29 Dec 2016

NewsFlash! USCIS Agrees to Accept Previous Editions of Most Forms Until Feb 21, 2017

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued the following announcement this afternoon: When new fees for most of our forms went into effect on December 23, 2016, we published updated versions of the forms at uscis.gov/forms. We strongly encourage customers to submit these new versions,...

23 Dec 2016

NewsFlash! USCIS Issues Slew of Revised Forms; Prior Versions No Longer Valid for Most

Please read the 29.Dec.16 update on this information. Updated Information This afternoon, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) issued a practice alert related to the new forms. It states, in part: AILA reached out to USCIS … to demand a grace period during which prior form versions could...

23 Dec 2016

January 2017 Visa Bulletin Check-In: Explanations and Predictions

Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), supplies visa bulletin explanations nearly every month. This month's update regarding the January 2017 Visa Bulletin provides insights and predictions related to most of the employment-based immigrant visa...

28 Nov 2016

If the parent sponsor is not financially stable enough to sponsor her son by herself, can her daughter, who is a U.S. citizen, be both her employer and a co-signer?

Answer Any U.S. citizen or green card holder can be a "joint sponsor" for a family-based immigrant visa case. (28.Nov.2016)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies the law in real time. For details on chat participation, click...

03 Nov 2016

Most USCIS Filing Fees to Increase on Dec 23, 2016

On October 24, 2016 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a notice in the Federal Register announcing an increase in filing fees for most types of immigration filings. These fee increases are scheduled to go into effect December 23, 2016. USCIS Rationale for Fee...

31 Oct 2016

I am in H1B status and am marrying a U.S. citizen. Due to our work situation, we have to live in different states for the time being. Will this create any problems with my GC case filed through my spouse?

Answer As part of filing for a green card based on a marriage to a U.S. citizen, one must demonstrate the validity of your marriage (i.e. your joint life together). If the couple is living apart, they will need to provide documentation evidencing the cause for...

20 Oct 2016

November 2016 Visa Bulletin Check-In: Explanations and Predictions

Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), supplies monthly visa bulletin explanations. This month's update related to the November 2016 Visa Bulletin includes insights into the employment-based, second preference category for India and China, as...