On April 16, 2001, the Department of State issued its interim rule regarding the procedures for processing visas under the new V visa and K visa categories created by the Legal Immigration Family Equity (LIFE) Act. This rule implements five new nonimmigrant visa categories (V-1, V-2 and V-3 and K-3, K-4) that permit United States […]
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Responding to the September 11th terrorist attacks, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act in October of 2001. Among the many new requirements imposed by the law is a special registration system for nonimmigrants from designated countries. The registration system is designed in part as a substitute for a larger entry-exit system, which many have wanted […]
On September 11, 2002, the Bush Administration rolled out a new special registration system for certain nonimmigrants. The first phase of the special registration system, dubbed the National Security Entry Exit Registration System (NSEERS), requires that all citizens and nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria comply with the new monitoring requirements. The second […]
What is “earned legalization”? “Earned legalization” is the term describing a work-benefits program for undocumented aliens in the United States, where work is rewarded with the opportunity to receive legal status. Undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for a certain period of time can earn their legal status in the U.S. This program […]
The Dallas District of USCIS has announced that on May 3, 2004, it will launch a pilot project to determine whether adjustment of status applications (using Form I-485) can be adjudicated within 90 days. The pilot program will track different aspects of the adjudication process to determine its strengths and weaknesses. We normally don’t cover […]
The Department of Homeland Security recently issued a memorandum to provide field offices with guidance on processing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, when the beneficiary of an approved Form I-140, Petition for Immigrant Worker, is eligible to change employers under § 106(c) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century […]
Well you finally have become a permanent resident. Now it is important that you understand your rights, how to maintain your status and how to comply with various legal requirements. Conditional Permanent Residency If you obtained your permanent residency through marriage to a US citizen or through an EB-5 investment, your permanent residency may […]
Under US immigration law, people who qualify for permanent residency normally have the choice of processing their green card in the US through a process called adjustment of status or process abroad at a US consulate. Processing in the US through adjustment of status normally requires a demonstration that the applicant has always complied with […]
As the deadline for filing applications to take advantage of the temporary restoration of section 245(i), April 30, rapidly approaches, we provide a repeat of an earlier article on the subject, along with some tips on last minute filing. Initially enacted in 1994, section 245(i), referring to its place in the Immigration and Nationality Act, […]
Immigration through a family member who is a US citizen or permanent resident is the most common way of gaining US residency. All that is required is the qualifying family relationship. The ease with which a person can immigrate through a family member is in keeping with American notions of the importance of the family. […]
