An Ombudsman is a wonderful thing and it’s a too-little used resource in the immigration world. The USCIS Office of the Ombudsman is responsible for working with USCIS to resolve problems that applicants have with their cases. While this office is always the last resort, sometimes no amount of “lawyering” or liaison work can get USCIS to […]
The USCIS Ombudsman’s Office Read More »
I’ve been very lucky. In over five years of practice, I have never had a U visa denied. But, when U visas make up one-third of your practice, a denial is bound to happen at some point. We filed an application for Juana (name changed) in the summer of 2013. Her niece had been kidnapped and assaulted
Our First U Visa Denial Read More »
The National Visa Center (NVC) plays a key part in helping bring family members together. It’s an office within the U.S. Department of State and serves to collect documents and information needed for an immigrant visa interview that will be held at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside the United States. A file arrives at
Problems with the National Visa Center (NVC) Read More »
Late last fall, I wrote about how U visas were gone for 2014. Now again, USCIS has run out of U visas. The government fiscal year begins on October 1st. That means that the fiscal year 2015 is from October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015. When Congress created the U visa, they made it so
No More U Visas for 2015 Read More »
My lease for the Klinke Immigration office space began on October 1, 2012, so I consider that our official opening day. Here we are, two years later, and I’m so proud of what we’ve done. We’ve come a long way since then. I remember first meeting clients at Panera Bread or Starbucks because I didn’t
Reflecting on Two Years Read More »
Sometimes it’s good to be reminded about the good in the world when we’re constantly surrounded by disappointment and despair. I had one of those weeks last week and with my disgust with no immigration reform, it was nice to switch from being cynical to being hopeful for the future. Klinke Immigration is a co-sponsor
Every immigration situation presents its own special timelines. Is it ever too late to hire an attorney? Is it ever too soon? When should you hire a licensed attorney to assist with your immigration matter? To use my favorite lawyer’s answer: It depends. SCENARIO: MY GIRLFRIEND LIVES IN ITALY AND WE WANT TO GET MARRIED.
When Should You Hire an Immigration Attorney? Read More »
One of the most common questions I receive is “How long will it take USCIS to decide my case?” This is a great question, but it’s not always an easy one to answer. USCIS is a massive organization. They have local offices, service centers, and a national benefits center. They are scattered across the country
USCIS Processing Times Read More »
Unscrupulous: adjective. Not honest or fair; doing things that are illegal, wrong, or dishonest (Merriam-Webster definition). There are a lot of unscrupulous people out there, and you can find them in immigration as well. There are immigration attorneys who charge insanely high prices for cases that have no legal merit. There are notarios who file forms and
My fifth client finally won her case. I’ll call her Lili. She’s from Vietnam. Nearly two years ago, Lili hired me just after my office opened in October 2012. Lili speaks no English, and no one in my office speaks Vietnamese, so working with her was a challenge. She brought friends and family in to
Lili: A Long Battle Won Read More »
