Immigration Visa Attorney BlogA Note Of Appreciation For A Blessed Life
This week marks my 40th birthday. As one can imagine, this event has made me very contemplative about my professional goals and my personal aspirations.
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Articles Posted in Immigration
No Visa Policy for Philippine citizens?
All that glitters is not gold
So don’t believe what you’ve been told
— Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Last Tuesday as I was leaving court, I reached for my phone to find that it was blowing up (as the kids say these days). Apparently, there was an internet article that stated that the Philippines had been added to the list of “visa waiver” countries and that Filipinos no longer needed to go to the U.S. Embassy prior to visiting the United States. It was everywhere: my voicemails, my text messages, my Facebook feed. Even my mom called to ask about it!
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Deportations Decline, Expedited Removals Rise
The decline in deportations still leaves immigrants vulnerable
According to recently released government statistics, there has been a 43% decline in deportations ordered by immigration judges. Unfortunately, these statistics do not include “expedited removals” — individuals who are issued a deportation order at the border without ever seeing an immigration judge. Those numbers are on the rise.
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US Naturalization 101
US Naturalization 101
What you need to know to apply for naturalization in the United States
Regular readers of this blog may have noticed that I have been writing about naturalization quite a bit lately. First, the one about a looming deadline. More recently, the one about my client with a prior denial turned around, and then the one about a noticeable increase in new citizens hailing from Africa. But, what do you need to be eligible for apply for naturalization in the first place?!?
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Immigration Marriage Fraud
Thinking of getting married just for the green card?
ICE is cracking down on fraudulent marriage cases.
My former boss tells his clients “Marriage is the fastest and easiest way to get a green card. However, you need a good foundation. It’s like a house. If the foundation is good, then everything that is built on it will be good. But if it’s bad, then it will lead to a lot of problems.” What kinds of problems exactly? Well,
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African Immigrants Applying For US Citizenship
What is driving this growing trend in immigration?
The reasons are not so different than those of immigrants coming from other countries
This contribution to the blog post comes to you from Phoenix, Arizona. I’m traveling to assist a client with her claim for asylum. Since I’m currently out of state and because naturalization seems to be a hot topic at my office these days, I wanted to share with you a story from the Boston Globe.
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Overturning An Immigration Denial Due To A False Claim To US Citizenship
Was your application denied because of a false claim to citizenship?
If the claim was made before 1996, it may not affect your application for naturalization.
One of the things that gives me immense pleasure as an immigration lawyer is taking a case that had previously been denied and turning it into an approval. It involves a close read of the government’s denial letter, a searching analysis of what errors were made (either by the government, the prior attorney, or the client), and then crafting a strategy towards a different, more favorable outcome.
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Immigration Marriage Interview: Hollywood Myths Dispelled
How the USCIS really handles marriage interviews
The other night, I was watching the tele with my wife. As regular readers of this blog know, that means I was watching one of my wife’s shows again. On a recent episode of “Trophy Wife,” Kate (played by Malin Akerman) discovers that her marriage paperwork didn’t go through and she’s in danger of being deported . . . to Canada! (If you haven’t watched it yet, be advised that spoilers are ahead.) Now — I’d like to compare the Hollywood marriage interview experience to reality.
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Protect Yourself When Seeking Immigration Counsel
When seeking to hire a good immigration attorney, “buyer beware” applies.
A few weeks ago, I raved about how I enjoy the “camaraderie and professionalism” of my fellow immigration practitioners. This is true . . . for the most part. Unfortunately, as with many things, there are a few bad apples.
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Form N-400 Doubles In Size On May 4, 2014
If you are planning to apply for citizenship, you may want to do so before May 4, 2014.
I have previously discussed the benefits of becoming a U.S. citizen in order to “save” one’s children. I still believe that if you want to become a U.S. citizen, you should pursue it as soon as you are eligible. However, I occasionally come across potential clients who have been lawful permanent residents for a long time . . . and want to renew their green cards before the expiration date.
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