Obtaining lawful residency is a process, as you probably already know. Getting a green card — a Permanent Resident Card, that is — is a major goal for most aspiring residents. You could face the temptation to misrepresent your past to USCIS. However, just because you...
Key differences and common statuses
It is not uncommon for individuals to use the terms “visa” and “status” interchangeably, or to use them together to discuss one’s status as a U.S. visitor or resident. Yet, the two terms refer to different things. According to the University of Michigan Student Life...
Is entering the U.S. illegally a crime?
There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about undocumented immigrants. While many people believe it is a criminal act to be in the United States without proper documentation, it is not that simple. There are several considerations that can impact the...
What if US immigration questions the legitimacy of my marriage?
Most family-based immigration relies on eligibility through marriage. Marrying a current citizen, in fact, is one of the simplest ways to immigrate to the United States. Thus, it is not uncommon that a hopeful immigrant marries or attempts to marry a citizen for the...
Nationwide COVID-19 Injunction on the Public Charge Rule Stayed
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has stayed a preliminary injunction against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) applying its expanded public charge rule. Due to pending litigation around this issue, the expanded rule still cannot be...
Federal Lawsuit in California against USCIS’ Proposed Fees Increase
A group of non-profit organizations are suing the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in federal district court in California over the agencies’ proposed rule change that massively increases the fees...
Scheduled USCIS Furlough Averted until Sept 30 2020
USCIS announced that it would not go through with its anticipated furloughs on August 30, 2020, preventing roughly 70% of their employees from being furloughed. For months, USCIS has asked Congress for a financial bailout, as USCIS warned them of budgetary shortfalls...
Federal Lawsuit in Massachusetts against USCIS’ Proposed Citizenship Fee Increase
Starting on October 2, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plan to increase the fee for citizenship applicants. A Massachusetts-based non-profit is challenging the new USCIS rule, suing the agency in federal court to both declare the...
Proposed DOJ Regulation Would End Administrative Closure
Cases for removal are heard by immigration judges within the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), with appeals of those decisions going to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). A recent proposal to change federal regulations governing the EOIR and BIA...
USCIS Issues Guidelines for Implementing DHS’ Requested Changes to DACA Program (August 21 2020 Memo)
On August 21, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued implementation plans for several new policies stemming from Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf’s July 28 memo for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). USCIS...