If your green card is going to expire soon, and you have already filed for renewal, what happens once your current green card does expire and you don’t have your new green card yet? Fortunately, you’ll be just fine. When you send in your renewal application, USCIS will send you a receipt notice confirming they […]
On June 24, 2022, USCIS issued new guidance on the 3 and 10-year bars and green cards, but this new policy will only apply to a limited group of people. You can go read my post here that goes into detail about these unlawful presence bars. A brief summary of the 3 and 10-year bar
USCIS Updated Policy on the 3-Year and 10-Year Unlawful Presence Bars Read More »
Green Card, Policy Change
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
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
Starting October 1, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the U.S. Department of State will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all applicants applying for refugee or lawful permanent residence, with some exceptions. All applicants who receive their medical examination ON OR AFTER October 1, 2021, must complete the COVID-19 vaccine series and provide documentation
COVID-19 Vaccines Will Be Required for Green Card Applicants Starting October 1, 2021 Read More »
Employment-Based Immigration, Family-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency, Policy Change
On January 27, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it would allow the public charge rule that was supposed to go into effect on October 11, 2019, but was stopped, to now go into effect. USCIS recently issued a news alert stating that it would start implementing this rule on February 24, 2020. Any
Important Information on the Public Charge Rule Effective 2/24/2020 Read More »
Green Card, Policy Change
If you want to become a lawful permanent resident (aka LPR or green card holder), you will either do it through adjustment of status or consular processing. The way you choose depends on where you are when a visa becomes available, your preferences, and your circumstances. If you are already living in the United States,
The restaurant industry is in dire need of good chefs based on what I hear from restaurant owners. I’ve had the privilege of working with several restaurants who are petitioning for specialty chefs to get their green cards. Every year, the U.S. government gives out a certain number of employment-based visas. For all countries except for China, India, and
If You Are A Restaurant Owner, Petitioning for A Specialty Chef Is An Option Read More »
Employment-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency
The federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides victims of battery or extreme cruelty a way to get a green card. One purpose of VAWA is to remedy immigrant abuse and improve criminal justice in the areas it covers. A major difference between green cards obtained through family and green cards obtained through VAWA, is
Obtaining a Green Card Under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Read More »
Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency
The L-1A Intracompany Transferee nonimmigrant visa classification allows a U.S. employer to transfer an employee in a managerial or executive position from a foreign office to the United States. This can also include a foreign company that doesn’t have a U.S. based company yet but wants to set up an office in the U.S. The
Overview of the L-1A Visa – Intracompany Tranfers Read More »
Employment, Employment-Based Immigration, Green Card, Lawful Permanent Residency