Federal immigration authorities have been advised to consider familial connections when they detain undocumented immigrant parents, according to an Obama administration directive released on Friday. While the document does not prevent the deportation of undocumented parents or high-priority criminal immigrants, it does allow detained individuals to make caregiver decisions for…
Tourist Visa denials are very common in certain parts of the world. In fact, there are countries where it is virtually impossible to obtain a Visitors Visa to the United States. Under a recent Calculation of the Adjusted Visa Refusal Rate for Tourist and Business travelers under the Guidelines of…
Some recent guidelines have come out of USCIS regarding the processing of I-601A Provisional Waivers. New guidance has come to the consular officers related to the final rule permitting certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens to apply to the USCIS for an I-601A Provisional Waiver of Unlawful Presence before leaving…
Several clients reported recently of strange calls received asking for money to fix incorrect immigration info. The clients were very worried since the caller ID had an official call back ID. Now we know this is a big scam. AILA reported recently that USCIS issued an alert about this fraud.…
Many clients often ask me what is considered to be a Marginal Investment for E2 visa Purposes? The marginality of a business is also one of the most common reasons why investors in smaller businesses are denied E-2 visas. For this reason, investors must pay very close attention to this…
As we reported before, if you are a Permanent Resident (Green Card holder), and your spouse is currently legal in the United States, as of August 1, 2013 you could file for Adjustment of Status (I-485 Benefits). That will include an application for a Green Card, Work Authorization, as well…
A federal judge has ruled that Immigration detainees in Southern California are entitled to bond hearings after remaining in custody for over six months. A preliminary injunction granting the bond hearings that had been in place for the past year are now going to be automatically granted. Senior U.S. District…
Guidance following the Courts Decisions on Same Se Marriage continue to be released. The latest is regarding Student Visas. The Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs has advised consulates that their officials may issue derivative visas based on same – sex marriage if the marriage is “recognized in the…
There have been recent changes to the way USCIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issue the Form I-94, the document that is used to show your valid stay in the U.S. CBP has fully implemented its program to automate Form I-94 at all air and sea ports pursuant…
More than 100 Republican donors — many of them prominent names in their party’s establishment — sent a letter to Republican members of Congress on Tuesday urging them to support an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws. The letter, which calls for “legal status” for the 11 million immigrants here…