Paula Gonzalez has practiced immigration law since 2001 in the San Diego border region, one of the most legally complex immigration jurisdictions in the United States. Her office is in downtown Chula Vista, a location accessible by car and public transit and situated close to the international border that generates much of the case activity she handles. She became a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 2005, and she conducts consultations in both English and Spanish. The firm handles matters before the San Diego Immigration Court, USCIS, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Practice Areas
Removal Defense
Removal proceedings are the formal legal process through which the Department of Homeland Security seeks to deport a non-citizen. Respondents in removal proceedings have the right to representation by an attorney at their own expense, and the outcome of those proceedings depends heavily on how the case is presented before the Immigration Judge. The firm represents clients in removal proceedings at the San Diego Immigration Court, challenging the government’s basis for removal and asserting any available defenses, including asylum, cancellation of removal, adjustment of status, and waivers.
Bond Hearings
Detained individuals in removal proceedings may be eligible for bond. A bond hearing before an Immigration Judge requires demonstrating that the individual is not a flight risk or danger to the community and is eligible for release. The firm represents detained clients in these proceedings.
Asylum Cases
Asylum is available to individuals who have suffered persecution or have a well-founded fear of future persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Asylum cases require both the correct legal framework and presentation of evidence that meets the applicable standards. The firm files and litigates asylum applications before the Immigration Court and, when necessary, on appeal.
Board of Immigration Appeals
When an Immigration Judge issues an unfavorable decision, a respondent may appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). BIA practice is appellate work requiring written briefing that identifies legal errors in the immigration judge’s decision. The firm prepares and files these appeals.
Ninth Circuit Court Appeals
Cases that are not resolved favorably at the BIA can be taken to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on a petition for review. The Ninth Circuit covers federal appeals from California and several other western states. Ninth Circuit practice requires federal appellate court admission and the ability to identify constitutional or statutory error in the agency’s decision. The firm handles these petitions for review.
DACA
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program provides temporary protection from removal and work authorization to qualifying individuals who were brought to the United States as children. The firm handles initial DACA applications and renewals. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria, and the program’s legal status has been subject to litigation and policy changes over the years.
Family-Based Visas
Citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States may petition for certain family members to obtain immigrant visas. The petition process involves establishing the qualifying relationship, waiting for a visa to become available based on the preference category, and then completing either consular processing or adjustment of status. The firm handles family-based visa petitions.
Fiancee Visas (K-1)
A U.S. citizen may petition for their foreign national fiance to enter the United States on a K-1 visa, which requires marriage within 90 days of entry and is followed by an application for adjustment of status. The firm processes K-1 petitions.
LGBTQ+ Petitions
Following the Supreme Court’s recognition of same-sex marriage, same-sex couples are entitled to the same immigration benefits as opposite-sex couples. The firm handles immigration petitions for same-sex couples and LGBTQ+ individuals.
Adjustment of Status
Adjustment of status is the process by which an eligible individual already in the United States applies to become a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) without leaving the country. The firm handles adjustment of status applications, which require demonstrating eligibility and submitting extensive documentation to USCIS.
I-601A Waivers and Other Waivers
Certain grounds of inadmissibility can be waived. The I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver allows individuals who accrued unlawful presence in the United States to seek a waiver before departing for a consular interview, reducing the risk of long separation from family. The firm prepares these and other applicable waivers.
VAWA Self-Petitions
The Violence Against Women Act allows non-citizen victims of domestic violence by a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child to self-petition for immigration status without the abuser’s knowledge or cooperation. The firm handles VAWA petitions.
U Nonimmigrant Status (U Visa)
The U visa is available to victims of certain crimes who have suffered abuse and are cooperating or are willing to cooperate with law enforcement investigating those crimes. The firm handles U visa petitions.
Work Permits and Employment Authorization
Applications for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), which permit individuals to work legally in the United States, are handled by the firm for clients in various immigration categories.
Naturalization
Qualified lawful permanent residents may apply for U.S. citizenship through naturalization. The firm handles the application, preparation, and any accompanying proceedings.
Consular Processing
When a visa applicant is outside the United States, processing occurs through a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad. The firm coordinates consular processing matters for family-based and other visa categories.
Labor Certification and Professional Visas
Employment-based immigration matters, including labor certification and professional visa categories, are among the firm’s practice areas.
Attorney Profile
Paula H. Gonzalez earned her J.D. from the University of Washington and is admitted to the Washington State Bar. She has been active in immigration practice since 2001 and joined the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 2005. She conducts her practice in both English and Spanish, serving the bilingual population of the San Diego-Tijuana border region. She represents clients before the San Diego Immigration Court and USCIS, and handles appeals before the Board of Immigration Appeals and the Ninth Circuit. Her specific California bar admission information is not publicly confirmed.
The firm has posted public notices warning of impersonation scams in which individuals have fraudulently used the firm’s name on WhatsApp to solicit fees from potential clients. The firm advises that all legitimate contact comes through its office directly.
Location and Service Area
355 Third Ave., Suite 103, Chula Vista, CA 91910
Phone: (619) 422-4993
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.paulagonzalezlaw.com/
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Consultations are available in person, by phone, or via Zoom. The firm serves clients in San Diego County, represents clients before the San Diego Immigration Court and USCIS, and handles Ninth Circuit appeals and consular processing matters regardless of where the consulate is located.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the firm serve Spanish-speaking clients?
Yes. Paula Gonzalez conducts her practice in both English and Spanish, and the firm regularly serves clients who are more comfortable communicating in Spanish.
What is the difference between removal defense and an asylum case?
Removal defense is the broader category: a client in removal proceedings may raise multiple grounds for remaining in the United States, of which asylum is one. Asylum is specifically based on past persecution or a well-founded fear of future persecution on protected grounds. A client can be in removal proceedings and also have an asylum claim pending; the two are not mutually exclusive.
Can consultations be conducted over Zoom or by phone?
Yes. The firm offers consultations in person at the Chula Vista office, by phone, and via Zoom, which allows clients who cannot come to the office in person to receive legal advice without traveling.
What is the I-601A provisional waiver, and who qualifies?
The I-601A provisional unlawful presence waiver is for individuals who are immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and who have accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence in the United States. Rather than leaving and waiting at a consulate for a waiver decision (during which time a bar on reentry would apply), qualifying individuals can apply for the waiver before departing, reducing the risk of prolonged family separation. Eligibility requirements are specific and must be evaluated on an individual basis.
Why does the firm warn about WhatsApp impersonation scams?
Individuals have fraudulently posed as the firm on WhatsApp to collect fees from people seeking immigration assistance. This scam targets Spanish-speaking communities in particular. The firm has posted notices on its website clarifying that it does not solicit clients through WhatsApp and that any such contact is fraudulent. Potential clients are advised to contact the firm only through its listed phone number or email address.