Legal permanent residents, commonly known as green card holders, have the option of applying for naturalization to become a full-fledged citizen of the United States. Individuals who received their green card through marriage to a citizen can apply for naturalization after 3 years of being a legal permanent resident. All...
News & Updates
Immigration Law: Statutes vs. Regulations vs. Memos
Immigration law can be challenging to understand, particularly for someone with a foreign background. Nowadays, there are plenty of resources available for immigrants – videos, articles and the statutes & regulations themselves. But how can you ensure that what you’re reading is the government’s interpretation of a law, and not...
WHY IS YOUR CASE TAKING SO LONG? USCIS PROCESSING DELAYS REMAIN AT CRISIS LEVELS
Biden Administration Plans to Rescind COVID-19 Travel Bans beginning in November; Will Require Proof of Vaccination Instead.
Today, the White House announced that it plans to ease travel restrictions on all international travelers coming into the United States beginning in early November 2021. The White House will rescind the current geographic COVID-19 related travel bans implemented for individuals from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, U.K., Ireland, Brazil, South...
For U Visa Applicants:
Answers to Questions about EADs, 4 years or 2 years, Green Card period etc.: Under the new Guidance issued on June 15, 2021, People can get Work Permits (EADs) once they have been fingerprinted if USCIS determined the application is Bonafide.The EAD issued is in (c)(14) category known as 'Deferred...
USCIS Extends Evidence of Status for Conditional Permanent Residents to 24 Months with Pending Form I-751 or Form I-829
Starting Sept. 4, 2021, USCIS is extending the time that receipt notices can be used to show evidence of status from 18 months to 24 months for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status....
EB-5 UPDATE 08/23/2021:
Today USCIS filed a motion to appeal the decision the Northern District Court of California made on June 23rd in the Behring Regional Center Lawsuit on the last day it was allowed. You may see this motion directly at this link. The good news is that since the USCIS did not file...
Why Is Your Case Taking So Long? USCIS Processing Delays at Crisis Levels
Why hasn’t your case been decided yet? USCIS Processing Times are at Crisis Levels Millions of families, people and businesses from all around the nation who applied for humanitarian relief have to wait longer for USCIS or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to process and approve their petitions and...
The Effects of Deportation on Children
Deportation has a devastating impact on the lives of children and their mental health. Having a parent or caregiver deported can lead to discrimination, poverty, fear, health issues and lower school performance. Between 2009 and 2013, over 5.3 million children in the U.S. had at least one undocumented parent, even...
There is no ‘EXPEDITE’ of U Visas.
USCIS is granting Work permits to people for 3-4 years while their U Visa Applications are pending. Applicants need to apply for their Bona Fide Work Permits.U Visas are taking the same time as before.
After Acquired Spouses of U Visa Applicants can apply for their U Visas:
U Visa Applicants can file U-2 Visa petitions for their spouses who they marry AFTER their U Visa petitions have been filed if they are married at the time the principal U Visa petition is approved (adjudicated favorably), rather than when the principal petition was filed. USCIS has adopted the decision issued by the Ninth Circuit in Medina...
EB-5 Guidelines by USCIS post Behring Regional Center LLC v. Wolf decision:
USCIS is applying the EB-5 Investor Program regulations that were in effect before the rule was changed on Nov. 21, 2019, including: · The minimum investment amount of $500,000 in a Targeted Employment Area (TEA) and $1 million in a metropolitan area; · State designations of high unemployment TEAs; and · Prior USCIS procedures for the removal of...
The $500,000 EB-5 ruling
A Judge orders a return to $500,000 On June 22, 2021, the EB-5 new July 2019 Rule, which had become effective in November, 2019, was vacated by Judge Jacqueline Corley of the US District Court Northern District of California – the Rule is no more and never really was.The July...
PRACTICE ADVISORY: IMMIGRANT VISA(GREEN CARD) PROCESSING DELAYS
After enduring the COVID-19 pandemic for over a year, most U.S. embassies and consulates are not operating at full capacity. Due to limited appointment availability, a significant backlog was created for immigrant (IV) and nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicants waiting a visa interview. IVs are for those seeking to come to...
All U Visa Applicants with pending U Visas can apply for EAD (Work permit) if their petitions are found bona fide by USCIS:
The principal petitioner properly filed Form I-918, including Form I-918B U Nonimmigrant Status Certification; The principal petitioner properly filed a personal statement from the petitioner describing the facts of the victimization; and The result of the principal petitioner’s biometrics has been received. USCIS will issue employment authorization and deferred action if, after conducting and...