Recent Blog Posts
VAWA: Battered Spouse, Children & Parent
Battered Spouse, Children & Parent As a battered spouse, child or parent, you may file an immigrant visa petition under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The VAWA provisions in the INA allow certain spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens and certain spouses and… Read More »
Stop Your Deportation Under Pereira V. Sessions
On June 21, 2018, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Pereira v. Sessions which will benefit many thousands of persons who are in removal/deportation proceedings, who have been ordered to leave the US or who have already been deported. The Supreme Court, by an 8 to 1 vote, ruled that Mr. Pereira, a… Read More »
Worksite Enforcement by ICE
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has vastly increased its efforts to investigate and audit U.S. employers. According to federal government data, thus far in Fiscal Year 2018, ICE has initiated investigations into 6,093 workplaces, compared to 1,716 in all of Fiscal Year 2017. Data also shows that ICE has made 984 administrative arrests as… Read More »
I filled my Asylum application, now what?
I filled my Asylum application, now what? If you are one of the asylum seekers in America waiting years for an asylum interview, you may be wondering how you can best use this time to prepare yourself for your interview. Apply for a work permit: Remember, 150 days after an asylum applicant files her… Read More »
Reentry Permit
A lawful permanent resident (LPR) normally may travel outside the United States and return; however, there are some limitations. A reentry permit can help prevent two types of problems: Your Permanent Resident Card becomes technically invalid for reentry into the United States if you are absent from the United States for 1 year or… Read More »
H-1B Visa Extension
Requirements for H1B Visa Extension beyond 6 years: Certain H-1B holders who have had a Labor Certification Application (or an employment-based preference immigration petition if the foreign national has been able to bypass the labor certification stage) pending for more than 365 days may be able to extend their H-1B visa beyond the 6-year… Read More »
What to do if Adjustment of Status (to Permanent Resident) Is Denied
Try to Avoid a Denial in the First Place USCIS rarely issues a flat denial without giving you some warning beforehand, usually at the end of your green card interview. For example, if you appear to have a medical condition that would make you inadmissible, USCIS may send you to a doctor for another… Read More »
What to do When You Receive Denial Notice from USCIS
The last thing you want to hear from USCIS is bad news – and there may be nothing worse than receiving the dreaded Denial Notice months and months after filing your I-130 family-based immigrant petition. Many times the first call I receive is from a confused and upset family member wanting to know “Why… Read More »
What Happens After Filing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Although the steps that take place are fairly consistent, the I-130 processing time will vary significantly based on the type of relationship (between petitioner and beneficiary), USCIS case load, and your ability to properly file an accurately prepared Form I-130 petition. The following outline describes the basic steps of the I-130 time line for… Read More »
What Happens After Asylum Interview
After you interview at an asylum office, you will not get a decision on the same day. Instead, you will be given a document indicating how you will get your decision on the case. This period of being suspended is no doubt extremely stressful, and this blog post provides information about what you might… Read More »