Immigration News

Nielsen v. Preap, Supreme Court Ruling 2019

In a new case earlier this month, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Nielsen v. Preap that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can detain convicted immigrants after the alien is released from criminal detention. The wording of the ruling has left immigration advocates and civil rights groups alarmed at its vagueness; when does release from criminal

Changes to “I-539” Application to Extend/Change Non-Immigrant Status-What to Look Out For

On March 08, 2019,  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued a “significantly revised” I-539 Application to Extend/Change Non-Immigrant Status. Many people are familiar with the I-539 as it is the application used to extend anything from a tourist visa to an H-1B visa.  Significant changes involved in USCIS’ revision to the I-539 include: (1)

Top 10 Questions for Court Removal

Can they detain me at my Master Calendar Hearing? No, they cannot. Individuals in removal proceedings will have a right to fight their case at their individual hearing, at a later date. What happens after I pay my bond, do I get my money back? The Department of Homeland Security’s agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement,

Another Client’s Successful I-730 Approval

In 2018, we traveled to Port Isabel Detention Center to defend an individual from Africa who was seeking asylum in the United States.  He was separated from his wife and children, so the family had to fight their cases separately in a non-detained court. We successfully defended our client in Port Isabel and then filed

Common Mistakes When Filling Out Applications: What to Look Out For

By Attorney Nadia Khalid In 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has continued to see an uptick in the volume of applications submitted and a consequent increase in their backlog and processing times. Part of this increase in the volume of applications comes from applicants who are filling out and filing applications on their

¿Tengo una fecha de corte, pero es verdadera?

Por la Abogada Cynthia Milian Hace casi dos meses, nuestra firma fue contratada para representar a un cliente que fue dejado en libertad de un centro de detención bajo la condición de reconocimiento. A nuestro cliente se le proveyó con una notificación para presentarse en la corte de no detención el 31 de Enero del

I have a court date, but is it really true?

By Attorney Cynthia Milian About two months ago, our firm was hired to represent a client that was released on recognizance from a detention center. They were given a Notice to Appear in a non-detained court for January 31, 2019. From the moment we were hired, we called the 1-800 hotline and contacted the court

Asylum Updates In 2019: What to Expect in The New Year

By Attorney Nadia Khalid Updated April 2019 As of April 2019, hundreds of affirmative asylum applications remain, to this day, without an interview after being pending anywhere from 1-3 years. If this situation describes you, here are some important updates, as of April 2019, that are helpful for you to keep in mind: Asylum Interview:

USCIS Publishes Final H-1B Rule

By Attorney Michele Strickland The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final rule amending regulations governing H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those that may be eligible for the advanced degree exemption on January 31, 2019. The final rule reverses the order by which U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) selects H-1B petitions under the H-1B

What to Know for the Rapidly Approaching H-1B Season!

By Attorney Michele Strickland Premium Processing Resumes for FY 2019 H-1B Cap Cases USCIS announced that it has resumed premium processing service for all FY 2019 H-1B cap, effective January 28, 2019.  These are petitions filed during the first week of April 2019 for and October 1, 2019 start date.  All H-1B cap petitions are