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 »
There is so much fear out there right now. What’s going to happen with DACA? Will ICE come to my house and deport me if I lose my case? Why is it taking longer than 90 days to get my work card – is there something wrong? These are serious concerns and people should be paying
Staying Optimistic in Pessimistic Times Read More »
There are so many things wrong with what Attorney General Sessions said today when announcing the end of DACA. He’s equated DACA with an “open borders policy;” says that DACA-recipients have taken the jobs that Americans could fill (yet, those Americans could have applied for those same positions and have been hired had they been the
So much for efficiency. Earlier this week, USCIS announced that they’ll be conducting interviews on more green card (I-485) applications starting on October 1, 2017. Specifically, employment-based adjustment of status cases are going to be targeted for interviews and more case types are bound to follow. Currently, most employment-based cases and some family-based (parent/child), are granted interview waivers. Interview
USCIS Expanding In-Person Interviews Read More »
Every day, I receive at least one inquiry (if not five or six) from people asking when their pending cases will be decided by USCIS. I explain how people can track their cases online and also how the online data about processing times are misleading. I know people are anxious to have their cases resolved (especially
Problems with Processing Times: USCIS Data Misleading Read More »
Last month, I was fortunate to meet with some of the best and brightest advocates and discuss U visas (available for victims of certain crimes). We talked about the backlog, adjudication trends, the new forms, and what happens to U applicants with removal orders. I’d like to share some highlights from that conversation. The Backlog/Wait List As
U Visa Updates (2017) Read More »
We’ve heard a lot about “extreme vetting” for visa applicants – for those coming to the United States. It started in March with diplomatic cables sent from DC to Embassies and Consulates around the world. No one was certain what extreme vetting would look like. Visa applicants, especially immigrant visa applicants, submit copious amounts of information, including
Extreme Vetting in the Real World Read More »
A lot has happened since I last wrote. The item most people are likely curious about is the Supreme Court’s decision to allow parts of Executive Order 13780 (“Travel Ban 2.0”) to go into effect. There’s been a lot written about this already, so I won’t reinvent the wheel. (For an excellent legal analysis of
The Atlanta USCIS has been suffering since January. They lost their Field Office Director and a Branch Chief to promotions and a second Branch Chief was out for medical reasons. The folks left behind did their best to continue on, but it’s been difficult. It’s rough in any organization when you lose leaders and key
Updates on the USCIS Atlanta Field Office Read More »
“Is it safe?” I’ve been asked that question a lot lately. “Is it safe for me to apply for DACA?” “Is it safe for me to go to an interview on my I-130 petition even though I have a removal order?” “Is it safe for me to move while my Naturalization application is pending?” People
