In this age of doom and gloom, it’s nice to be reminded of good things happening to good people. We get mired down in backlogs and the erosion of due process (which we should definitely be fighting against!), and sometimes we forget to savor the victories. I had a pretty sweet victory this week. I’ve known Pablo for at […]
Good News Friday: I-751 Pending for Eight Years Approved Read More »
Six months ago, we were telling clients that their work cards should be adjudicated within 3-4 months. Today, I’m telling clients it could be closer to 5-6 months. Last year, people could file for Naturalization and expect an interview within 5-6 months. Today, it’s closer to 12 months. I-90s to replace green cards take nearly 9 months. I-751s
It’s Not You (Or Your Attorney), It’s Them: USCIS Processing Times Slow Significantly Read More »
Yesterday, I was quoted in a press release regarding Georgia Senate Bill 452. It’s a pretty awful piece of legislation that many organizations are fighting against. Project South has an excellent write-up of the bill available here. There are two important things to know. First, this is not law yet. We have a chance to fight
AILA’s Press Release on SB 452 Read More »
Nearly three years ago, Paulina hired me to work on a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) on a U application. USCIS said that they were inclined to deny her case because they thought she had committed marriage fraud. I knew it was going to be a difficult, if not impossible case. Although U status has a very generous
Marriage Fraud Not Fatal to U Status Read More »
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 »
