Immigration Reform As everyone already know the United States Congress is now seriously debating and drafting immigration reform. By the time this article is published immigration reform may have already been passed into law. This month I want to discuss some the key areas of the proposed immigration reform and some key steps that you can do to position yourself to receive the benefit of immigration reform.

Immigration: The Pros and Cons of a Two-Year Conditional Green Card Recently my firm has been inundated with calls from individuals who have filed their Application to Remove the Conditions on their two-year green card, (Form I-751), and now they are scheduled for an interview or Immigration has sent them a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny letter. All of these scenarios bring stress and anxiety to my clients because they now run the risk of not being able to drive, work, or travel.

Immigration: Questions & Answers - New immigration updates The month of March is filled with new immigration updates. This month I will provide a brief overview of the new immigration updates that may prove to be useful. While we have a number of immigration updates we are still hopeful that the United States Government will come to a final decision on immigration reform.

Immigration: Frequently Asked Questions Question 1: An eighteen year old has a green card but now has a criminal conviction. Will he be approved for his U.S. Citizenship?

Immigration: Will There Be Immigration Reform? Now that the Presidential Election is over the incessant arguing and speculation about immigration reform, i.e., "amnesty" is now back on everyone's minds. In his first four years President Obama created the deferred action for childhood arrivals program, provisional I-601 waiver process, and prosecutorial discretion in removal proceedings. Consequently, based on these achievements it is no wonder that immigrants are all hopeful that immigration reform will happen in the next four years.

Immigration: Obtaining Permanent Residence "Green Card" Without a Family Member or an Employer This month we have received a number of questions about obtaining permanent residence "green card' without an employer or a spouse. It appears that a large number of individuals are now becoming more interested in submitting a self-petition for their permanent residence without involving a spouse or having to find an employer.

Immigration: The Top Three Things that Will Have a Positive Impact on Obtaining Permanent Residence "GREEN CARD" for a Spouse. You all know the story. A United States citizen meets a wonderful person from foreign country and they fall madly in love. The couple now wants to build their life together in the United States. Now while most couples are aware that they will need to apply for permanent residence for the foreign spouse they are very unaware of just how involved Immigration will be in their romantic relationship.

Immigration: The Application Process for DEFERRED ACTION is Now Open to The Public On August 15, 2012 Immigration opened the application process for Deferred Action for children and certain individuals. This means that Immigration is now accepting applications for this new immigration benefit. You may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals if...

Immigration: Two-Year Conditional Green Card The Two-Year Conditional Green Card is an interesting immigration status. Usually individuals who receive their two-year green card are excited about their new status but they usually are not aware of the requirements of filing their I-751 application to safeguard their status. In this month's article we will answer some of the most common questions that we receive concerning this immigration status.

Immigration: President Obama And Secretary Janet Napolitano Announces New Immigration Benefits For Young People. – What Does It Mean? On June 15, 2012 President Obama announced that he has now signed an executive order that would provide relief for individuals who were brought to the United States as children. The Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that effective immediately, 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 considered for relief from removal from the country or from entering into removal proceedings.

Immigration: Part II: "Green Card" Permanent Residence (Frequently Asked Questions) For this month we will be discussing some common questions that we receive from prospective clients who have already filed their permanent residence "green card" application and their case is still pending. 

Immigration: "Green Card" Permanent Residence (Frequently Asked Questions) For this month we will be discussing some common questions that we receive from prospective clients who are getting ready to pursue their permanent residence "green card' through their spouse.

Immigration: Permanent Residence For Eb-1a, "Alien With Extraordinary Abilities. Under Immigration law individuals can acquire permanent residence through family, their employer, and other specific categories that are too many to list in this present article. The main thing to know is that acquiring permanent residence under the EB-1A category is considered to be an employer-based green card process.

The Pros And Cons Of The Conditional "Green Card." United State citizen spouses and permanent resident spouses have the ability to petition for their foreign spouse to become a lawful permanent resident "green card" holder of the United States. During the course of their relationship most couples immediately petition for the foreign spouse's permanent residence status in order for the foreign spouse to obtain work authorization and obtain immigration status.

Immigration: New Year and New Immigration Amnesty for 2012? Happy New Year to Everyone. With the start of 2012 everyone is concerned with the status of immigration laws. In 2011 we saw the enactment of some draconian and controversial immigration laws in Arizona, Georgia, and Alabama. We also saw increased activism for immigrants' rights. However, despite the efforts of immigrant activists we have yet to see comprehensive immigration reform from the federal government. So what will happen in 2012? The future of immigration reform is uncertain. However, what remains is that everyone must do everything they can do to maintain or obtain legal status and prepare for immigration reform/amnesty.  In this month's article I will briefly address some immigration questions that are asked by prospective clients.

Immigration: The ABCS of the U Visa Congress created the “U” non-immigrant classification, known as the U-visa, as part of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act of 2000. The U-visa protects crime victims from deportation and strengthens the ability of law enforcement agencies to detect, investigate, prosecute, and solve cases of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, and other crimes.

Immigration: Common Questions and Answers Immigration has always been a very interesting topic. Immigration is an essential component for families and businesses but it is also controversial.  Immigration law is very broad and due to its controversial nature it is sometimes fraught with fraud.  Families and businesses are desperate to obtain legal status for their family members and workers and they are opportunistic individuals lying in wait to exploit these needs.

Immigration: A Review of Immigration’s Prosecutorial Discretion Memorandum and its impact on Removal Proceedings Due to the sluggish nature of the United States’ economy more individuals are now seeking new ways to become self-employed while acquiring legal immigration status. The United States has always welcomed the foreign investment of capital and jobs as a mainstay of its economy. As such, the United States created the treaty investor/trader visas. These visas are usually referred to as the E-1/E-2visa. In this month’s article I will briefly outline the requirements of these visas.

Immigration: Treaty Investor and Treaty Trader Visas Due to the sluggish nature of the United States’ economy more individuals are now seeking new ways to become self-employed while acquiring legal immigration status. The United States has always welcomed the foreign investment of capital and jobs as a mainstay of its economy. As such, the United States created the treaty investor/trader visas. These visas are usually referred to as the E-1/E-2visa. In this month’s article I will briefly outline the requirements of these visas.

Immigration: Alabama and Georgia’s HB 87 Recently the states of Georgia and Alabama have set a new standard in the enforcement of immigration law. On Georgia passed HB 87 i.e., the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011. However, the State of Alabama set a new national standard for get-tough immigration policy.

Immigration Question & Answer: Permanent Residence Application This month’s article will address the issues that applicants face when they receive a denial of their permanent residence petitions. Most applicants who receive a denial of their permanent residence petitions face the uncertainty of removal proceedings or the issue of whether or not to re-file their application or to file an appeal. This month I will answer questions that I receive from applicants who are in this uncertain position.

Immigration: P-3 Visa for Culturally Unique International Artists and Bands Summer is now here and with the onset of warm weather there will be cultural celebrations. Cultural celebrations range anywhere from reggae festivals to annual events where a specific style of music or dance is performed. Recently, my firm has had the pleasure of obtaining a number of temporary visas for internationally acclaimed artists and bands for the upcoming summer and fall events in the United States. This month’s article will briefly discuss and outline the requirements for a P-3 visa.

Immigration: Question & Answer This month’s article will address the most common questions that I have received from prospective clients who are seeking answers for their immigration cases. In my practice I encounter a large number of individuals who are in dire need of legal advice but they usually choose to consult the advice of their friends and families as opposed to a legal professional.

Consular Processing: Confusion, Misrepresentation, and Frustration. In my immigration practice my clients all prefer to complete their immigration process in the United States or at an overseas U.S. Consulate office in Canada or elsewhere. It seems that no one wants to travel to Kingston, Jamaica for their final interview.

The Inner Workings of Conditional Permanent Residence This month I will discuss the issue of conditional permanent residence status. The term “conditional permanent residence” can be confusing as the term refers to a permanent immigration status that is still conditional, i.e., temporary, on certain legal conditions. Most recipients of “conditional permanent residence” are often confused as to the specific actions that must be taken to remove the condition from their permanent residence. In addition, most applicants are weary of filing their application to remove the condition on their permanent resident status if they are separated, divorced or experiencing marital problems.

New Developments at the Atlanta Immigration District Office With the New Year come several immigration policy changes that are not always transparent to the immigrant population. This article will briefly highlight my recent observations of the Atlanta Immigration District Office, [hereinafter “Atlanta Office”] as it applies to permanent residence and citizenship applications.

New Year and Possibly New Immigration Reform? Happy New Year to everyone!  I trust you all had a wonderful holiday.  The year of 2010 was filled with the recession and the hopes of the DREAM Act.  The U.S House of Representatives had initially passed the bill but the Senate failed to pass the bill by five votes.  The opponents attacked the bill as amnesty for lawbreakers. At this moment, no one is sure when or how immigration reform will be enacted. Happy New Year to everyone!  I trust you all had a wonderful holiday.  The year of 2010 was filled with the recession and the hopes of the DREAM Act.  The U.S House of Representatives had initially passed the bill but the Senate failed to pass the bill by five votes.  The opponents attacked the bill as amnesty for lawbreakers. At this moment, no one is sure when or how immigration reform will be enacted.

Immigration: Overcoming Marriage Fraud A finding of marriage fraud is not a trivial issue to have on any immigration record. However, a previous denial of a permanent residence application or Immigration’s finding of marriage fraud is not always insurmountable if the matter is dealt with aggressively. I have decided to write an article on this daunting issue because recently I have received an influx of calls concerning this matter. This month I will provide a brief overview of marriage fraud and some pointers on how to deal with the issue

Avoid Deportation with a Successful Immigration Waiver Petition In my practice I routinely consult with prospective clients who are ready to commence with the process of applying for permanent residence. However, during our consultation interview I discover that the applicant has a conviction for a criminal offense or some previous immigration violation.

Immigration Question & Answer Article: Permanent Residence Interview and Criminal Conviction In this month’s article I will address two issues that usually pose an important concern to prospective clients. The first issue will address the issue that couples often encounter when they appear for the permanent residence interview. The second topic will address the immigration consequences of a criminal conviction for domestic violence

Immigration Question & Answer Article: Permanent Residence Application During my practice I encounter prospective clients who have a number of reoccurring immigration questions regarding permanent residence. My firm’s policy is to answer all questions in a private and confidential consultation for my prospective clients. However, occasionally I see a specific question that should be answered in the public forum so as to provide the most benefit to the immigrant community.

Frequently Asked Questions regarding acquiring U.S Citizenship Recently I have received an influx of questions regarding acquiring U.S. Citizenship in the United States. These inquiries have come mostly from permanent residents who are living in the United States and who now wish to acquire U.S. citizenship to protect their immigration status and to assist their family members in acquiring legal status. In this article I will provide a general answer to some of the concerns that I have received regarding U.S. Citizenship.

Naturalization U.S employers are eligible to acquire H-2B visas for their foreign skilled or unskilled employee(s) to come to the United States to perform temporary non-agricultural work on a one- time, seasonal, peak-load or intermittent basis.  The U.S employer must offer a full-time job position that is temporary. In order to acquire a H-2B visa, U.S employers must complete the following three steps.

H-2B Visa Fact Sheet U.S employers are eligible to acquire H-2B visas for their foreign skilled or unskilled employee(s) to come to the United States to perform temporary non-agricultural work on a one- time, seasonal, peak-load or intermittent basis.  The U.S employer must offer a full-time job position that is temporary. In order to acquire a H-2B visa, U.S employers must complete the following three steps.

Immigration’s Request for Evidence and Notice of Intent to Deny Letters In my practice I believe that the processing of most immigration petitions is divided into three main areas. There is the initial acceptance, prima facie review, and the final processing. In this article I will briefly discuss these three main areas for processing and provide some tips on how best to respond to Immigration.

Criminal Convictions and Its Immigration Consequences Many non-citizens are very unfamiliar with the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. In my practice I have found that most people are mislead by the terms misdemeanor and felony convictions. In fact, most non-citizens who are unfamiliar with criminal procedure often believe that if they simply pay a fine then the crime will have no future implication on their immigration status.

An Overview of the Real ID Act of 2005 I trust that you all had a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year. As we proceed into the New Year of 2010 it is important to know that there will be some changes regarding your photo identification. Today’s article will briefly discuss the federal Real ID Act of 2005 and its impact on the way in which we use our identification.

Permanent Residence Through Your Spouse Non-citizen spouses are able to acquire permanent residence through their spouse under the following four conditions. First, your spouse must be a United States Citizen or permanent resident. Second, you must have entered the United States in legal status i.e. with a visa or under the visa waiver program. Three, you must be admissible to the United States. Finally, your spouse must be willing to submit his/her immigration petition to Immigration on your behalf. This article will highlight the process of preparing, submitting and ultimately attaining permanent residence though marriage.

Ten essential things you must know when you are in removal proceedings Throughout my practice I encounter a large number of clients who are in removal proceedings or have a family member who is removal proceedings. The removal process is a very emotionally charged situation especially when spouses and children are involved.

Beware Of Notarios And Immigration Service Providers As an immigration attorney I often meet clients who hired a Notario to provide them with legal assistance.  These clients are often in my office because their immigration cases have been denied and/or they are now in removal proceedings.   After reviewing these clients’ cases it is usually difficult, if not impossible, to resolve their cases in a favorable manner. These clients are the victims of Notarios or individuals who provide immigration services who are not authorized by the State to provide legal assistance.