Month: February 2024

Direct link to DACA flowchart.

“A child born to a U.S. citizen overseas through the increasingly common practice of in vitro fertilization with embryos from donor eggs and sperm is not American, unless an American is one of the donors.”  In general, to pass citizenship on to a child, there must be a biological link, or the child must be legally adopted.  “The U.S. State…

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will now issue a combination Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole Document on one card. With the new card, adjustment of status applicants no longer will have to carry both an EAD and a separate paper Advance Parole document while awaiting adjudication of their Form I-485 applications. Instead, applicants only will have…

From today’s USCIS Stakeholder Meeting with Director of USCIS, Alejandro Mayorkas; Director of ICE, John Morton; and, Commissioner of CBP, Aguilar What is deferred action? Deferred action is a discretionary determination to defer removal of a person as an act of prosecutorial discretion. Initial points from Director Alejandro Mayorkas: 1) Period to accept affirmative requests has not yet opened.  At…

I recently represented a remarkable young couple, “Mariana” and “Alejandro,” who applied for an immigrant visa through marriage.  Their names have been changed for privacy purposes.  Mariana filed an immigrant visa petition on behalf of Alejandro based on their marriage, and he recently immigrated to the U.S. Alejandro had been in the U.S. since he was a young boy.  He…

USCIS is now accepting applications for Deferred Action, Childhood Arrivals (“DACA” and formerly referred to as Deferred Action for DREAMers).  I’d like to provide some reference information to help DREAMers, in particular, those who are contacting me for help. What to expect To be able to properly assess your case, you must schedule a consultation, where I will interview you…

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and U visa category offer immigration relief for victims of crimes and domestic violence.  The purpose of the VAWA program is to allow victims the opportunity to “self-petition” or independently seek legal immigration status in the U.S.  The U visa allows for temporary immigration benefits, and eventually, the ability to apply for permanent residence,…

A new study shows that Alabama’s illegal immigration law may cost the state billions.  “From an economist’s perspective, the question Alabama and its legislature have to ponder is this: Are the benefits of the new immigration law [Alabama’s illegal immigration law] worth the costs?”  Preliminarily, the answer is “no.” A Republican House Majority Leader calls the study “baloney” and states,…

The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is a “bipartisan bill that would provide undocumented youths who came to the United States before the age of sixteen a path toward legalization on the condition that they attend college or serve in the U.S. military for a minimum of two years while maintaining good moral character.” A UCLA…