Watching the news these days is depressing: Congress does little to nothing. Ugly hatred reveals itself as adults yell at YMCA camp kids, thinking they are undocumented minors. Our president admits that our country tortured detainees post 9/11. Corporations seem to be granted more rights and more tax breaks while families struggle to pay for […]
The American Dream Is Still Alive Read More »
Summer months are peak times for domestic violence. As temperatures rise, so do tempers. What happens when a family petition turns sour because of abuse in the relationship? Currently, it takes about five months from the time of filing a marriage-based I-130 and I-485 to the time of an interview. Unfortunately, a lot can change for a couple in
When Abuse Forces a Change in Plans Read More »
Earlier this week, Jon Stewart made fun of the crazy bureaucracy of our immigration laws. Sure, Jon didn’t get all the details right (Form N-400 is for naturalization, not asylum), but he did a fine job showing how convoluted our immigration laws are. When I first started learning the ins and outs of immigration law,
Immigration Law: If It Makes Sense, You Don’t Understand It Read More »
xtreme hardship is an idea that comes up in immigration law time and time again and is one of the underlying requirements for a successful Waiver case. But did you know that there is no clear definition of what it is? Extreme hardship is fluid, subject to interpretation, and it is different for everyone. These are the major
What Is Extreme Hardship? Read More »
On Monday, June 30th, President Obama held an impromptu press conference where he announced he was tired of waiting for Congress to take action on immigration reform, and that he was planning to move forward with changes on his own. President Obama hasn’t laid out any specifics at that press conference, but I have a
Immigration Reform 2014: What Can President Obama Do? Read More »
Last week, I was up in the Northeast. I spent the weekend in Groton, Connecticut with my brother and his family and then, on Tuesday, I headed north towards Boston for our American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Annual Conference. En route from Groton to Boston, I stopped in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Or as they like to
Immigrants to America: Lessons from a Trip to Boston Read More »
The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitutions tells us who is a U.S. citizen: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” This looks and sounds straightforward, but like nearly all things immigration-related, there is
The Puzzle of Acquiring U.S. Citizenship Read More »
USCIS has been issuing more and more RFEs on U visas. Don’t be scared or give up hope if you receive one. With the right response, your approval should come within in just a few months – I certainly speak from experience. RFE stands for Request for Evidence. RFEs are issued by USCIS to ask for additional
Successful U Visa RFEs Read More »
There are some weeks where nothing seems to go right. Thankfully, I haven’t had one of those in a while (and I hope I’m not jinxing myself now). We’ve been fortunate to have a lot of good news, and I want to share some of the stories with you. Two VAWA Adjustment of Status cases were approved.
Not every client I work with has a spotless record. My clients have been arrested for driving without a license, shoplifting, indecent exposure, DUIs, and many other things. An arrest or conviction for a crime is a serious matter, but it doesn’t always stop an immigrant from getting a green card or becoming naturalized. However,
Certified Dispositions Read More »
