If you have received your USCIS interview notice for an asylum, green card or naturalization application, congratulations! Please be proud of yourself for getting to this step, as the journey to this moment may not have been an easy one. Even though this means you are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, …
You Have Been Scheduled for a USCIS Interview, Now What? Read More »
Introduction Since the early 1990’s, LGBTQ has been recognized as a legitimate social group eligible for asylum protection under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Therefore, in the face of persecution, an applicant may qualify for asylum or refugee status, provided they are able to establish that the persecution suffered or feared was or will be …
UPDATE: As of February 24, 2020, the public charge rule has been implemented nationwide after the Supreme Court stayed the limited state-wide injunction in Illinois against the Department of Homeland Security. At the same time, the Department of State also began implementing its amended public charge rule, and visa applicants from abroad should prepare Form …
It is no secret that the H-1B application process has undergone a number of changes over the last year, including a switch to a fully electronic registration, paying a registration fee, and changes to the lottery system. This article gives an update of what we know up to this point as well as tips for …
New H-1B Registration Process and Practical Tips Read More »
Introduction United States employment and family-based permanent visas, green cards, are limited each year by number and by country of origin. In 2019, there will be no more than 226,000 family-sponsored visas and no more than 140,000 employment-based visas. The United States further limits employment and family-based immigration by only allowing 7% of visa to …
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) integrated key sectors of the United States, Canadian, and Mexican economies. Central to that integration was creating a special visa category that allowed qualified Mexican and Canadian citizens to seek temporary admission into the United States to engage in business activities. To qualify for a TN visa a …
The North American Free Trade Agreement (TN) Visa Read More »
One of the key inquiries made by the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) when deciding to grant or deny a nonimmigrant visa or permanent residency is whether an applicant will likely be or become a public charge. A public charge is an individual that will heavily rely on the federal government for assistance. …
The Immigration and Nationality Act allows an employer to petition for an H-1B visa on behalf of an alien beneficiary if the alien beneficiary will be working in a “specialty occupation.” To qualify as a “specialty occupation” a job must require “theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge and attainment of a …
Introduction In June 2018, former Attorney General Jeff Sessions overturned an immigration court’s decision and issued a precedential decision that makes it even more difficult for asylum seekers to obtain asylum protection in the United States by citing fear of domestic abuse. This is also the case for asylum seekers who make asylum claims based …
Matter of A-B- and Women Facing Domestic Violence Read More »
Introduction The start of a new academic year will bring thousands of foreign nationals to the United States to study at one of the nation’s many rigorous academic institutions. The United States derives many benefits from allowing foreign nationals to study at its colleges and universities, including but not limited to, diversified classroom discussions and enriched collegiate …
