After living in the United States for the past 10 years since leaving Senegal, I’m starting to think seriously about my long-term future here. I’ve built a life, formed a community, and established stability, but my immigration situation has always felt uncertain. Now I’m trying to understand what options someone with a decade of continuous presence might realistically have. I’m not sure whether there are paths based on time in the U.S., family ties, or humanitarian factors. What should someone in my position explore to figure out possible ways to secure more permanent status?

Question

Zubair Qureshi · Accepted Answer

Your options depend heavily on your current status and the history of how you entered the U.S. If you’re undocumented or out of status, long-term residence alone doesn’t create automatic eligibility, but it may help if you ever pursue relief like cancellation of removal. An attorney can assess whether your timeline strengthens any potential claims.

Sibongile Mthembu · Answer

If you have close family members who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, a family-based petition might be possible. These cases depend on the petitioner’s status, your relationship, and your manner of entry. Reviewing your family ties is a good first step toward understanding potential routes.

Kazuo Tanaka · Answer

Some people explore humanitarian options such as asylum, TPS, or other protections if their home country conditions justify it. While these programs have specific requirements, your long residence in the U.S. can help demonstrate community ties and hardship factors. Getting a professional evaluation of your full immigration history can help determine the safest and most realistic path forward.

Darija Sarr

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