Family-based visas

May 4, 2009

Waiver Appointments at Ciudad Juarez, México

Romben Law, APC has been informed that the US Consulate-General at Ciudad Juárez is modifying the way it processes waivers. Immigrant visa applicants who seek a waiver of a ground of inadmissibility at Ciudad Juárez, México should expect to wait at least two months for the waiver interview. Our Los Angeles clientele includes many Méxican nationals, and those who to Mexico.jpg are applying for waivers will experience this delay and should plan accordingly.

Because applicants have flooded the Consulate with requests for waivers, and because many of those applicants do not even qualify for the waiver in the first place, the immigrant visa unit at the Consulate has been inundated. The result has been (a) the imposition of a 48-hour waiting period before an applicant can even telephone to make a waiver interview appointment, and (b) a wait of at least two months for the appointment.

Applicants should make plans in advance, because unless an applicant has a valid visa, it is unlikely that an applicant can return to the USA prior to the waiver interview. That means that applicants will need to anticipate an extended stay in México, until the waiver is granted. Further, because of safety considerations, applicants may wish to pass that waiting time in a city other than Juárez. If you have questions about how waivers work and whether you qualify, please feel free to contact us. –jcf

May 1, 2009

Economic Downturn Causes Couples to Live in Different Cities

by Romben Law, APC

Romben Law, APC is an immigration law firm with extensive experience with family-based petitions. Although we are located in Los Angeles, we handle cases throughout the USA, and we have recently noticed that the economic slowdown being felt in the USA is causing some married couples to take jobs in different cities.

This situation is hard enough on families where everyone is a US citizen. The effect on a couple which has pending marriage-based application for a legal permanent resident card — the so-called “green card” — can be horrendous. In my experience, many immigration officers don’t or won’t understand that economic need, job opportunities, family issues, and other circumstances can cause a perfectly legitimate married couple to have to live apart for a time.

Couples with marriage-based immigration cases should take care to (a) document the circumstances of the separate residences, (b) include any employment contracts or offers, (c) continue to place both spouses names on documentation like bills, insurance policies, leases, etc., to demonstrate that the couple is living in marital union.

April 20, 2009

2009 Immigration Poverty Guidelines

by Romben Law, APC

Here at Romben Law, APC, we handle many cases for which a “financial sponsor” must submit an I-134 or I-864 Affidavit of Support. These “sponsors” must have resources and income sufficient to meet US government “poverty guidelines.”

The US Department of Health and Human Services sets the poverty guidelines annually. The poverty guidelines in effect for 2009 are set forth here. All cases filed after 1 March 2009 are expected to meet the standard set in the new poverty guideline. –jcf

April 15, 2009

Visiting Cuba

by Romben Law, APC

The Obama Administration announced a change in policy that will loosen US restrictions on Americans who wish to travel to Cuba. The immigration law firm of Romben Law, APC represents a number of Cubans and others in the Los Angeles area who have asked whether it is now possible to visit Cuba.

The announcement on 13 April 2009 states that the government will (a) lift restrictions regarding travel of family members to the island nation, (b) permit remittances to family members in Cuba, (c) relax restrictions for US telecom companies to establish facilities, permit roaming services, offer telecom services, and donate certain consumer telecom devices to Cuba.

Although the announced changes will permit a Cuban-American (and family members who share the American’s home) to visit persons “within three degrees of family relationship,” there has not yet been a blanket removal of the travel restrictions to Cuba for non-Cuban-Americans.

April 8, 2009

Same-sex Couples and Immigration Reform

by Romben Law, APC

As the pioneering Los Angeles immigration law firm that has always welcomed inquiries and consultation from members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities, Romben Law, APC has been tracking the progress of Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) in the US Congress.

The New York Times is reporting that the White House will begin pushing Comprehensive Immigration Reform soon. The Uniting American Families Act (UAFA )must be included in the reform package.

UAFA will permit US citizens to petition for and immigrate their same-sex partners, on an equal basis as traditional spouses.