Family-Based Immigration

pexels anete lusina 4792286 1

You’ve Sent Your Immigration File to USCIS. Now What?

September 17, 2024 Here’s a helpful guide to understanding what happens after your case is filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).   1. Receipt Notice (Form I-797)Shortly after you submit your application or petition, you will receive a Receipt Notice (Form I-797).  This notice serves as proof that USCIS has received your application and it will […]

You’ve Sent Your Immigration File to USCIS. Now What? Read More »

Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, , , , , ,
K 1 Visa scaled 1

The Department of Homeland Security Announces Parole-in-Place Process That Will Offer A Pathway to A Green Card for Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens

On June 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) made a big announcement and introduced a new parole-in-place process for certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who meet specific criteria. *IMPORTANT NOTE* – As of the date of this blog post, this process is NOT in effect, and there is NO application process for

The Department of Homeland Security Announces Parole-in-Place Process That Will Offer A Pathway to A Green Card for Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens Read More »

Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage, News, Policy Change, , , , , ,
USCIS filing fee increase

USCIS Filing Fees Changing on April 1, 2024

On January 30, 2024, USCIS made this official by releasing a final rule that will result in a change of certain filing fees. Although some fees are going down, many are going up. A change in fees hasn’t occurred since 2016. USCIS says that this change will help improve efficiency, reduce backlogs), and ensure that

USCIS Filing Fees Changing on April 1, 2024 Read More »

Family-Based Immigration, Policy Change, U.S. Citizenship

The Dignity Act of 2023: A New Immigration Bill Explained

Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Florida) introduced this immigration bill in the House of Representatives on May 23, 2023. This bill was created by both Democrats and Republicans to address various aspects of immigration law in the United States. It addresses border security, border infrastructure, grants legal status to undocumented immigrants already living in the United

The Dignity Act of 2023: A New Immigration Bill Explained Read More »

Employment, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, News
K 1 Visa scaled 1

K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa and Protection Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

In this post, we will explore two special cases in family-based immigration: fiancé(e) visas and protection under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). If you are a U.S. citizen and engaged to a foreign national, you can file a fiancé(e) petition, so your fiancé(e) can get a visa to come to the U.S., also known

K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa and Protection Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Read More »

Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage
I 864 scaled 1

What Your Obligations Are As An I-864 Financial Sponsor of An Immigrant

As an I-864 sponsor, you are financially responsible for the immigrant you are sponsoring. This means that if the immigrant receives certain means-tested public benefits or becomes dependent on the government for support, you may be required to reimburse the government for the cost of those benefits. A means-tested public benefit is a type of

What Your Obligations Are As An I-864 Financial Sponsor of An Immigrant Read More »

Family-Based Immigration, Green Card

Can Working Without Authorization In the U.S. Prevent You From Getting A Green Card?

Working without authorization in the United States is a serious violation of U.S. immigration law, and can lead to you not being able to get a green card in the future. However, if you are married to a U.S. citizen and you’re getting your green card through your marriage, or you’re an “immediate relative” of

Can Working Without Authorization In the U.S. Prevent You From Getting A Green Card? Read More »

Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Marriage, , ,
spouse visa fiance visa scaled 1

Which One Processes Faster? A Fiance(e) Visa or Spouse Visa?

I meet with many people who ask me if they should do a fiance visa or spouse visa if their significant other is not in the U.S. and will process at a U.S. consulate. Generally speaking, the fiance visa will be faster if the goal is to be together in the U.S. as soon as

Which One Processes Faster? A Fiance(e) Visa or Spouse Visa? Read More »

Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Marriage, , , ,
USCIS processing delays

Why Could Your Case Be Taking So Long? USCIS Processing Delays Remain at Crisis Level

Nationwide, you and millions of families, businesses, and individuals applying for immigration benefits are waiting longer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process and approve applications and petitions. Based on previously available USCIS data, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2014, an average case took about five months to process. In FY2020, an average case

Why Could Your Case Be Taking So Long? USCIS Processing Delays Remain at Crisis Level Read More »

Employment-Based Immigration, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Policy Change, U.S. Citizenship, , , , , ,
Interior Design Magazine Minimal Green Chair Social Media Post

The 3 Agencies Involved in Immigrant Visa Cases: USCIS, NVC, and the U.S. Consulate/Embassy

I want to preface this post by saying that all three of these agencies are involved when a family member or employee is being petitioned for, and that person is not currently in the U.S. and will be processing at a U.S. consulate/embassy abroad. However, there are instances when a person is going through the

The 3 Agencies Involved in Immigrant Visa Cases: USCIS, NVC, and the U.S. Consulate/Embassy Read More »

Employment-Based Immigration, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, , , , , , , ,
Skip to content