Category: Immigration

RECENTLY,  I was approached by a lawyer who inquired if I was advising eligible applicants to file for Deferred Action. When I responded yes, of course, this same lawyer told…

In June 2011, John Morton, the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a memo on “prosecutorial discretion”, whereby ICE would refrain from going after, or removing\deporting, certain people…

THE US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit last week joined the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit  and reversed its previous decision in De Osorio et….

Many people, desiring to save money, try to handle their immigration matters on their own. They may have a relative in the Philippines being processed for an immigrant visa, and…

EACH year, I consult with hundreds of individuals who have been ordered to leave the US by Immigration Judges. In the vast majority of these cases, the person had applied…

JUST one month into the Obama Administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA) more than 75,000 applications for deferred action and work authorization have been submitted to the USCIS….

On February 19, 2012 and May 26, 2012, respectively, two males of Filipino descent committed driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) as first offenders in Glendale, California. The Mercedez…

Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…

QUESTION: I want to petition an orphan. What must I do? Answer: A USC can petition for an orphan under age 16. In order to be an orphan, both parents…

The Democrats and Republicans have held their conventions where they nominated their presidential candidates and released their respective party’s platform –  representing who they are, what they stand for,  their…

Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I have a 10-year multiple B-1/B-2 visa. I entered the US, and was given six months by the Immigration Officer at the airport, but overstayed by only…

YOU filed on or after August 15, 2012, your From I-821D, consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) with Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and Form I-765 WS…

(Part 2) In a previous article, I discussed some reasons why you should consider hiring an attorney in connection with preparing and submitting your DACA request. Here are some more…

QUESTION: What is deferred action? Answer: Deferred action is a discretionary decision by DHS not to pursue enforcement against a person for a specific period. A grant of deferred action…

The USCIS has recently hired hundreds of extra workers throughout the country for immediate training and assignment in the processing of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) applications. The USCIS…

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today marked a significant milestone in its efforts to provide relief to victims of crimes by approving the statutory maximum 10,000 petitions…

(Part 1) On June 15, 2012, the Obama Administration announced a new policy of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which is now being referred to as “DACA.”Additional guidance, and a…

On August 15, 2012 the USCIS began accepting applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and accompanying request for work authorization, pursuant to the Obama Administration’s promise to accord…

Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A…

On Tuesday, August 14, 2012 USCIS announced that Form I-821-D will be used fro the filing of applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals benefits (DACA) also known as Deferred…

Question: What are some documents that can be used to document the Arrival Requirement? Answer: The documents that may be accepted by USCIS to satisfy this criterion includes, but is…

ON FRIDAY, August 3, 2012 the USCIS issued new guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify the rules and requirements for “Childhood Arrivals” to the US who may benefit…

US citizens will soon be voting in the upcoming presidential elections. As election time nears, many groups try to register as many people as possible and increase the turn-out of…

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today launched its online Multilingual Resource Center, a new feature on www.uscis.gov. The center provides a central location for USCIS resources in…

Dear Atty. Gurfinkel: I have a 10-year multiple B-1/B-2 visa. I entered the US, and was given six months by the Immigration Officer at the airport, but overstayed by only…

WITH the August 15, 2012 start date for the filing of Deferred Action Status (DAS) and work authorization for otherwise “DREAM ACT” eligible people, thousands of applicants are preparing to…

ON JUNE 15, 2012, Pres. Obama announced from the White House Rose Garden that the Department of Homeland Security will grant deferred removal action for undocumented youth who meet strict…