Late last week, the White House issued its “Framework for Immigration Reform and Border Security.” Let’s be clear, it’s only a framework, a wish-list, so to speak. It’s not law and nothing has changed since this document was released. The framework is meant to tell Congress what President Trump wants to see in future immigration […]
The White House and Immigration – What Does the Framework Mean? Read More »
The United States government has officially shut down. There are many reasons why that happened, but I bet a lot of people will blame immigration…which is in a way funny since most immigration services won’t be impacted by the shutdown. Why? Because most immigration services are fee-based. The fees you pay for your forms go
What the Shutdown Means for Immigration Matters Read More »
As a lawyer, I know how much words matter. In an asylum case saying once that you were hit with a fist and then later saying you were slapped can be the difference in approval or denial. How you choose to label or call something sheds light on how you view it. For example, calling someone a
Words Matter: From “Shithole” to “Chain Migration” Read More »
Here we are…the last Friday of 2017…It has been a year full of change and uncertainty. Yet, even in difficult times, we find moments of joy – calling clients to let them know their VAWA case approved and hearing screams of excitement, everyone who gets a green card based on U status and cries because
2017 – The Year in Numbers Read More »
Regardless of your faith, or lack thereof, there is no disputing the global and enduring impact of Jesus’s birth. Christmas Day is a perfect time to think about Jesus as a refugee. According to the Bible (Matthew 2:1-15), King Harrod was intimidated by news of the birth of the “King of the Jews.” Since no
This is a tough post to write, because I generally like the Atlanta USCIS Field Office. The officers and staff are usually professional, kind, and helpful. But for the past several months, changes have been made that chill the relationship between them and their customers (clients/attorneys). Yes, there are always things that I’ll complain about – like
Limiting Access – The Cold Chill from USCIS Read More »
Visas and non-immigrant status come in a variety of “flavors.” There’s the A visa for Ambassadors, B for tourists, C for crewman (like on cruise ships), U for victims of violent crime and F for students. Each visa has its own set of rules. For example, someone with B status cannot lawfully work in the U.S.,
“Duration of Status” – The Beauty of F Status Read More »
Oh, that pesky travel ban – The Administration keeps trying to push it through, but they keep failing. Last week, two judges (in Hawaii and Maryland) issued restraining orders against the newest travel ban from going fully into effect. What Did Travel Ban 3.0 Look Like? For the most part, the travel ban limited anyone
This week’s post is brought to you by a client (CG) and his wife who recently went to Ciudad Juarez for an immigrant visa interview. The experience detailed below is only meant to be used as an example of one story – processes and experiences will change from case to case and from time to
A First-Hand Experience from Consular Processing in Juarez Read More »
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a wonderful protection for immigrant spouses. It allows foreign national to self-petition for their green card if they are in an abusive relationship and can meet certain requirements. The name VAWA, though, is misleading. To be granted VAWA, there doesn’t need to be physical violence. The applicant needs to show
The Violence Against Women Act: A Man’s Story Read More »
