Late last month, we received a denial of a Humanitarian Deferred Action request and it’s left me questioning the humanity of USCIS. Yes, I know I question their decisions and their motivations a lot, but even though things have gotten more difficult, we were still getting approvals on good, solid cases. I also know that […]
No Heart for a Child with Heart Disease? Read More »
Man oh man…what a year. Does anyone else feel like their hair is on fire?! Before diving into law and numbers, I want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reach out, to allow us to be part of their immigration story, and to our friends and family who give
Crazy 2018 – A Year in Review Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Klinke Immigration “opened” on October 1, 2012, but the office was just an empty shell. There were desks to build, software to install, curtains to hang. On October 2nd, my friend and fellow-attorney allowed me to use his office to meet a potential referral in his office in Canton. The couple I met that day
It’s hard to believe, but it’s the last day at the office for 2016. The last few weeks have been particularly busy with the fee increases at USCIS and the change in nearly all of the forms. Looking back at 2016, though, I see that we were busy throughout the year. Over the last 12
Through the Looking Glass: Looking Back at 2016 and Looking Forward to 2017 Read More »
While it’s true that not every immigration case requires an attorney, I’ve seen few great examples of why it’s not a good idea to take the ‘cheap’ route and try to always do it yourself. Let me share some stories (names changed, of course) with you. Example One: Amy goes in for her naturalization interview,
Do It Yourself Isn’t Always Best: Why You Want an Attorney Read More »
Last week, we had a difficult VAWA case approved. It wasn’t difficult because of a lack of proof regarding domestic violence or the relationship – that was all extremely well-documented. It wasn’t even difficult because our client, we’ll call her Judy, has an order of removal. What’s made this case difficult is that Judy has a federal
Good Moral Character and VAWA – Don’t Be Intimidated by Criminal Convictions Read More »
