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
About three years ago, Adele came into my office asking if we could bring her husband, Domingo, into to the United States through a family-based immigrant visa process. Domingo had been in the U.S. before but had left to take a job overseas. The only problem was that Domingo had overstayed his tourist visa by about
When most of us think of human trafficking, we think of forced sex workers and unpaid laborers slaving away in horrific conditions. We don’t think about the university student who is forced by the head of the school to manipulate computer systems, falsify information, and create programs to hide tuition payments. But when that international student
Human Trafficking – Looking Beyond the Stereotypes Led to Success Read More »
Over the past few months, USCIS has introduced a slew of new forms. It seems as though every area of immigration has been impacted – from employment to family to humanitarian. Sometimes change is good. This doesn’t appear to be one of those times. Today, we’ll focus on the new I-130 and I-130A. The I-130 is the foundation for family-based petitions.
New I-130 and I-130A Forms from USCIS Read More »
Sometimes, we only focus on the finish line, failing to pay attention to the milestones that cross our path along the way. Every case has a series of steps – be it work card production, processing through the National Visa Center, or simply getting through the mailroom – that we often take for granted. Yet,
It’s the Small Victories Read More »
Since the election of Donald J. Trump, we’ve noticed an increase in calls from people who want to become naturalized U.S. citizens. There are great personal reasons why someone would want to become a citizen: being able to vote in federal elections, hold public office, and being able to leave the U.S. for an extended amount
Why Become a Naturalized U.S. Citizen? Read More »
