Recent Blog Posts
SCOTUS United States v. Texas Deadlock
While today’s split decision sets no Supreme Court precedent, what it does mean is that these important, commonsense policies will remain blocked for now. The fact remains, DAPA and DACA+ are initiatives that are lawful, constitutional, and consistent with decades of actions taken by presidents of both parties, from Eisenhower to Obama. The Supreme… Read More »
Asylum Interview and Questions
Asylum Interview and Questions The asylum interview can be the most important part of the asylum application process. It is your opportunity to tell your story in your own way. Once you enter the asylum interview office, the asylum officer will greet you and ask you to stand and raise your right hand. The… Read More »
What to Do If Someone is Apprehended by ICE
On May 12, 2016, Reuters reported that immigration authorities are planning another surge of arrests aimed at families and unaccompanied children who are 18 years of age or older. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) states that these operations “are limited to those who were apprehended at the border after January 1, 2014, have been… Read More »
Your Relative Had Children After I-130 Approved – Can They Immigrate Too?
If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (“green card” holder) who wants to bring a relative to the U.S. on a “family preference” visa, you don’t need to file a separate “I-130” visa petition for any children your relative has – you can just list the names of the children on… Read More »
Applying for US Citizenship with a Criminal Record
If you are applying for citizenship (naturalization) in the U.S. and have a criminal record, you should consult an immigration attorney first as the laws in this area are highly complex. Certain types of crimes will not only prevent a person from qualifying for U.S. citizenship, but could result in the applicant being placed… Read More »
Can a TN individual from Canada establish a business in the United States and then have the business sponsor that individual for TN status?
TN visa regulations do not authorize a Canadian citizen to establish a business in the United States and then have the business sponsor that individual for TN status. Even if the sponsoring company is a separate legal entity, a Canadian citizen may not obtain TN status if he or she substantially controls the sponsoring… Read More »
Can I Sponsor Myself for the H1B Visa?
The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that permits a company to hire workers in specialty occupations. This visa category requires that the beneficiary (the foreign worker) have a Bachelor’s degree, and the Petitioner (the U.S. company) can employ the worker for up to six years. This is a very popular visa because unlike… Read More »
How to prepare for an ICE raid
What is happening? ICE has started to deport immigrants who are in the country without papers. This includes immigrants with criminal history, immigrants with old orders of removal, and immigrants who have applied for and been denied immigration status. ICE has begun raids at people’s homes, at work, and also at public places like… Read More »
Who is Considered to be a “Child” in the Immigration Process?
The age and marital status of your children are important factors in the immigration process. For immigration purposes, a “child” is defined as being unmarried and under 21, whereas a “son” or “daughter” is defined as being married and/or 21 or over. For immigration purposes, a child can be any of the following: A… Read More »
Drug Offenses – Waivers? Or Pardons?
An immigrant who has been convicted of selling or possession of a controlled substance, such as cocaine, heroin, or more than 30 grams of marijuana who has admitted having committed this crime, is deportable and/or excludable from the U.S. This deportation or exclusion precludes any exception even if the drug offender has a U.S…. Read More »