A leaked draft executive order dramatically changes policies and practices long held by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State relating to admission of immigrants into the United States, grants of lawful permanent resident … [Read more...]
Automatic U.S. Citizenship by Blood
Clients often ask about the path to citizenship. Most are eligible for the long and time consuming path to citizenship through visas, petitions, and Adjustment of Status. However, some are eligible for direct citizenship by blood via the N-600 … [Read more...]
DACA Reinstated, For Now, But Dreamers Still Left Hanging
On January 13, 2018, the federal government, under a federal court order, reinstated the Obama-era .Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) for certain individuals who currently hold or previously held DACA. DACA provides temporary protection … [Read more...]
How Do I Bring My Fiancé Into The United States?
This winter, a sizable number of clients became engaged. Namely, to foreigners that they met on business trips, study abroad programs, or arranged marriages. No matter the reason, they all come to an immigration attorney to ask the same question: How … [Read more...]
Why Don’t They Just Get in Line?
As an immigration attorney, this is a frequent question pondered in my presence. Other similar questions include: What does he need to become a citizen? What can I do to sponsor an employee who’s here undocumented? What can I do to help my star … [Read more...]
Trump Department of Defense Slows the Path to Citizenship for Military Members
Beginning Friday, October 13, 2017, expedited naturalization through Military service in the US Armed Forces is no longer available for certain foreign-born recruits. In order to apply for expedited naturalization, a U.S. lawful permanent … [Read more...]
Latest DACA Update
The current administration has ordered the dismantling of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, an Obama administration measure that gave protection to individuals who were illegally brought into the United States as children. … [Read more...]
Trump Administration to Allow 15,000 More Workers into Country
Contrary to campaign promises that American workers would be given priority for American jobs, the Trump administration has indicated that it will make 15,000 more H-2B visas available for the rest of the fiscal year. Sources say the visas will be … [Read more...]
Texas Lawmaker Seeks to Repeal Senate Bill 4
Earlier this month, Fort Worth State Representative Ramon Romero filed a proposal that would repeal Texas Senate Bill 4. SB4, set to become effective on September 1, 2017, cracks down on so-called "sanctuary" cities, municipalities that opt not to … [Read more...]
Supreme Court Allows Limited Version of Travel Ban
The United States Supreme Court issued an unsigned order on Monday, allowing a very limited version of the travel ban the President attempted to implement by executive order in January. The original travel ban would have imposed a total ban, for a … [Read more...]
Update on Sanctuary Cities in Texas
Here is the latest on the Sanctuary Cities law in Texas. On May 8th, the governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, signed the ban on Sanctuary Cities law in Texas. It will begin on September 1, 2017. This law sets the criminal and civil penalties for local … [Read more...]
Conditional Permanent Resident vs Permanent Resident
Permanent residency can be obtained by immigrants who marry U.S. Citizens. This is a green card renewable every 10 years. There are also cases in which the foreign spouse is given what is called “Conditional Permanent Residency” status. In short, … [Read more...]
