Page 1 of 2
Overthe past couple of years, the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) stepped up enforcement and political prosecution of immigrants. As such, individuals and families need to be prepared and well represented whenever they apply for an immigration benefit or attend an interview with the USCIS. Although it may be tempting to try to save money by filing an application for adjustment of status by oneself or by choosing a non lawyer, the price of losing the case is now much higher than the costs of hiring a good attorney. Aliens whose application for adjustment of status is denied may be facing much more than just a disappointment; they now face possible deportation.
Immigration law is one of the most complicated areas of law and even minor mistakes can result in severe consequences to the immigrant and his family. All too often an alien will file an application for adjustment of status for which the alien is either not eligible or the application was not filed correctly. For example, they may not have entered lawfully, may be out of status, or may be a crewman and not qualify under Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (a provision that allows certain aliens to apply for adjustment of status if they pay a penalty.) They may have a criminal bar or may have a previous order of removal that they do not know about. They may have filed the application on their own, or they may have even filed the application with the assistance of an attorney unfamiliar with the complexities of immigration law. In the past, USCIS would simply deny the application and the alien would leave the United States on their own or continue to remain with family in hopes of future relief or file a new application when qualified. Now, not only will USCIS deny the alien’s application, but it will also issue the alien a Notice to Appear (NTA), placing him or her in removal proceedings before an Immigration Judge. Sometimes, the alien may even be detained at the adjustment of status interview.
This stepped up enforcement policy of USCIS can leave persons with a few, albeit limited, options once the application has been filed. The first option an individual would want to consider is the possibility of renewing his adjustment of status application in Immigration Court. Sometimes USCIS wrongly denies an application. Fortunately, federal regulations provide an opportunity for the Immigration Court to review USCIS’s decision. However, this option will require the assistance of an immigration attorney to fully brief the Court and can often involve novel legal issues or challenges to the immigration service’s policies.
