In August 2019, the Department of Homeland Security published a new rule for finding “public charges” among those applying for permanent residency. Being a “public charge”—defined by law as someone who is or will likely be “primarily dependent on the government for subsistence”—has been a cause for inadmissibility for decades,... read more →
Jan
31
Jan
17
可以的。根据《反對暴力侵害婦女行為法》， 如果能证明您的美国或绿卡配偶有虐待您，而且你们的婚姻是合法与真实的，您就可以为自己申请绿卡。 Fortunately, the answer is YES. Pursuant to the Violence Against Women Act (“VAWA”), if you can demonstrate that your U.S. citizen/legal permanent resident spouse abused you and the marriage is bona fide (real), then you may self-petition for a green card. 男女都能按照《反對暴力侵害婦女行為法》自我申请绿卡吗? Both a male and female... read more →
Dec
12
On December 10, 2019, USCIS announced two policy changes affecting those with DUI convictions or other criminal convictions and the immigration benefits they might receive. The policy updates incorporate two recent decisions by the Attorney General: Matter of Thomas and Thompson and Matter of Castillo-Perez. Under immigration law, criminal acts... read more →
Dec
05
Once the arguments have been heard for and against, the opinions are divided and the anxiety continues. Defenders and detractors of DACA, -a program that protects the deportation of 700,000 young people brought to the country as minors- presented their arguments before the nine members of the Supreme Court. The... read more →
Nov
29
Una vez escuchados los argumentos a favor y en contra, las opiniones están divididas y la zozobra continúa. Defensores y detractores de DACA, -programa que ampara de la deportación a unos 700,000 jóvenes traídos al país siendo menores- presentaron sus argumentos ante los nueve miembros del Supremo. La sesión duró... read more →
Nov
22
For the majority of employment-based immigrant visa applicants, obtaining a Labor Certification is the most time consuming and difficult step of pursuing lawful permanent residence. Colloquially referred to as PERM (after the Program Electronic Review Management system), the Labor Certification process allows an employer to offer a job to a... read more →
Nov
15
On November 8, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security announced proposed adjustments to fees for certain immigration benefits and services before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). Link to Press Release. The proposed changes would increase fees for a number of common benefits. These include, among many others:... read more →
Nov
08
Earlier this month, President Trump issued his “Presidential Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Will Financially Burden the United States Healthcare System”. Beginning November 3rd 2019, all those seeking immigrant visas abroad (including diversity visas) will be required to demonstrate to the consular officer at the time... read more →
Nov
01
Three federal judges issued temporary injunctions against the new public charge rule that was to take effect on October 15, 2019. (For more information on the proposed rule please see our previous blog post). Judge Daniels of New York issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the administration from enforcing the public... read more →
Oct
11
On August 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule, which pertains public charge. Being a public charge is a separate inadmissibility ground for applicants for adjustment of status. Traditionally, public charge has been defined as a person who is likely to become or has become... read more →