Some I-601 Extreme Hardship Waivers May Soon Be Filed While In United States

On January 6, 2012, the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and immigration Services) announced its intentions to “reduce the time that U.S. citizens are separated from their spouses and children” when certain  unauthorized immigrants are in the United States and face the possibility of the 3/10 year bar if they depart the United States.  The USCIS made [...]

Most EB1 Applicants Already In United States

Each year, the Department of Homeland Security provides statistics from the previous year.  These statistics provide great insight into immigration trends – especially when compared to previous years’ statistics.

This holds especially true for the best and brightest immigrants – including those applying through the extraordinary abilities visa and the outstanding professors and researchers visa.  [...]

Alabama Immigration Law Successful In Arresting Lawfully Present Auto Workers

In the last few weeks, the controversial Alabama Immigration Law has successfully led to the arrest of two foreign national auto workers.  Unfortunately, both auto workers were in the United States lawfully, and their arrest only served to 1) unnecessarily burden Alabama’s police departments, 2) unnecessarily antagonize foreign auto companies who have invested millions (billions) [...]

USCIS to Centralize All N- 600 Form Filings

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that beginning October 30, 2011, it will begin requiring all N- forms to be filed as secure lockbox facilities instead of at local immigration agency offices.

This change is meant to improve the efficiency and security of the process. The forms that will now be filed at [...]

Is the Alabama Immigration Law A Good Thing?

That is probably not a question that you would expect an immigration lawyer to ask.  But it is a valid question – especially now that it is being [partially] enforced.  Hear me out…

During the last month, the new Alabama law has been much maligned:

Alabama farmers complain that their harvests are rotting in the [...]

Latest EB-5 Visa Statistics

The USCIS has announced the following statistics concerning the EB-5 visa for investors.  The EB-5 visa is a permanent investor visa that allows an applicant and his or her immediate family to gain permanent residency through the investment of between $500,000 and $1 million.  This investor visa offers two unique processes to gain the status [...]

E-2 Visa Interviews At Vancouver, Canada Consulate

The E-2 Visa allows for foreign nationals from certain countries to come to the United States to set up a profitable company, and to remain in the United States on a renewable, nonimmigrant visa.  A unique condition of the E-2 visa process is that the visa is almost always obtained at U.S. consulates abroad.  Canadian [...]

Immigration Legislation Introduced Into Congress

The last month has seen many new immigration bills introduced into Congress. Some of these bills look like viable steps towards improving the immigration policy of the United States – others do not invite such positive words.

Two recently introduced bills are the Legal Workforce Act and the IDEA Act of 2011.

The Legal Workforce [...]

Immigration Judge Adjusts Status For “Aged Out” K-2 Status Holder

An immigration judge in Charlotte, North Carolina has allowed a K-2 status holder to adjust status to permanent residency despite the K-2 holder having turned 21 before the adjustment of status application’s submission.

K-2 visas are issued to minor children of K-1 fiance(e)s of U.S. citizens.  To qualify for the K-2, the child must be [...]

Immigration Agency To Adjudicate All Adam Walsh Subject Marriage and Fiance Visas At Vermont Service Center

The Immigration agency has announced plans to adjudicate all marriage and fiance(e) visa applications subject to the Adam Walsh Act at the Vermont Service Center.  The Adam Walsh Act requires that the Immigration agency affirmatively determine that a Petitioner will not be a risk to an immigration beneficiary, if that petitioner has been convicted of [...]

USCIS Implements Help Haiti Act of 2010

The USCIS has implemented the Help Haiti Act of 2010.  The Act allows the USCIS to grant permanent residency to certain Haitian orphans who were paroled into the United States following the earthquake in Haiti last year.  For more information, please visit the USCIS website.

DOJ Issues Employer & Employee No Match Information

The Department of Justice has recently released information for Employers and Employees who have received “no-match” letters from the Social Security Agency.  The “no-match” letters are sent when the social security numbers that are provided to the Social Security Agency do not match the social security numbers that the Agency has on record.

The check [...]

Hazleton, PA Town To Pay $2.4 Million in Fees From Unconstitutional Immigration Law

Hazleton, PA was one of the first communities in the United States to enact a local law that would fine landlords of undocumented immigrants.   Unfortunately for the town, the law has been ruled unconstitutional by the Court System.  Even more unfortunate for the town – it will now have to pay $2.4 million in legal [...]

What is the Difference Between Naturalization and Derivative Citizenship

Many use the words naturalization and citizenship loosely. Many even use the words interchangeably. However, don’t be confused – these words have distinct meanings and are not interchangeable.

Naturalization refers to the process through which a noncitizen becomes a citizen. The process requires that an applicant meet certain requirements, including having good moral character, being [...]

USCIS Provides Information For Immigrant Domestic Violence Victims

In an effort to make its services more widely known, the USCIS has issued information for immigrant victims of domestic violence.

Too often, immigrants who come to the United States are subjected to domestic violence.  Often, these abused immigrants believe that their immigration status puts them at a disadvantage in dealing with the domestic violence.  [...]