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USCIS No Longer Requiring Proof of Covid-19 Vaccine for Green Card Applications

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Feb 06, 2025 | 0 Comments

In a massive shift from the last several years, USCIS announced that, effective January 22, 2025, it is waiving all requirements that an adjustment of status (green card) applicant have received the Covid-19 vaccine or have proof of it on their I-693 civil surgeon medical exam. Read our latest blog to understand what this means for your application for permanent residency!

USCIS Extends Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador, Sudan, Ukraine, & Rescinds TPS for Venezuela

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Feb 06, 2025 | 0 Comments

We bet you’re confused.  There has been an excessive amount of immigration orders and new policies released this week, and we know it’s hard to keep up with understanding all of them - that’s why we’re here! With all the discouraging immigration news that has come out this week, we want to highlight some good news and some unfortunate news about TPS. 

USCIS Announces Revised Form I-129: Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Jan 29, 2025 | 0 Comments

H-1B visas have been in the news a lot lately. Tesla’s Elon Musk, now tapped to co-head an efficiency department within the federal government, has been speaking out about the importance of H-1B visas for the Tech Industry, but did you know that in order to obtain an H-1B visa a Form I-129 has to be filed with USCIS? Read our latest blog to learn about this visa type!

Medical Examinations Now Required with Green Card Applications

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Jan 20, 2025 | 0 Comments

Are you eligible to file a green card application and wondering what is required? USCIS now requires that a Form I-693 medical examination be filed AT the time of submission of the Form I-485 (green card application). Read our latest blog to find out what to prepare for your application!

Automatic Extensions for Certain EAD Renewal Applicants is now Permanent

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Jan 13, 2025 | 0 Comments

The Department of Homeland Security has announced a very helpful new permanent rule - the automatic extension of employment authorization will be increased from 180 days to up to 540 days for certain EAD renewal applicants. Read our latest blog to learn whether your application qualifies for this automatic extension.

Layoffs at Processing Center Likely to Lead to Government Delays

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Jan 07, 2025 | 0 Comments

It’s simple math. Less people equals less work. Yet in the midst of record setting USCIS filings, layoffs were announced in early December for one of the most well known USCIS service centers, and we now expect that there will be delays in processing USCIS applications. Read our latest blog to learn more.        

Can My Child Get U.S. Citizenship? USCIS Updates Guidance on Custody and Acquiring U.S. Citizenship

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Dec 21, 2024 | 0 Comments

Do you think your child is eligible for U.S. citizenship but you’re confused about whether they have it already or need to apply for it? Read our latest blog to learn about the latest update USCIS released to explain when custody determines a child’s eligibility for U.S. citizenship.  

I'm on DACA, Can I Travel Without Advanced Parole? An FAQ on Travel for DACA Recipients

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Dec 20, 2024 | 0 Comments

There are a lot of unknowns right now, and while we can’t directly predict the future, there are concrete steps to take in protecting your DACA status. One of those steps is to be wise about any travel. Read our latest blog to find answers to some frequently asked questions about travel as a DACA recipient.

USCIS Releases New Medical Examination Guidance for Afghan Nationals

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Dec 10, 2024 | 0 Comments

Whenever anyone applies to the U.S. government for permanent residency (a green card), there is a mandatory medical exam that has to be completed. If you are an Afghan national applying for a green card who entered during the 2021 Evacuation, USCIS has updated guidance for that mandatory medical exam. Read our latest blog to learn what this means for you!

Judge Rules Against Parole in Place for Mixed Status Families

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Dec 02, 2024 | 0 Comments

It’s been six months of uncertainty, and now the conclusion is the opposite of what we were hoping for.  Recently a federal judge ruled against Parole in Place - the process created by the Biden Administration under the Keeping Families Together program. Read our latest blog to learn what this means.

DACA Update: Back in the Courts

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Nov 19, 2024 | 0 Comments

Uncertainty.  That’s the reigning feeling that looms over DACA recipients and their families. We wish we had more definitive news to tell you about DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), but in an unfortunate but unsurprising turn, DACA is back in the courts with another federal lawsuit.  Read our latest blog to learn about the new DACA lawsuit.

Lebanese Citizens in the U.S. Granted Eligibility for Employment Authorization Under Deferred Enforced Departure Announcement

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Nov 19, 2024 | 0 Comments

Are you from Lebanon and wondering about your continued immigration status in the United States? Read our latest blog to see if you qualify for Deferred Enforced Departure, the process President Biden announced to assist certain Lebanese nationals currently in the U.S.

What is an Asylum EAD Clock and What Does the Latest Federal Settlement Mean for It?

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Oct 29, 2024 | 0 Comments

Do you ever feel like it’s hard to understand legal jargon? Maybe you thought you knew the meaning of something and then found out that it means something else entirely? Well, as it turns out, a lot of people working in the legal field can interpret something differently too.  One of the latest federal immigration lawsuits to be settled, Garcia Perez vs. USCIS, highlights this - a difference of opinion/interpretation that has resulted in the delay of hundreds, if not thousands, of employment authorization documents (EADs) for those with pending asylum applications. 

Immigrants Pay Nearly 1 out of every 6 Tax Dollars

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Oct 21, 2024 | 0 Comments

One of the misconceptions about immigrants that gets mentioned a lot by politicians and the media is that immigrants are draining the economy and not paying taxes. While this has been disproven time and time again, a recent article in Newsweek put the argument to rest with cold, hard math - almost one out of every six tax dollars being paid by immigrants!  Read our latest blog to learn more about immigration households and taxes!

California USCIS Service Center Relocates

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Oct 07, 2024 | 0 Comments

As part of its goal to centralize immigration processing and reduce its backlog, USCIS has moved one of its service centers. Timeliness means everything in legal filing, and sending an application to the wrong address can mean the difference between it being accepted or rejected. Read our latest blog to check whether this latest service center move affects your case.

Biden Administration Fast Tracks Naturalization Cases

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Sep 29, 2024 | 0 Comments

Naturalization cases are currently processing at their fastest pace in a decade.  We are now two months away from Election Day 2024, and a common practice in an election year is for the government to help naturalization cases move faster, creating more people eligible to vote in November.  Read our latest blog to know how to prepare if you are waiting for your naturalization case to process!

Federal Judge Extends Pause of Parole in Place for Mixed Status Families

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Sep 20, 2024 | 0 Comments

It happened again.  Instead of making a decision on the status of parole in place, the hold that was announced a couple weeks ago by a federal judge in Texas has been extended again. This time the hold is supposed to be until September 23, although it may go longer. Read our latest blog to learn how we believe this will develop.

Tips for Filing with USCIS by Mail

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Sep 08, 2024 | 0 Comments

Although all USCIS forms are available to be viewed and downloaded online, only 18 (out of 103!) can be filed online. In order to ensure your paper application can be processed as efficiently as possible, USCIS has released new tips for filing forms by mail. Read our latest blog to learn all the most important tips!

Federal Court Judge Blocks Parole in Place for Keeping Families of U.S. Citizens Together

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Aug 31, 2024 | 0 Comments

This week, in a move that was disappointing but not entirely shocking, a federal judge in Texas paused parole in place for undocumented families. The block is a “14-day administrative pause on approving applications to the program,” with the possibility of an extension.  Read our latest blog to learn more about this situation.

The ‘Keeping Families Together’ Parole in Place is Live - How Do I File?

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Aug 26, 2024 | 0 Comments

A few days ago the new USCIS parole-in-place process opened, which will enable certain undocumented, eligible family members to remain in the U.S. while applying for permanent residence. Below we have outlined the steps to take to apply for your eligible family members. 

New Online Portal Makes EOIR Immigration Court More Accessible

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Aug 22, 2024 | 0 Comments

Did you know that if you’re involved in a court case in the United States you are supposed to have access to the filings? The new Respondent Access Portal allows individuals to view their case information and scheduled hearings online, download their electronic case file, and file documents with the Immigration Court. Read our blog to learn how to access your own filings online.

Parole in Place Enrollment Date Announced for Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Aug 04, 2024 | 0 Comments

August is going to be an exciting month for many, many people.  The new parole-in-place status announced by the Biden Administration will enable certain undocumented, eligible family members to remain in the U.S. while applying for permanent residence. And on August 19, 2024, families will be able to start applying for this new process.  Read our latest blog to learn more about this exciting application!

DACA Recipient Becomes First Undocumented Attorney to Argue at the Supreme Court, and He’s Fighting for DACA

Posted by Hugo R. Valverde, Managing Attorney, and Anna D. Colby, Attorney Social Media Marketing Manager | Aug 04, 2024 | 0 Comments

If you’re a DACA recipient who has chosen to live a quiet, non-public life, no one is judging you. But we are feeling very inspired and encouraged watching the life of Luis Cortes Romero, a DACA recipient who has chosen to put his immigration status front and center to make history as the first undocumented attorney to argue before the United States Supreme Court.  Read our latest blog to learn about Luis Cortes Romero and the new documentary about his life!

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