Author Archives: Svetlana Prizant
Green Card Through Cancellation of Removal
Green Card Through Cancellation of Removal (Non-LPR): Who Qualifies? If you are a foreign-born person who has been living in the U.S. without legal status for a long time, and you have been placed into removal (deportation) proceedings, you may be eligible for what’s called “Non-LPR Cancellation of Removal” and a green card. The… Read More »
U.S. asylum laws
U.S. asylum laws — here’s what to know The clash between the migrant caravan and U.S. authorities along the Mexican border in recent days highlights a contentious topic in the immigration debate: asylum laws. Federal law recognizes the right of asylum, and tens of thousands of refugees settle in the U.S. every year. However,… Read More »
Application for Naturalization
Understanding the “Application for Naturalization” What is Form N-400? Form N-400 (officially called the “Application for Naturalization”) is a government form used by green card holders who are ready to apply for U.S. citizenship after meeting certain eligibility requirements. Filing this form with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is part of the… Read More »
Green Card for VAWA Self-Petitioner
Under the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), you may be eligible to become a lawful permanent resident (get a Green Card) if you are the victim of battery or extreme cruelty committed by: A U.S. citizen spouse or former spouse; A U.S. citizen parent; A U.S. citizen son or daughter; A lawful permanent… Read More »
I-751 Removal of Conditions: Why is it taking so long?
Rorm I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence is a form that must be filed by conditional permanent residents to remove their conditions and receive the ten-year permanent resident card. Previously, USCIS was taking approximately 7 months to adjudicate the removal of conditions application and would issue receipt notices automatically extending conditional permanent residence… Read More »
Immigration Reference Letter
Writing a Strong Good Moral Character Immigration Reference Letter for a Friend. Use these sample immigration reference letters for a friend as templates for your Good Moral Character Letter: When applying for U.S. citizenship, one primary requirement that an immigrant needs to possess is good moral character and ethics. This is basically defined by… Read More »
Filing a Hardship Waiver for a Spouse Barred from the U.S.
If you are a U.S. citizen married to a foreign, and your foreign spouse is currently not permitted to remain in the U.S., you undoubtedly will be searching for a way to help him or her do so, most likely based on your marriage. “Barred” usually refers to the time bars that affect people… Read More »
WHY IMMIGRATION WAIVERS GET DENIED
Why Immigration Waivers Get Denied: No Extreme Hardship– this may sound obvious, but it appears to be the most prevalent basis for denial. Unfortunately, some officers are not being reasonable in reviewing these cases. As such, they are not finding extreme hardship to qualifying relatives, typically United States citizen spouses. The problem is that… Read More »
How to Get a Copy of Your Immigration File (FOIA Requests)
One of the most perplexing aspects of the U.S. immigration system is the murky nature of what information the government has (or does not have) about an applicant or petitioner. In some cases, a foreign national looking to apply for a work visa, green card, or other immigration benefit can run into problems and… Read More »
Who Can Get a Green Card Through Adjustment of Status?
Adjustment of Status (AOS) refers to the process by which a non-immigrant can change his/her status to that of a Legal Permanent Resident (Green card holder) if they meet certain requirements without having to leave the United States. This process is provided for by Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. AOS can… Read More »