March 21, 2024|Contributed by: Aaron C. Hall, Esq.
On March 9, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Wilkinson v. Garland, holding that the immigration judge’s hardship determinations in cancellation of removal applications can be reviewed by the courts. This decision gives hope to those denied their chance to stay in the U.S. because the immigration judge finds their family would […]
March 7, 2024|Contributed by: Jennifer Howard
On January 26, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced significant changes to payment procedures for certain benefit requests at USCIS field offices. Under the new process, applicants, petitioners, requestors, and their legal representatives (hereinafter referred to collectively as “applicants”) may no longer make in-person payments. To comply with the new procedure, applicants should […]
February 26, 2024|Contributed by: Zachary New
After several proposed rules, a final change in the lottery structure, and fees set to increase on April 1st, USCIS is finally all set to begin the H-1B lottery process for 2024 (the FY 2025 H-1B lottery). For those who are being entered, are entering individuals, or are considering entering individuals, here are the key […]
February 25, 2024|Contributed by: Luke Niermann
The United States Department of Health and Human Services release a report in February 2024 on the fiscal impact that refugees and asylees have had in our communities over the last 15 years. The report showed that between 2005 and 2019, refugees and asylees paid a staggering $123.8 billion more in taxes more than they […]
February 23, 2024|Contributed by: Aaron C. Hall, Esq.
On August 10, 2021, ICE issued Directive 11005.3, “Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims.” For immigration attorneys, intricate knowledge of the complex web of immigration laws, regulations, and agency policies is crucial to advocating effectively for our clients. One such policy, Directive 11005.3, titled “Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims,” brings […]
February 22, 2024|Contributed by: Jennifer Howard
On January 30, 2024, USCIS announced that many of the filing fees for immigration applications will increase starting April 1, 2024. The fees of almost all forms will be increasing, including fiancé(e) petitions, family-based petitions, non-immigrant status extension requests, work permits, travel documents, employment-based petitions, green card applications, and others. One notable change will be […]
January 24, 2024|Contributed by: Zachary New
With this year’s H-1B lottery right around the corner, USCIS is pushing out new updates and new policies that will have a major impact on the way the lottery is run this year. As of the time of this writing, they have not yet announced the specific dates the registration period will be open for, […]
January 23, 2024|Contributed by: Aaron C. Hall, Esq.
Individuals with potential immigration applications or cases in immigration court need to have the most accurate information possible on their immigration history. Because immigration files on individuals can span decades and often consist of hundreds or thousands of pages housed within different federal agencies, they often need to request copies of files through the Freedom […]
January 23, 2024|Contributed by: Luke Niermann
On December 21, 2023, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) issued a memorandum, effective immediately, providing important guidance for cases in immigration courts where the lead or sole respondent is a child (defined as under the age of 21) or where a witness is a child. Through this memorandum, EOIR announced that it was […]
December 31, 2023|Contributed by: Luke Niermann
When noncitizens obtain permanent residence based on marriage, they are granted conditional permanent residence if the marriage is less than two years old on the date that permanent residence is granted. Conditional permanent residents must then file an I-751 in order to transition from a two-year conditional status to a permanent resident status that is […]
