10 Perils of DIY Estate Planning
You might be wondering why, for decades, lawyers everywhere have been insisting that you consult their services when planning the will of your estate. Many people don’t understand what kind of input a lawyer has to give on estate planning or why it is important, and they try to plan their own estate and write […]
Does presentation matter when filing with Immigration?
Any time we’re filing documents on behalf of clients with the court system, there are court rules on how documents must be presented and filed. Other government agencies, such as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), do not have set rules on presentation and organization because they allow applicants to apply without a […]
5 Things Startups Need to Know About OSHA
Every business should be concerned about employee safety, whether you are part of a large organization or a fairly small one, including startups. And even offices have occupational hazards, so don’t be lulled into thinking that only jobs involving physical labor need to be aware of OSHA regulations. If you’re part of a business, then […]
How to Prove Extreme and Unusual Hardship
Many of our clients are aware that they need, or will need, a I-601 or I-601A waiver in order to re-enter or apply for a green card in the U.S. Most hardship waivers and relief require proof of “extreme and unusual hardship” to qualify. Many of our clients feel that they meet the requirements. So […]
What Immigration’s New Policy on Requests for Evidence and Notice of Intent to Deny Mean For You
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently published a policy update and field guide memo regarding the issuance of Requests for Evidence (RFE) and Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). The new policy gives adjudicators (aka immigration officers) more power to make discretionary decisions as to whether an immigration application or petition meets the […]
Why California is Called Immigrant-friendly
While the passing of new year’s reminds us of resolutions and letting go of the past, for Californian immigrants, 2018 marked a new era. The Sanctuary State bill passed in October of 2017 came into effect January 1, 2018, making California the first sanctuary state ever. But hold on, what does it mean for California […]
5 Things to Know about Sessions’ Recent Asylum Decision re: Domestic and Gang Violence
We have been carefully following Attorney General Jeffrey Sessions’ review of the domestic violence asylum case (Matter of A-R-C-G-, 26 I&N Dec. 338 (BIA 2014)), which he overturned on June 11, 2018. While our previous post on Sessions’ asylum decision was rather detailed, this post will outline the top five things you need to know […]
Should I file my USCIS immigration application online?
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online form processing system is designed for existing lawful permanent residents for quick and easy processing, such as renewing or replacing their green cards, applying for a travel document, or naturalization. As USCIS has begun modernizing their website and systems, even releasing a mobile application, we wondered […]
How to Spot a Pyramid Scheme from an MLM
Numerous opportunities are available for entrepreneurial individuals who are interested in making some extra money. Unfortunately, it can be all too easy to fall into too-good-to-be-true traps that could actually end up costing you money, or even your freedom (if they’re illegal). Understanding the differences between a pyramid scheme and multi-level-marketing (MLM) can help you […]
How to Check your USCIS Case Processing Times
One of the most common questions we receive in the office is “when will my form be processed?” Or when can I expect to be approved? When will I receive ________? While we can give you an estimate based on United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processing times and our experience with other clients, […]
5 Game-Changing Business Tips for Entrepreneurial Immigrants
In the U.S., you have already seen plenty of active businesses everywhere. What you may not notice is that many companies fail and are replaced on a regular basis. Entrepreneurial immigrants frequently do very, very well in business-friendly locations, but they aren’t immune to harsh market forces either. Here are five essential tips for immigrants […]
Are SEO Citations a Violation of Intellectual Property?
An SEO citation is a reference to any business within a website or blog. It typically includes the business’s name, address, and phone number. Although citations help users find local businesses and can positively impact search engine ranking, SEO citations on a national scale are virtually useless. Google, however, uses citations to confirm the legitimacy […]
Are Administratively Closed Immigration Court Cases Still “Safe”?
On May 17, 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions overruled a Immigration Judge’s decision in Matter of CASTRO-TUM, 27 I&N Dec. 187, clarifying that immigration judges and the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) does not have the authority to administratively close cases indefinitely. What does this mean? In short, you can no longer request prosecutorial discretion […]
Attention F-, M-, and J-visa holders! Will you be unlawfully present starting August 9th, 2018?
Update: On August 9, 2018, USCIS updated their previous policy memorandum. Under the revised policy memorandum, F- and M- nonimmigrant visa holders who “fall out of status” while their applications are pending but timely applied for reinstatement of status will have their “accrual of unlawful presence suspended while their application is pending.” On May 11, […]
How Jeff Sessions’ recent decision affects Asylum seekers
You may have heard in the news that the current Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, has been making changes this year. As the Attorney General, Sessions has the authority to refer cases to himself for review and to overturn a decision by the Board of Appeals (BIA). Most recently, he rendered moot the 2014 BIA decision […]
Green Card holders — Get naturalized now!
If you’ve been a permanent resident (green card holder) for five years or longer, why have you not applied for citizenship yet? Our immigration attorneys are always encouraging people to apply for naturalization–relatives, friends, and clients alike! We don’t encourage you to apply for citizenship to collect attorney fees, rather, we encourage you to obtain […]
Want to get Naturalized? Here’s what you need to know…
In line with recent trends, our office has received more inquiries regarding naturalization, with more and more people realizing that they are safer as U.S. citizens than permanent residents. Note: We estimate the naturalization process to take about a year, given USCIS 700,000+ processing backlog. The process of applying for Naturalization is as follows: Check […]
How to check your Immigration case status online
Immigration clients often call in for their immigration case statuses, wondering if an attorney has more insight into their USCIS case processing than they do. The truth is that most of the time when they call us, we check their status online. Back in the day, we would have to make a note of it, […]
Is your EB-5 investment a scam?
The U.S. EB-5 Immigrant Investment Program offers foreign investors and entrepreneurs permanent residence (a green card) in exchange for an investment of $1 million (or $500,000 for targeted employment areas) and job creation. Over the years, EB-5 investment has virtually guaranteed its investors citizenship, even if it cannot guarantee a return on its high-risk investment. […]
Getting married? Start planning for your immigration adjustment now!
Many of our clients come to us for assistance with their Adjustment of Status (I-485), better known as green card, applications, thinking it will be as simple as filling out a form and paying the filing fee. It is not. Those who come to us after receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE) or worse–an Intent […]
