QUESTION: I am so afraid that I will be deported (even though I have legal status here) because I’m an immigrant. Is that the case? Answer:  U.S. immigration law is very complex, and there is much confusion as to how it works. The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), the body of law governing current immigration…

QUESTION: I wanted to start my own business in the U.S. and in fact, have sufficient money. However, I was told that I am not able to do so because I am not a citizen of a ‘treaty country.’ Is there anything else I can do? Answer: Yes, you can try the L-1A which actually…

QUESTION: I have lots of years of experience and lots of publications and awards. However, I don’t have an employer to sponsor me. Is there any other option? Answer:  There might be. EB1-A or EB1-EA is a subgroup of first preference employment-based immigration (EB-1). This immigration preference category is for foreign nationals of extraordinary ability…

QUESTION: I have been notified by the FBI that they want me to testify against some very bad people. Is there anything I can do for my lack of immigration status? Answer: It may be possible for you to get the S Visa. An S nonimmigrant is an individual who has assisted a law enforcement…

QUESTION: I have a friend that was ‘visited’ by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. They told him that he had no rights and that he was going to detention for 20 years unless he signed the voluntary deportation papers. Is this true? Answer: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (or ICE) is a U.S. federal…

QUESTION: I have won asylum as of about two years ago. Is there anything I need to do? Answer:  If you have come to the U.S. as a refugee or been granted asylum in the U.S. — whether from the Asylum Office of .S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or by an immigration judge in court —you…

QUESTION:: I entered the United States a couple of months ago as a visitor and would now like to work in the United States. I have a degree in Business with an emphasis in accounting and have a couple of firms interested in hiring me. Do I qualify for a work permit, and if so,…

Question: I entered a couple of months ago to the U.S. I want to get married and file my adjustment application. Do you see any problems with that? Answer: Yes, it will be a problem. On September 1, 2017, the Department of State (DOS) updated the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) with new guidance on the…

QUESTION: My DACA expires in about seven months. However, what will happen after that? Do I have any other options? Answer: You do have options, many of which you will need a personal consultation. However, there is what is known as prosecutorial discretion which is still a possibility. Question: What exactly is prosecutorial discretion? Answer:…

QUESTION: I know DACA has ended. What can I do? Answer:  There are actually different categories as the current policy stands. It is important at the present time to know which category you are under so that you can take the appropriate action. On September 5, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the Deferred Action…

QUESTION: I’m on DACA and my friend is renewing DACA and another friend is going to apply for DACA. I have heard rumors about this. Should I be worried? Answer: Yes, you should be worried. There have been various leaks from the White House. There have also been rumors that a number of White House…

QUESTION: I want to open up my own company. Can you let me know some specifics? For example, I have a friend from Iran. Can he get an E-1 or E-2?  A: As for E-2s, Iranians can apply for that type of visa anywhere. Question: Are there any restrictions where the money comes from for…

Now it is possible  to apply for asylum QUESTION: My husband beat me and I was afraid for my life, so I escaped to the United States. Can I apply for something so I do not have to go back to my home country? Answer: Yes, it may be possible to apply for gender-based asylum….

QUESTION:  Can I use an office based in my home and/or garage for the L-1? Answer: No. You must have an ‘actual office’. The reality might be that you can run your business from a computer or your garage. However, for immigration purposes, there must be a brick and mortar office and you must be…

Q: I AM a body builder and just won a big amateur contest. Can I come and work in the U.S. on some type of visa? A: Yes, there is what is known as the P Visa. The P-1A is for a person who performs as an athlete, individually or as part of a group…

QUESTION: I was convicted of an assault charge and have been told that there is a possibility that I can show that it was not a crime of moral turpitude, and therefore, that I would not be deportable. Is this true? Answer: It is possible in many criminal statutes to analyze scenarios whereby certain conduct…

QUESTION: I have a business and want to either purchase or buy a business in the U.S. but do not know which one of the visas would be better. The choices that I have been given are the E-2 and the L-1. Can you clarify and/or help me make the decision? Answer: Each visa has…

“First, get a qualified immigration attorney. Each case is different. This means that depending on your situation, the particular forms of relief will be different.” QUESTION: I was in immigration court about two years ago and had no relief. However, I did not have any crimes either and my attorney made a motion for prosecutorial…

QUESTION:  I have friends in the countries which Trump wants to still do his travel ban. I know it was denied. Is it still ongoing or could it still happen? Answer: Yes, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals had granted the injunction and made it nationwide. However, the government has now submitted the request for…

QUESTION: I am so sad. I lost at the Immigration Court and then I lost at the Board of Immigration Appeals. Is there anywhere else to go and anything else I can do to try to stay here in the U.S.?  Answer: Yes. You are eligible to file a Petition for Review to the Circuit…

QUESTION: I found a person who called himself a ‘notario’ and said he would do the work I needed for ½ the cost of an attorney. He also said I did not need a Waiver. Should I hire him? Answer:  Your immigration situation and your immigration case is critcally important. Is it worth to save…

QUESTION: I have heard that the provisional waivers have expanded. I have a prior deportation order and have been so afraid to have my spouse petition me because I thought I could not file a provisional waiver inside the U.S. I thought I would have to leave the U.S. and ‘hope’ that the waiver was…

QUESTION: I have been outside the United States for eight months and have friends who went back to the country and were forced to give up their green cards and then enter on a B2 Visitor Visa. Will that happen to me? Answer: If there is an absence of intent to permanently reside in the…

QUESTION: I have a roommate who left an abusive relationship. She actually filed a temporary restraining order (TRO) against this person. Court was yesterday. She went to court to testify in front of the judge so that he would rule in her favor and her abuser would not come within 100 yards from her and…

QUESTION: I will be applying for asylum. I’m not exactly sure of the process, but if I lose, will I be deported? Answer:  Clients who have arrived in the United States and who have not been issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) will apply for asylum “affirmatively,” meaning that they will be interviewed at an…

QUESTION: I know that Trump issued a second executive order. What is happening with this one? Answer: The District Judge in Hawaii has ruled in favor of the plaintiffs. In other words, that judge has ruled that the brief Temporary Restraining Order is now converted to a Preliminary Injunction, and therefore, is both nationwide and…

QUESTION: I have already received my visa at the Consulate. Now I have heard about this extreme vetting and do not know what it means. Will I no longer be able to come to the U.S.? Answer: The U.S. Secretary of State has issued a memorandum to the Consulates in order to somewhat define how…

A BUSINESS visa attorney can let you know all types of visas that you might be able to apply for under U.S. immigration law.  Depending on your situation, the type of visa will differ. For example, a business visa attorney might tell you about the H-1B, which is people who have college degrees. The business…

QUESTION: I’m so afraid to open my door now. I’ve heard ICE agents are doing round-ups and just deporting people left and rights. What can I do? Answer: All people living in the United States, including undocumented immigrants, have certain U.S. Constitutional rights. If you are undocumented and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents knock…

“ In the United States, the law gives rights to foreign nationals. Some of these rights include due process and appeals. This is why you can fight your case and this is why ICE cannot simply throw you outside of the U.S.” QUESTION: I committed a crime and have my green card. With Trump, I…