CARLOS is a married child petitioned by his U.S. citizen father.  His priority date is October 30, 1992 and it’s just a matter of months before his visa becomes available.  Unfortunately, his father who is 87 years old, suffered a heart attack after Christmas and is now in a care facility. He applied for a…

ON April 10, 2017, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) released a “Know Your Rights Handouts” available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese to inform the public about the rights of undocumented immigrants who may come into contact with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during home visits, workplace raids and public stops. …

ON April 10, 2017, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) released a “Know Your Rights Handouts” available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese to inform the public about the rights of undocumented immigrants who may come into contact with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during home visits, workplace raids and public stops. …

ON April 10, 2017, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) released a “Know Your Rights Handouts” available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese to inform the public about the rights of undocumented immigrants who may come into contact with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during home visits, workplace raids and public stops. …

ON April 10, 2017, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) released a “Know Your Rights Handouts” available in English, Spanish,   Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese to inform the public about the rights of undocumented immigrants who may come into contact with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during home visits, workplace raids and public…

WITH the incoming Trump presidency, there is a lot of fear and a lot of questions and uncertainties on what happens to immigration policies and enforcement when he takes office in January 2017.   Mr. Trump’s campaign promises include banning Muslims;  building a wall along the US-Mexico border; and immediately detaining and deporting all the…

WITH the incoming Trump presidency, there is a lot of fear and a lot of questions and uncertainties on what happens to immigration policies and enforcement when he takes office in January 2017.   Mr. Trump’s campaign promises include banning Muslims; building a wall along the US-Mexico border; and immediately detaining and deporting all the…

EFFECTIVE December 23, 2016, USCIS will increase its filing fees for applications and petitions for immigration and naturalization benefits under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Thus, applications and petitions filed and/or mailed on or after December 23, 2016 must have the corresponding adjusted fees, or they will be rejected. USCIS says it was necessary…

On July 29, 2016, USCIS announced it is expanding the existing provisional waiver process to allow certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”), to apply for provisional waivers of the unlawful presence ground of inadmissibility.  The expanded rule goes into effect on August 29, 2016. Current rule on Provisional Waiver (2013)…

CARLOS is a married child petitioned by his US citizen father.  His priority date is October 30, 1992 and it’s just a matter of months before his visa becomes available.  Unfortunately, his father who is 87 years old, suffered a heart attack after Christmas and is now in a care facility. He applied for a…

ONE of President Obama’s immigration executive actions announced in November 2014 is to advance the filing of adjustment of status/green card applications for individuals who have approved employment-based immigrant petitions.  Termed as “visa modernization”, Homeland Security Secretary Johnson directed the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work with the Department of State (DOS) to…

A CHILD born abroad to  parents who are both United States citizens (USCs),  or to a United States citizen (USC) mother or father, has  a claim to citizenship either through “acquisition” (acquiring citizenship at birth) or “derivation” (citizenship acquired after birth).  Either parent may report the birth of a child born abroad to the United…

VICTIMS of domestic violence or certain crimes are granted immigration benefits so they can remain in the United States to reside and work here. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) of 1994 was enacted by Congress to allow  immigrant victims of domestic violence to file a self-petition to become lawful permanent residents (LPR)  without having…

THE Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 was enacted with the avowed purpose to protect and keep children safe from sex offenders; prevent child abuse and pornography; promote internet safety; and honor the memory of Adam Walsh and other child crime victims. The Adam Walsh Act amended Section 204(a)(1)(i) of the Immigration…

IF you are adopting a child from a foreign country and wish to bring the child to the United States, you must comply with the adoption laws of the child’s country of origin, the laws of the United States and the laws of your state of residence (“home state”).   In addition, you must comply…

Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Canadian and Mexican citizens (known as “Treaty Nationals” or “TNs”) can come to the United States temporarily, not to exceed one (1) year at a time, under a “TN Status” non-immigrant visa, to work/engage in activities at a professional level. TN Status can be extended for as…

IF you are adopting a child from a foreign country and wish to bring the child to the United States, you must comply with the adoption laws of the child’s country of origin, the laws of the United States and the laws of your state of residence (“home state”).   In addition, you must comply…

MARIO and Leila were granted legal permanent resident (LPR) status in May 2008, through the petition of their son who is in active duty in the United States Navy.  After only 7 months, Mario went back to the Philippines and for the past 7 years have been in and out of the United States, staying…

IF you acquired permanent resident status through a marriage of less than two (2) years, you are a conditional permanent resident.  You and your spouse must file a joint Petition to Remove Conditions within ninety (90) days before the 2nd year anniversary of the date of your adjustment or the date of your arrival in…

DESPITE the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by a Texas federal judge on February 16, 2015 enjoining the implementation of President Obama’s initiatives for the expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of the…

Foreign professionals wishing to immigrate to the US (as permanent residents) may do so under 3 general classifications: • 1st Preference (EB1) – extraordinary ability foreign professionals; outstanding researchers and professors; and multinational executives and managers known as “priority workers”; • 2nd Preference (EB2) – foreign professionals with advanced degrees and professionals of exceptional ability…

On February 16, 2015,  a Texas federal judge issued a temporary injunction against the implementation of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Parents of Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA),  and the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).  The injunction “enjoins the United States of America, its departments, agencies, officers, agents and employees…

Roberto and Rosalie immigrated to the United States in May 2013 through the petition of their only son Carlos, who is in the military, and who lives in North Carolina. They have a comfortable life in the Philippines owning several fish ponds and rice lands in Bataan. They did not really want to migrate, but…

On a weekend trip to Las Vegas, Rosa, a United States citizen, ran into some old friends, and was introduced to a friend of a friend, Domingo, a tourist who just arrived on a B-2 visa. Rosa and Domingo quickly fell for each other and were convinced they were madly in love. After a week…

Roberto and Rosalie arrived in the United States in June 2012  through the petition of their only son Carlos, who is in the military.  They have a comfortable life in the Philippines owning several fish ponds and  rice lands in Bataan. They did not really want to migrate, but Carlos was insistent, especially after the…