Blog
Federal Court Restores Important ICE Protections for Certain VAWA, U Visa, and T Visa Applicants
A significant federal court ruling has temporarily restored important protections for certain immigrants who have pending applications under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), U visa program, and T visa program. On May 20, 2026, U.S. District Judge André Birotte Jr. issued an important ...Posted on: 08-13-2026
Federal Judge in Massachusetts Temporarily Blocks Effort to Strip Work Permits from Some TPS Holders
In a significant development for immigrants living and working in the United States, a federal judge in Massachusetts, Judge Nathaniel M Gorton, has temporarily blocked parts of a federal policy that would have stripped work authorization from certain individuals with Temporary Protected ...Posted on: 08-10-2026
BREAKING: DHS Rescinds 2022 Public Charge Rule - What Green Card Applicants Need to Know in 2026
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a significant change to U.S. immigration policy by rescinding the 2022 Public Charge Rule. Beginning September 18, 2026, USCIS officers will once again have broader discretion when deciding whether an applicant for lawful permanent residence ...Posted on: 07-21-2026
Supreme Court Delivers Major Ruling On Border Asylum: What Immigrants Need To Know
The Court’s Decision Redefines When a Migrant at the U.S.-Mexico Border May Seek Asylum In a major immigration decision issued on June 25, 2026, the United States Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in favor of the Trump administration in the matter of Mullin v. Al Otro Lado, 609 U.S. (2026). ...Posted on: 07-13-2026
Landmark Supreme Court Victory: Birthright Citizenship Remains Protected
The Supreme Court Rejects an Attempt to Redefine Who Is an American On June 30, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued a historic decision in the matter of Trump v. Barbara, 609 U.S. (2026), rejecting President Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict birthright citizenship through executive ...Posted on: 07-13-2026
Supreme Court Expands DHS Authority at the Border: What Green Card Holders Need to Know
On June 23, 2026, in the matter of Blanche v. Lau, 609 U.S. (2026), the U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant immigration decision that affects lawful permanent residents (green card holders) returning to the United States after international travel. What Changed? In a 6-3 decision, ...Posted on: 07-01-2026
Supreme Court Allows Trump Administration to End TPS for Haiti and Syria - What You Need to Know
The United States Supreme Court has issued a major immigration decision that could affect more than 350,000 Haitian nationals and over 6,000 Syrian nationals currently living and working in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), in the matter of Mullin v. Doe, 609 U.S. ...Posted on: 07-01-2026
New Temporary Final Rule Increases Automatic Extension Period for Certain EAD Renewal Applicants
On April 4, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a significant change impacting employment authorization for certain applicants. The new temporary final rule (TFR) increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization documents (EADs) for eligible ...Posted on: 06-05-2024
Asylum Seekers Lose Work Authorizations and Ability to Support Themselves
On August 25, 2020, a new rule concerning asylum seekers will be put into effect which would block work permits for almost all asylum applicants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. No one who has crossed any other ports of entry into another country is ineligible to apply for a work permit ...Posted on: 06-26-2020
Proposed Amendments to Asylum Law
The Immigration Law world has been shaken up as of late by a proposed memo released with plans to limit who can apply and be approved for asylum. These limitations are so drastic that this proposal is facing criticism from Amnesty International, American Immigration Council, American Immigration ...Posted on: 06-19-2020
DACA Victory
Hope for Dreamers Today we celebrate a BIG WIN on the immigration front! Since 2017 Trump’s administration has been attempting to terminate the DACA program. The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of DACA and this completely restores the program in its full capacity taking new and renewed ...Posted on: 06-19-2020
Waiving Misrepresentation and Fraud
The § 237(a)(1)(H) waiver is a humanitarian waiver for certain individuals who have been placed in deportation proceedings and charged with fraud or misrepresentation. Its function is essentially a form of relief from removal and or deportation . It considers and allows you to defend yourself ...Posted on: 06-16-2020
Effective Overstaying On Legal Permanent Residents
Covid-19 has affected all of us in ways that we never saw coming. Many immigrants who have abided by the laws of the country, and kept up with all processes the government has required of them, are stuck in foreign countries due to travel bans. Many of them will overstay their visa in that ...Posted on: 06-06-2020
Foreign Fiance and Visa Requirements
So you’re in love and distance is the only obstacle to fulfil your goals of marriage, now what? The United States government has a visa for that! In the case that you are a United States Citizen and you are engaged to be married with an individual who is a foreign citizen, you can facilitate ...Posted on: 06-01-2020
April 22, 2020 Executive Order Temporarily Suspending Some Immigration
The proclamation becomes effective on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 11:59 PM (ET) , expires in 60 days and may be continued as necessary. Within 50 days from the effective date, DHS and the Department of Labor shall recommend whether the President should continue or modify the proclamation. ...Posted on: 04-23-2020
The Effect of The Supreme Court Decision in Pereira vs. Sessions on Non-Citizens
Non-permanent residents now have a new way to challenge their removal proceedings. It has been made possible by a recent legal decision by which many are encouraged since it has the potential to assist many non-citizens in the United States. In an eight to one (8-1) ruling, made on June ...Posted on: 08-02-2018
Recent Immigration Changes by The Trump Administration
Currently, there are key changes occurring in immigration law. On February 17, 2017, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, “DHS”, John Kelly, signed two memos into effect. They implement the two Executive Orders President Trump issued on January 25: Border Security ...Posted on: 03-14-2017
Legal Status through the Military
Non-citizens have served in the United States military for decades. Today, about 5,000 green card holders enlist in the military each year, and the law recognizes the sacrifice that these individuals make. For this reason, the Secretary of Defense wanted to find a way to give back and has ...Posted on: 06-01-2016
Recent Immigration Raids by ICE
As you may have heard in the news, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (also known as “ICE”) has recently been engaging in immigration raids all over the country. In a recent statement, Jeh C. Johnson, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, states that the focus of these removals ...Posted on: 01-22-2016
Visa Waiver Program
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP), and immigration generally, has been a hotly-debated topic for the upcoming Presidential election and has worsened in light of the Paris and San Bernardino attacks. The VWP allows certain eligible citizens or nationals from designated countries to travel to ...Posted on: 12-27-2015
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ebola
The latest Ebola outbreak is the worst in history, with more than 15,000 cases and over 5,400 deaths reported globally. In an effort to protect those who are already in the United States from deportation, on November 20, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a measure ...Posted on: 12-17-2015
Temporary Protected Status for Yemen
Yemen is currently experiencing widespread conflict and a resulting severe humanitarian emergency. Because of the dangerous conditions, the United States has granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eighteen months from September 3, 2105 through March 3, 2017 for eligible nationals of ...Posted on: 11-29-2015
TN Visa for NAFTA Professionals
TN Visa for NAFTA Professionals The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) created special economic and trade relationships for the United States, Canada and Mexico. As part of its terms, the TN visa category was created to enable Canadian and Mexican citizens to enter the United ...Posted on: 10-25-2015
USCIS Announces Revised Procedures for Determining Visa Availability for Applicants Waiting to File Adjustment of Status
Every month, the Department of State (DOS) publishes current visa availability information in its Visa Bulletin, which can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/law-and-policy/bulletin.html. The Visa Bulletin indicates when visas are available to prospective immigrants ...Posted on: 09-25-2015
Petty Offense Exception for Green Card
Anytime anyone enters the United States through consular processing or applies to adjust their status, it is important that s/he passes a criminal background check. When applying for legal permanent residence, also known as a “Green Card,” an immigrant can be denied entry or admission to ...Posted on: 08-26-2015
Travel Document Based on Pending Adjustment of Status or DACA
Advance parole (Form I-131) is an immigration document issued by the United States that allows foreign qualified nationals to re-enter the United States after temporarily traveling abroad. Individuals who are not U.S. citizens, do not have valid immigrant visas, and have pending applications ...Posted on: 07-26-2015
Temporary Protected Status for Nepal
As you may have seen and heard on the news, this past April, Nepal was hit with a magnitude 7.8 earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that killed over 8,600 people and injured more than double that amount. Nepal and its people suffered devastating damage and is still in the process of trying ...Posted on: 06-26-2015
Update on Executive Action and the Fifth Circuit Injunction
In 2014, President Obama announced a series of executive actions that could prevent as many as five million undocumented immigrants in the United States from deportation. These initiatives included: ''DACA'' or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Which expanded the number of individuals ...Posted on: 05-26-2015
Cancellation of Removal for Non-LPRs
Historically, there has been a form of relief called a suspension of deportation for aliens who had been present in the United States for long periods of time, avoided problems with the criminal authorities, and could show that their forced removal from the country would result in a high ...Posted on: 04-16-2015
H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker
The H-2B visa is one type of working visa that unskilled foreign nationals use to temporarily enter the United States to work in certain types of jobs. The worker must be engaged in nonagricultural employment which is seasonal, intermittent, a peak load need, or a one-time occurrence, and ...Posted on: 03-27-2015
Employment Authorized for H-1B Spouses
There is exciting news for H-1B nonimmigrant visa holders! Effective May 26, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending eligibility for employment authorization to qualifying H-4 dependent spouses of those H-1B nonimmigrants who are seeking employment-based legal permanent ...Posted on: 03-09-2015
Marriage Visa, Lies and Immigration Consequences
Marriage based visa petitions is one of the most common ways to obtain US immigration benefits. While a legitimate marriage is a straightforward way of getting legal immigration status, there are certain caveats to be kept in mind. The petitioner, a United States citizen, may confer immigration ...Posted on: 02-16-2015
Breaking Immigration News
We are sending this message to inform you about President Obama’s exciting new November 20, 2014 Executive Order. Three critical elements are: Cracking Down on Illegal Immigration at the Border; Deporting Felons, Not Families; and Accountability—Criminal Background Checks and ...Posted on: 11-21-2014
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status - From Unaccompanied Minor to Residency Status
As seen in the news, the dramatic increase in unaccompanied children entering the United States has presented a huge problem. Unaccompanied minors are children under the age of 21, usually from Central America, who cross the Mexico-U.S. border without a parent or guardian. They take the perilous ...Posted on: 11-18-2014
Non Immigrant S Visa
An S non-immigrant visa (also known as an "S Visa") is available for undocumented individuals who assist U.S. law enforcement in investigating and prosecuting crimes and terrorist activities. There are 2 types of S visas: S-5 and S-6. A law enforcement agency (LEA) may specifically request ...Posted on: 10-20-2014
Obtaining a Green Card Under 245(a) Versus 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
Generally, when someone wants to “adjust status,” it means that they obtain a green card either through an employment-based petition or a family-based petition. In order to adjust status under INA §245(a), a person would have had to enter the United States legally and be admitted (come in ...Posted on: 09-24-2014
Child Status Protection Act
The Child Status Protection Act ("CSPA") provides relief to children [individuals who are unmarried and under the age of 21] who "age-out" as a result of delays by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") in processing visa petitions and asylum and refugee applications. A child ...Posted on: 09-17-2014
Derivative Citizenship
A child born outside the U.S. may become a US Citizen (USC) as a matter of law by virtue of his or her parent or parents’ birth or naturalization. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) grants U.S. citizenship at birth based on: (1)Birth in the U.S. or certain other places; ...Posted on: 08-17-2014
Violence Against Women Act
The Violence against Women Act, or VAWA, allows an abused spouse or child of a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident, or an abused parent of U.S. Citizen to self-petition for lawful status in the United States, receive employment authorization and access public benefits. VAWA provides ...Posted on: 06-17-2014
Parole in Place
On November 15, 2013, USCIS issued a policy memorandum entitled "Parole of Spouses, Children and Parents of Active Duty Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, and Former Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve and the ...Posted on: 05-17-2014
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Renewal
In September 2012, USCIS began deferring action for childhood arrivals and issuing employment authorization for two years. However, in September 2014, the initial two-year grants are due to expire, and USCIS is in the process of preparing renewal applications in which eligible individuals ...Posted on: 04-17-2014
E Visas
Each year, up to 10,000 visas may be authorized to aliens (and their spouses and children) for eligible entrepreneurs. If you have the right combination of skills, education, and/or work experience and are otherwise eligible, you may be able to live permanently in the United States.There ...Posted on: 03-17-2014
U Visas
Thanks to the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant Women's Protection Act) in October 2000, victims of certain crimes may be eligible for a U non-immigrant status visa ("U visa”). The U visa is set aside for victims who meet certain ...Posted on: 02-17-2014
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
On June 15, 2012, the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") implemented a policy that could potentially change the lives of thousands of undocumented young people, or "DREAMers," forever. It began accepting requests for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals ("DACA"). Deferred action is ...Posted on: 01-17-2014
Asylum
Asylum is a form of protection given by the United States government to individuals who have a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, and/or political opinion. “Persecution” means to harass, punish, injure, oppress, ...Posted on: 12-17-2013
Navigating the Adoption Process
The decision to adopt a child is an exciting and life-changing event. You may have been thinking about giving a child in need a loving home, but are unsure of where to begin. We’re here to help guide you through the basic process and provide you with some information that may help put your ...Posted on: 11-17-2013
Humanitarian Reinstatement
If you are a beneficiary of an approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, but your petitioner has died before you get your green card, you may know that immigration will automatically cancel or revoke your petition. The thought of restarting the entire application process can be frustrating ...Posted on: 10-17-2013
Marriage Equality At Last
DOMA, or the "Defense of Marriage Act", was passed in 1996 by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Section 3 of DOMA is the part that prevented the federal government from recognizing any marriages between gay or lesbian couples for the purpose of federal laws or programs, ...Posted on: 09-17-2013
Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver
Beginning March 4, 2013, certain immigrant visa applicants who are spouses, children and parents of U.S. citizens (immediate relatives) can apply for provisional unlawful presence waivers before they leave the United States. Under current law, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens who are ...Posted on: 08-17-2013