EMPLOYMENT-based immigration to the United States generally entails a three-step process: 1) Labor Certification (under the “PERM” program); 2) Immigrant Visa Petition approval; 3) Green Card issuance (or Consular Processing,…

DID you know that “failing to maintain status” is not the same thing as being “out of status” and that the government can still try to Deport (Remove) you, even…

INDIVIDUALS seeking entry into the United States despite being subject to grounds of inadmissibility can consider a pardon, or “waiver” under Section 212(d)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Section…

“ Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a designation granted by DHS permitting individuals from a country, or portion of a country, the ability to remain in the US temporarily while…

(Part 2 of 2) APPLICANTS that have been denied an Immigrant Visa at an embassy or consulate abroad face either a soft refusal or a hard bar to future immigration. …

THERE is no worse feeling than being denied a visa after an interview at an embassy or consulate.  While applicants denied nonimmigrant visas (such as a visitor, student or temporary…

MANY individuals entering the United States on a visitor’s visa wonder whether they can adjust status on the basis of a petition from an immediate family member (spouse, parent, child). …

IT WAS just under 400 years ago, when in the 1620s, a group of fresh-off-the-boat immigrants celebrated their first harvest in their new homeland.  This group of migrant Pilgrims enjoyed…

THE US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) provided an early holiday gift this year for immigrants by making two separate important announcements: 1) Immediate relatives of US service members in…

IN THE aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, the profound human toll and humanitarian crisis in and around Leyte is only beginning to come into full view.  From an immigration perspective, some…

IN strolling through the shopping centers in our Office’s surrounding neighborhood, one cannot help but feel that the immigrant sprit of entrepreneurship is alive and well.  Small IT start-ups, mom-and-pop…

A NON-CITIZEN in the US that has committed a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT) may be inadmissible to the US This means the person will likely not be issued a…

Overview A KEY element under consideration by Congress as it debates a comprehensive immigration reform bill is whether a “pathway to citizenship” for the estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in…

A NONCITIZEN in the US that has committed a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT) may be inadmissible to the US This means the person will likely not be issued a…

DUE to the significantly shorter processing times than other categories, the EB-2 classification is highly sought after by talented immigrants.  In comparison to the EB-3 immigrant category, which currently takes…

IF the Department of Homeland Security has initiated Removal Proceedings against you, an Immigration Judge will preside over your case in Immigration Court and a government attorney will seek your…