Recent Blog Posts
I-751 Waiver
I-751 Waiver After Divorce: The conditional resident normally files jointly with the spouse. Once approved, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) grants the conditional resident status as a lawful permanent resident and provides a 10-year green card. But what if the conditional resident gets a divorce or annulment before the two-year period ends? Or… Read More »
Immigration Asylum Laws: What is Gender Identity Persecution?
Gender identity persecution occurs when someone is harmed because they are transsexual, transgender or do not conform to traditional gender stereotypes. Persecution can include threats, attacks, beatings, sexual assault and abuse, mental abuse, and severe economic harm. What Is Asylum? Asylum is a U.S. legal mechanism for protecting immigrants who have been persecuted or… Read More »
Entrepreneur Parole Program: Advanced Immigration Law
On December 14, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would start accepting applications for parole under the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER). This grant of parole is commonly referred to as Entrepreneur Parole. However, it is important to bear in mind that the program may be short-lived. DHS must comply with… Read More »
Can I File for A Provisional Waiver (I-212 and I-601A) If I Have an Order?
For the past year, the Office of Chief Counsel has virtually instituted a blanket policy of refusing to join in motions to reopen, or if a case is already pending, refusing to consent to administrative closure so that the respondent can pursue a provisional waiver. In practical terms, this posture has critically impaired the… Read More »
H-1B Application Accepted: Now What?
H-1B cap season is here. On April 2, USCIS began accepting applications for the H-1B visa lottery, and if last year is any indication of the time it will take to close, it should be around five days. While waiting to have an H-1B application accepted, you may be wondering what to expect. When… Read More »
Questions & Answers: Asylum Interviews
Q: What Should I Bring with Me to the Asylum Interview? A: You should bring the following to the interview: A form of identification, including: any passport(s) you may have other travel or identification documents the Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record, if you received one at the time of your arrival in the United States… Read More »
H1B1
An H1B1 visa (sub-classification) is a temporary work visa specifically for citizens of Chile and Singapore with a job offer in a specialty occupation in the US. The Chile & Singapore Free Trade Agreement requires the USCIS to exempt 6,800 H1B visas from the H1B visa cap and be reserved for eligible citizens of… Read More »
Employment-Based Immigration
As a small business owner, you will probably need to hire some employees in order for your business to succeed. Finding good candidates can be a difficult task. Add the various anti-discrimination laws, payroll taxes, and other regulations, and you might feel stressed out by the prospect of hiring employees. Sometimes, there isn’t an… Read More »
J-2 Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for J-2 status? The spouse and unmarried, minor children (under 21 years of age) of the exchange visitor are eligible for J-2 status. When can my J-2 spouse and children come to the U.S.? J-2 dependents may not enter the U.S. unless the J-1 is in the U.S. or accompanies the… Read More »
What will happen at my Master Calendar Hearing?
A master calendar hearing (“MCH”) is a short, preliminary hearing on immigration matters — the usual start to efforts to remove an immigrant from the United States. You will meet with the Judge and the government attorney to figure out how your case will proceed. The Judge will schedule dates for your submission of… Read More »