Green Card Holders With Criminal Issues Should Think Twice Before Traveling Abroad: New U.S. Supreme Court Decision Changes the Risk Analysis
For many lawful permanent residents, international travel is a routine part of life. Visiting family members overseas, attending weddings and funerals, conducting business, or simply taking a vacation are activities that most Green Card holders understandably expect to do without significant immigration consequences. However, a recent decision by the United States Supreme Court serves as…
USCIS Just Raised the Stakes for Signature Mistakes on Forms
Every immigration lawyer has had a filing returned because of a signature problem. In the past, that usually meant correcting the issue and sending the package back. A recent change announced by the Department of Homeland Security suggests that, in some situations, the consequences could now be much more significant. Effective July 10, 2026, USCIS…
What Happens if My Spouse and I Separate After Filing a Joint I-751 Petition?
One of the most stressful situations I see in immigration practice is when a couple files a joint I-751 petition and then the marriage begins to fall apart while the case is still pending. Unfortunately, this happens quite often. Given current USCIS processing times, it is becoming even more common since petitions may remain pending…
Why Are Some I-751 Cases Interviewed While Others Are Not?
A common question I hear from I-751 petitioners is, “Why did my friend get approved without an interview, but I was scheduled for one?” Unfortunately, there is not always a simple answer. Some petitions are approved without an interview, others result in extensive in-person questioning, and sometimes two cases that look almost identical on paper…
The Little Things That Often Become Big Immigration Problems
One of the reasons I enjoy practicing immigration law is that no two cases are exactly alike. Even when two clients appear to have very similar situations, the details are almost always different. After working in this field for over 30 years, having had the benefit of working with thousands of immigrants, and after reading…
What Online Immigration Forums Can Teach Us – And What They Can’t
People are sometimes surprised when I tell them that I occasionally browse Reddit, Facebook groups, and other online immigration forums. As an attorney, I’m obviously not looking there for legal authority or official guidance. But I do think those communities have value. They give me a real-time look at what applicants are experiencing, what they’re…
What Evidence Actually Matters in an I-751 Petition?
One of the most common questions I hear from clients preparing an I-751 petition is “Do we have enough evidence?” Often, the answer is yes, but that is not always the case. In some cases, the real issue is more complicated than people realize. Many couples assume USCIS is simply counting documents, more bank statements,…
What Does USCIS Mean by a “Good Faith Marriage” in an I-751 Case?
One of the most common misconceptions I encounter in I-751 cases is the belief that a failed marriage automatically means a failed immigration case. That is not really how the law works. In many I-751 consultations, I speak with people who are genuinely panicked because: Many assume USCIS is trying to determine whether the marriage…
What Does “Discretion” Mean in an Adjustment of Status Case?
In two recent posts, I wrote about the new USCIS policy memorandum describing Adjustment of Status as a form of “extraordinary relief,” and then about the possible legal challenges to that policy. This post focuses on the practical question underneath the entire issue: What does discretion actually mean in an Adjustment of Status case? That…
The Real Legal Fight Over the New USCIS Adjustment of Status Memo
Last week, I wrote about USCIS’s new policy memorandum reframing Adjustment of Status (“AOS”) as a form of discretionary relief that should only be granted in “extraordinary” circumstances. At the time, the biggest concern was practical. Immigration lawyers were trying to figure out whether USCIS officers would begin viewing ordinary family-based adjustment cases differently than…
