News & Updates
News Flash: Supreme Court Rules Against TPS Recipients
On Monday, June 7, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United Stated (SCOTUS) unanimously ruled that some Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients are not eligible
News Flash: EAGLE Act May Help Indian Green Card Hopefuls
The Equal Access to Green cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act of 2021 (H.R.3648) is a bipartisan piece of legislation which was introduced in the
The K-1 Fiancé Visa Timeline – Helpful Information for What to Expect
United States citizens who wish to bring a foreign fiancé to the United States must go through an extensive immigration process with United States
Fiancé Visa vs. Marriage Visa – Understand the Difference Now
Fiance Visa vs. Marriage Visa Marriage and the immigration process are matters that can be complicated, stressful, and uncertain. Because every person’s situation is unique,
Interfiling – I-485 Application
Join our Webinar May 26 at 6:00 PM EDTTopics: Interfiling, is it the right choice for you? EB-2/EB-3 downgrade/upgrade discussion. How interfiling impacts your child’s
Termination of Employment and Green Card Application
Below is a summary of the various scenarios that may impact the status of an H-1B holder if they experience employment termination as they move
The O-1 Visa Class
Maybe you’ve heard of the O-1 visa, but what does it entail and can it be right for you? The O-1 nonimmigrant visa classification was designed for those foreign nationals recognized for having extraordinary ability in the arts, sciences, athletics, education, or business, or for anyone with a demonstrable record
Adoption and Immigration Law
Many compassionate American couples are motivated to adopt a child born overseas. But keep in mind that international adoption can be a very complex process. In fact, if you’re considering the adoption of a child from another country, you should seek the services of an experienced immigration attorney for Adoption
Citizenship Has Its Advantages
If you are an immigrant lucky enough to qualify for United States citizenship, you should absolutely pursue it. Citizenship offers a number of advantages, and it finally ends, once and for all, any and all concerns about greens cards, visas, and immigration status. For whatever reason, however, some people are
E-Verify: What Is It?
Many people think the “E-Verify” program is a brand new idea, but in fact employers have been required for decades to verify the right of immigrants to work for them in the United States. E-Verify simply represents a contemporary approach to the question. E-Verify was created by the Illegal Immigration
U.S. Citizenship via Naturalization
The naturalization process is one which allows a foreign citizen to become a full-fledged U.S. citizen, granted the same rights and privileges as any natural born U.S. citizen, including the right to vote in federal elections, which is something that visa holders and lawful permanent residents can’t do, even if
Diversity Visa Program and Same Sex Marriage
The recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act and allow same sex couples the same federal benefits as those in heterosexual marriages was viewed as a major victory for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. But this decision was not immediately
Immigrant Rights in Deportation Hearings
The U.S. constitution guarantees fair treatment for all persons under the law. This means that any person, regardless of immigration status, is entitled to enjoy certain rights. One of the rights which immigrants get to enjoy is the right to have an attorney appointed as legal defense should the immigrant
The 6 Paths to a Green Card
In the U.S., a green card signifies that the holder is a lawful and permanent resident of the United States. For individuals who are still citizens of foreign countries but who have established a new life in the United States, getting a green card is usually a good idea because
Presenting a Case for Relief from Removal
Relief from removal is what a foreign citizen in the United States seeks in order to avoid forced removal from the country – it other words, it is what is sought to avoid deportation. Who Can Be Deported? Any person who is not a citizen of the United States is
Don’t Face Deportation Alone
Should the government issue a foreign citizen an Order of Removal, or deportation notice, the person is very likely going to feel scared, helpless, angry, and a wide range of other emotions that would be more than understandable in the situation. Luckily, individuals don’t have to fight a deportation notice
Visas for Foreign-born Family Members
The United States allows citizens and lawful permanent residents to act as sponsors for foreign-born family members, however, the government is very strict as to what relationship to the citizen or permanent resident the foreign citizen must have in order to be sponsored. Aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, grandparents,
Getting a Green Card Through Registry
Foreign citizens who are currently in the United States unlawfully might feel like they have no hope of gaining lawful resident status – but if they meet certain conditions, even those who are here illegally can qualify for a green card and lawful permanent resident status through a section of
PERM Degree Equivalency Issues: An Introduction
This is one of a multi-blog series about degree requirements and equivalency in PERM Labor Certification. Additional PERM information is available on our website. PERM Overview A U.S. employer that wishes to sponsor a foreign national employee for a permanent position must usually establish that there are no qualified U.S.
Reasons for Naturalization Denials
One can become a citizen of the United States by being born in the U.S. or one of its territories, or through a process known as naturalization. The process of applying for naturalization has several requirements, which an experienced immigration and naturalization attorney can explain to the applicant in further
Having a Case Reopened or Reconsidered
You’ve probably heard of cases being appealed, reopened, or reconsidered. But what do these terms actually mean and can it be something you can take advantage of in case your immigration petition is denied? Notice of an Unfavorable Decision Applications for visas, green cards, and citizenship are reviewed and approved by
Visa Bulletin Retrogression: Consequences for Spouses
It is an exciting time for many foreign nationals living in the United States. During the last four months, the EB-2 priority dates for India and China have moved forward over two years. As a result, many employment-based immigrants have been able to file Applications for Adjustment of Status earlier
Notice of Intent to Revoke: Know Your Rights!
Congratulations! Your I-130 petition has been approved! You worked hard, put together a good petition, and now your loved one can immigrate to the United States, perhaps joining you here in central Ohio, worry free. Right? Not always. Even after the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has approved your I-130
BALCA Rules on Training New Workers
A judge for the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA) recently ruled on an interesting case related to the burden employers face trying to prove the hardship related to training a new employee. It is yet another instance where experienced representation must be present when maneuvering the permanent labor
Key to H-1B Petitions: Employer-Employee Relationship
Ten months after the release of the Neufeld Memo focusing on the employer-employee relationship aspect of the H-1B petition, the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) appears to have retreated to a more reasonable interpretation of the common law relationship. Focusing on the correct concept of “Right to Control” rather than
Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) for PERM Labor Certification
The Specific Vocational Preparation (SVP) system plays a critical part in PERM Labor Certification and is the basis by which DOL may challenge an excessive job requirement by the employer in PERM Labor Certification filings. It is critical to gain a full understanding of the PERM certification in order to understand
Supreme Court: Right to Immigration Advice Is Protected
Good immigration advice is key to making decisions when it comes to any immigration case. Nine years ago Jose Padilla, a Honduran-born Vietnam veteran who had lived in the United States legally for four decades, asked his attorney if pleading guilty to a drug charge would impact his immigration status.