Deferred Action Program Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
On June 15, 2012, the Obama Administration announced that it would immediately begin implementing a new policy that would grant deferred action status to certain young people who were brought to the United States as young children, do not present a risk to national security or public safety, and meet several key criteria will be…
The Immigration Consequences of Criminal Convictions and Criminal Conduct
Criminal convictions can have very serious effects on the immigration status of non-citizen (aliens). This applies to all aliens, including permanent residents who have been in the US for many years. Criminal convictions can affect immigration status in at least 3 ways: First, a conviction can make an alien “inadmissible” which means that the alien…
Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2014
As an Immigration Lawyer, I am frequently asked the question about what I think of all the talk on Capitol Hill regarding Immigration reform. Having been actively engaged in the practice of Immigration Law since 1995, I have seen many changes and reforms in the law, policy, and the application of both. The last major…
Citizenship and Naturalization
On this site, “Citizenship” refers to the status of being a United States Citizen. “Naturalization” refers to the legal process of applying for and being granted the status of a United States Citizen by the government. Eligibility for Citizenship: In the United States, a “Citizen” is a person who is a member of the political…
Change of Venue (Immigration Court)
If you are placed in deportation/removal proceedings, you must generally go to the court and have your case heard by the Immigration Judge that has jurisdiction over the place where you live. This means that if you have moved away from the jurisdiction of Immigration Court that has control of your case, it may be…
Change of Address – Form AR11
Foreign nationals in the U.S. (including permanent residents) are required to notify USCIS of a change of address within 10 days of moving to that new address. This notification is accomplished by filing an AR-11 Change of Address Form with USCIS. You can either file the form online at USCIS AR-11 or you can download…
Bona Fide Marriage Document Checklist
Birth certificates of children of the marriage, if any. Copies of joint income tax returns or other tax documents filed with the federal, state, or local taxing authorities. Evidence of joint checking or savings accounts. Evidence of investment or other financial accounts jointly held by the couple – stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CD’s etc. Evidence…
Asylum and Refugee Status
The law which protects persons fleeing persecution comes from international agreements and domestic laws in the United States. The main international agreement concerning asylee and refugee status is the 1967 United Nations Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees. The source of domestic law is found in the Immigration and Nationality Act. A “refugee” is…
Aliens with Extraordinary Ability – EB1
An alien with “extraordinary ability” in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim and whose achievements have been recognized in the field through extensive documentation may self petition under the EB-1 Classification as an Alien with Extraordinary Ability. “Extraordinary ability” is defined in the…
Affidavit of Support
Under U.S. Immigration law, many immigrants who are admitted to the U.S. must prove that they are not inadmissible on “public charge” grounds. In order to satisfy this requirement, all immigrants subject to this rule must show that financial support is or will be available in the U.S. in order to provide for his or…
