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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
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
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
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,
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
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)
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
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
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.
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
Immigration and Pride Month
June is Pride Month, which is a month used to celebrate and pay tribute to those were involved in the Stonewall Riots in 1969 in New York. A riot ensued after police raided a LGBTQ club and broke it apart. Over the years, it has been recognized formally by our
Relief for Surviving Relatives
The time to wait for a visa can sometimes be painfully long. Each visa category has a different waiting period, and depending on which country the beneficiary is from, the wait can be even longer. Of course, immediate relatives have no wait, but for everyone else, there can be. Immediate
A New Era For Immigration
It’s only been about a week since President Biden was sworn into office, but he has already accomplished a lot, and has promised more. He has already ended discriminatory visa bans, including the Muslim ban and stopped the building of a border wall. He has also issued a memorandum that
2020 Year-In Review
It seems like yesterday I reflected upon 2019 and what it meant for our immigration system with a bit of hopelessness. One full year later, I can only say that 2020 has been chock full of ups and downs. It goes without saying that all our lives have been affected
Green Cards for Battered Family
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a powerful tool for battered spouses, children, or parents of certain U.S. citizens (USCs) and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) to obtain their permanent residency without leaving the U.S. Do not be fooled by the name of the law! Males acting as a father,
USCIS Fees Going up October 2, and Other Updates
This year has been quite an eventful year for us all, and U.S. immigration laws and policies have not been an exception. The most pressing piece of news is that USCIS will increase their application fees on October 2, 2020. Some of the fees are being slightly reduced, but it
August 2020 Visa Bulletin
Is your visa current? Check here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-for-august-2020.html
The New DACA Decision and What It Means For You
– What happened? This morning, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump Administration’s decision to cancel DACA was not done properly and so is invalid. So, the program is still valid, for now – Can I renew my DACA? If you have DACA now, you can renew. That’s never changed,
More Information on the 60 days Immigration Ban
Please find more information by the American Immigration Lawyers Association: 60 Day Immigration Ban Guidance Guía de Prohibición de Inmigración de 60 Días (Espanol)
What Does the New 60 day Immigration Ban Really Mean?
The world is together experiencing the coronavirus pandemic today. In response to the pandemic, President Trump recently issued an executive order banning immigration for 60 days. However, what does this really mean? This new executive order is effective April 23, 2020 11:59p.m. Eastern Standard Time; only applicable to intending immigrants
Marijuana Use and Immigration Consequences
Many states have now legalized the use of marijuana, including California. Other states such as Colorado and Massachusetts, have their own version of these laws. However, marijuana is still listed as a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance under federal laws. The significance of these state laws in the immigration context is
More Updates On Being A Public Charge
In 2018 USCIS proposed changing the rules on what is considered a “public charge” for inadmissibility purposes. In 2019, USCIS published the final rules on it, and litigation ensued. The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and on January 27, 2020, the Court found that the
2019 In Review
2019 has again shown our current administration’s continued dedication to address our immigration system. Many continue to be filled with more anxiety and confusion than they have ever felt before, and not without reason. Although the future is uncertain, our past is not, and there have been some changes in
Future of Dreamers
On November 12, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a seminal case regarding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. DACA was initiated in 2012 by President Obama, which allowed certain childhood arrivals to the U.S., obtain an employment authorization card, and work lawfully in the U.S.
Being a Financial Sponsor For An Immigrant
In May of 2019, the President issued a memorandum that emphasized the legal responsibilities of a financial sponsor, and the potential enforcement actions the government can take. Since 1997, U.S. laws have required that an intending immigrant have a sponsor, which usually is the petitioner, and a joint sponsor if
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Are you seeking clarity and guidance on your immigration journey? The Law Offices of Erin J. Lee is here to assist you. Based in the heart of Escondido, California, our dedicated team specializes in navigating the intricate paths of immigration law.
