New Work Permit Policies
One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on our immigration system, was the increase in backlogs, and the increase in processing times. For example, a work permit would take about 6 months to process, maybe less, before the pandemic. Now, work permits can now take sometimes a year and a half to receive. USCIS […]
Specialty Visas
Not everyone is going to qualify to immigrate to the U.S. under the common methods like marriage, or a job. For those that don’t fit squarely into one of those categories, you may want to explore some other categories or specialty visas that may apply. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a powerful tool […]
Power of Parole
Many people from war torn countries come to the U.S. to seek refuge from their native countries that cannot protect them. Sometimes, natural disasters or other circumstances force people out of their home countries. In any case, although the U.S. does not grant asylum to each person that escapes from their own countries for one […]
Back to School and F1 Visa
It is that time of the year when parents are sending their children off to their first day of school, commemorating the moment with photos, smiles, and goals for the year. The first day of school is exciting for most, as the students endeavor upon a new school year. However, for some students in the […]
Getting Rid of Criminal Records
One can find themselves in trouble with the law at some point in their lives, and especially for immigrants who are not yet citizens of the U.S., the arrest or the conviction can be detrimental to their immigration status. For those that are undocumented, even a DUI can alert the immigration authorities of their presence […]
Deportation Defense
Living in the U.S. without lawful status means that one is always subject to the possibility of deportation. Even if one is in status, they can find themselves in trouble that would make them deportable and then placed in deportation, or removal proceedings. For example, even Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) can be subject to deportation […]
O1 Visas
Many people believe that they must marry a U.S. citizen or have family in the U.S. to immigrate to the U.S. However, although being married to a U.S. citizen can certainly simplify matters, there are other ways of living in the U.S. Not everyone wants to live permanently in the U.S. For those that want […]
Basics of Employment Sponsorship for Green Card
Many people believe that they must marry a U.S. citizen or have family in the U.S. to immigrate to the U.S. However, many people immigrate to the U.S. through a potential or existing employer. Almost all of the same rules apply but the process will be very different and can take many years depending on […]
What is an H2B Visa?
Many people have heard of an H1B visa, or a visa for specialty occupations, which these days seem impossible to get. There are only 65,000 H1B visas allotted every year and so, USCIS has now implemented a lottery system that randomly selects the lucky “winners” of these visas every year. There are 20,000 additional visas […]
Promoting Naturalization
Recently, the Department of Homeland Security released a strategy to promote naturalization, or the process of becoming a citizen. The government recognized the important and privilege of becoming a U.S. citizen and that with more citizens, we can strengthen our nation. The strategy is to promote it through education and awareness, by partnering with different […]