Immigration Blog

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration & Elder Law 20-Jul-2018

NEW GUIDANCE MAKES IT EASIER TO DENY IMMIGRATION APPLICATIONS

Effective September 11, 2018, immigration agencies will no longer be required to issue Requests for Evidence (RFE) or Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID) prior to denying a application for immigration benefits. In the past, if additional evidence was ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration & Elder Law 22-Feb-2017

Ways To Protect Your Family If You Are Detained or Removed (Deported)

Over the past few weeks, my office has been receiving numerous calls from undocumented immigrants, concerned about what will happen to their families if they are detained or removed from the United States. On February 21, 2017, new enforcement ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 15-Jun-2015

Naturalization

NATURALIZATION Nationalization is the process by which foreign nationals gain United States citizenship. Most permanent residents are eligible to apply for naturalization after holding permanent resident (LPR) status for five years. However, if you ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 27-May-2015

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Decision on Injunction

On May 26, 2015, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Federal Government's appeal of the temporary injunction which prevents the Department of Homeland Security from implementing the newly-announced DAPA and extended DAPA programs. The ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 16-Apr-2015

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to Hear Oral Arguments on Executive Action Injunction

On April 17, 2015, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in the case of State of Texas, et al. v. United States. This is the case in which Texas and other states challenged President Obama's November 2014 executive actions. ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 21-Nov-2014

BEWARE OF IMMIGRATION SCAMS

Now that the President has announced numerous new immigration programs, there is tremendous excitement in the immigrant community. Unfortunately, this also raises issues of unscrupulous individuals hoping to take advantage of the situation. Here are ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 21-Nov-2014

ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS PRE-REGISTRATION

Soon, many individuals who are beneficiaries of an approved employment-based immigrant visa petition (I-140) will be eligible to pre-register for adjustment of status. Currently, most employment-based immigrant visa categories have a several year ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 21-Nov-2014

EXPANSION OF STATESIDE WAIVER PROGRAM

As part of the new immigration plan announced by President Obama, USCIS will be expanding the I-601A, Stateside Provisional Waiver program. Currently, this program benefits spouses and children of U.S. citizens who would experience extreme hardship ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 21-Nov-2014

TPS DESIGNATION FOR LIBERIA, GUINEA, AND SIERRA LEONE

As of November 21, 2014, three additional countries have been designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Individuals from Liberia, Guinea, and Seirra Leone who have been physically present in the U.S. since November 20, 2014 are potentially ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 20-Nov-2014

EXECUTIVE ACTION TO BE ANNOUNCED TONIGHT

Tonight at 8:00pm, President Obama will announce a new executive order that will provide deferred action for many foreign nationals currently without legal status. It is expected that one group that will be affected is parents of United States ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 1-Aug-2014

DACA RENEWAL

USCIS has announced guidelines for DACA renewal. The process requires a new application and application fee as well as some supporting documentation. You must submit information relating to any arrests/criminal charges incurred since you last applied ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 24-Jan-2014

Same-Sex Partnerships Recognized Under Immigration Law

The End of DOMA: New Beginnings for Immigration Law In what will likely be regarded as one of the more impactful decisions in high court history, the US Supreme Court struck down a key provision of the Defense of Marriage Act on June 26, 2013. ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 3-May-2013

Caution Advisory

Now that comprehensive immigration reform is being widely discussed it is important to make sure you receive accurate information and only deal with licensed professionals when seeking advise and assistance with your immigration case. Every day there ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 15-Jan-2013

New Stateside Provisional Waiver

On March 4, 2014, USCIS will begin accepting applications for the new stateside provisional waiver. Currently, individuals who entered the United States without a visa are ineligible to adjust status (become a permanent resident from within the U.S.) ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 8-Aug-2012

Deferred Action Update

USCIS has provided updated information for affirmative deferred action applicants. Although the application form has not yet been released, USCIS will begin accepting these applications on August 15, 2012. The total application fee to the Department ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 22-Jun-2012

Applications for Deferred Action

Affirmative applications for deferred action are not yet being accepted by USCIS, nor have application procedures and fees been released. USCIS is expected to provide information about how to apply for deferred action in early to mid-August. In the ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 15-Jun-2012

New Napolitano Memo

Our office has already begun receiving calls about the new immigration directive. Here's what we know so far: This is not a new law. Rather, it is a directive to USCIS, ICE, and DHS officials regarding enforcement priorities and the use of ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 3-Feb-2012

New Proposed Waiver Process

There has been a lot of talk the past few days about USCIS's proposal to change their process for handling I-601 hardship waivers. As background information, currently unless you entered the U.S. legally or are grandfathered under the 245i ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 19-Sep-2011

Visa Priority Dates - October 2011

Below are the priority dates as of October 1, 2011, as published in the Visa Bulletin. If you are awaiting a visa number and have an approved I-130 or I-140 dated prior to the date listed for your category, you are now eligible to apply for an ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 19-Sep-2011

Visa Priority Dates - September 2011

Below are the priority dates as of September 1, 2011, as published in the Visa Bulletin. If you are awaiting a visa number and have an approved I-130 or I-140 dated prior to the date listed for your category, you are now eligible to apply for an ...

Posted By Kelli Y. Allen Immigration Law 19-Sep-2011

Immigration Bonds

If you have been detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), you will generally be required to pay a bond if you wish to be released from custody while awaiting your immigration removal hearing. Immigration bonds are set by an immigration ...