within 10 days.