Answer Unfortunately, permanent residents (i.e. "green card" holders) cannot sponsor siblings. One needs to be a U.S. citizen. Even then, however, the wait in this FB4 category is likely 20+ years. (16.Apr.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that...
Today, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the May 2018 Visa Bulletin. In it, the cutoff date for the employment-based, third preference (EB3) category for India moves forward by a few months. Also, a cutoff date is established for the employment-based, fifth preference (EB5)...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently launched a pilot website to test a redesign of its processing time website, which now displays the data for all forms in an easier-to-read format. In the past, the published processing times of the USCIS have been...
Answer The Foreign Affairs Manual allows the use of a combination of a non-availability certificate, 2 affidavits and "secondary" evidence (like school leaving certificates) to substitute for a birth certificate that is unavailable or defective. (09.Apr.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior...
Answer Ordinarily, if your green card is going to expire within six months of applying for naturalization (form N-400), you are expected to also apply for an I-90 (green card renewal). If you have applied for naturalization more than 6 months before the expiration of your...
Answer Yes, you can have multiple immigrant petitions (employment-based and family-based) happening in parallel. The petitions do not interfere with each other and you ultimately should be able to file for adjustment of status, based on whichever case becomes current first. (02.Apr.2018)In frequent sessions of our...
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in Jennings v. Rodriguez that noncitizens, including lawful permanent residents (i.e. "green card" holders), who are detained by immigration officials while their immigration removal proceedings are pending do not have a right to be released on bond. Summary of the...
Most months, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, Charles Oppenheim, provides visa bulletin explanations and predictions. For the April 2018 Visa Bulletin, Mr. Oppenheim explains the relatively large movement of cutoff dates in several oversubscribed employment-based categories....
Answer Most audits are random. Assuming that the recruitment and filing was done properly, it likely can be cleared as soon as the response is processed. (26.Mar.2018)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law in real...
This afternoon, President Trump signed a federal spending bill that keeps the government open through September 30, 2018. This bill also extends the employment-based, fifth preference (EB5) regional center program for the same time period. The bill does not, however, provide any protections to beneficiaries...
