WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is now issuing employment and travel authorization on a single card for certain applicants filing an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Form I-485. This new card represents a significant improvement from the current practice of issuing paper Advance Parole documents. The card looks similar…
Discussion of immigration issues, news, legal developments, and more
Category Archives: General Information
New Application and Petition Fees Go Into Effect on Nov. 23, 2010
WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminds customers that its new fee schedule goes into effect Nov. 23, 2010. Applications or petitions postmarked or otherwise filed on or after this date must include the new fee, or they will be rejected. The new fee schedule increases application and petition fees by an average of about…
2010 Poverty Guidelines
The 2010 federal poverty guidelines are exactly the same as the 2009 federal poverty guidelines. After a long delay, the US Department of Health & Human Services published the 2010 federal poverty guidelines on August 3, 2010 in the Federal Register. Official Federal Poverty Guidelines for the Remainder of 2010 2010 Federal Poverty Guidelines for…
Video on C.J. Visa Interview
The U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez offers a video on what to expect when going to the Consulate for a visa interview. C.J. Visa Interview Video
Visa Bulletin for September
The newly published Visa Bulletin for September can be checked here. The priority date for family sponsored preference 2A (spouse and children of permanent resident) is now January 1, 2010 for people from China.
Immigration Jokes
“They say there are about 12 million illegal immigrants in this country. But if you ask a native American, that number is more like 300 million.” -David Letterman “Arizona signed the toughest illegal immigration law in the country, which would allow the police to demand identification papers from anyone they suspect is in the country…
Fingerprint sharing led to deportation of 47,000
Records show that about 47,000 people have been removed or deported from the U.S. after the Homeland Security Department sifted through 3 million sets of fingerprints taken from bookings at local jails. About one-quarter of those kicked out of the country did not have criminal records, according to government data obtained by immigration advocacy groups…
Traveling Outside the U.S. as an Asylum Applicant, an Asylee or a Lawful Permanent Resident Who Obtained Such Status Based on Asylum Status
USCIS on January 4, 2007 issued a “fact sheet” regarding traveling outside the U.S. as an asylum applicants, asylees, and lawful permanent residents who obtained such status based on their asylum status. Those people are subject to special rules. For an asylum applicant, if he leaves the U.S. without first obtaining advanced parole, he will…
Criminal Defense Counsel Has a Sixth Amendment Obligation to Inform a Defendant About Immigration Consequences
Supreme Court holds that criminal defense counsel has a Sixth Amendment obligation to inform a defendant about immigration consequences or to advise when consequences are clear. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-651.pdf The case, Padilla v. Kentucky, involved a Vietnam War veteran who has resided lawfully in the U.S. for over 40 years. His criminal defense lawyer advised him on the guilty plea…
Getting the LCA In Hand Before April 1
Employers who employ foreign worker in H-1b position are required to submit Labor Condition Application (LCA). Because one cannot submit an LCA earlier than six months prior to the beginning date of the period of intended employment (20 CFR § 655.730(b)), it is suggested by AILA that to get the LCA in hand before April…
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U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China Remarks Announcing New Interview Waiver Pilot Program
U.S. ambassador in China announced today that since February 13, 2012, the United States will lauch a new pilot program that permits consular officers to waive interviews for some qualified nonimmigrant applicants worldwide who are renewing their visa within 48 months of the expiration of their previously held visa, and within the same classification as the…
Continue Reading »How to Receive Your Green Card if You are Granted a Green Card by an Immigration Judge
If an immigration judge (IJ) granted you permanent residence during immigration court proceedings or you were granted permanent residence by the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and you have not yet received your green card, please schedule an appointment with your local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office. You can make an appointment through…
Continue Reading »What To Expect At Your Marriage Based Immigration Interview
YOU SAID “I DO” – NOW WHAT? MARRIAGE BASED GREEN CARD INTERVIEW An alien (no not the kind from outer space) and a U.S. citizen have fallen in love and gotten married. The desire to obtain permanent residency in the United States is followed by filing a marriage based immigration petition. After all the paperwork…
Continue Reading »HOW TO WRITE AN AFFIDAVIT TO SUPPORT A MARRIAGE BASED IMMMIGRATION PETITION
Affidavits are widely used in immigration cases. In many cases, affidavits can be submitted in connection with an immigration petition. For example, in marriage based immigration petition, affidavits of third parties are often submitted to prove the bona fide marital relationship between petitioner and the alien. What is an affidavit? An affidavit is a declaration…
Continue Reading »Re-entering the U.S. with a Valid I-94 Form & Expired Visa (Automatic Revalidation)
An H-1B visa holder intended to take a cruise trip to Mexico with his family. His only concern is that the H-1B visa is expired even though his I-94 is still valid. Can he take the trip and return to the United States without a valid visa? The answer is that he may be able…
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