A top priority for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is to identify people who are attempting to abuse the U.S. immigration process. As a result, if USCIS finds that you are misrepresenting yourself or your history to try to get into, or stay in, the United States, the penalties are severe. According to 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(6)(C)(i), "Any alien who, by fraud or willfully misrepresenting a Read More
Boston EOIR Cases Postponed, Except for Detained Cases
As of 3/18/2020 the Boston Immigration Court will only hear detained master calendar and individual hearings. If you have a hearing (and you are not detained) it is crucial that you stay on top of your case. You should call the EOIR hotline at 1-800-898-7180 on a regular basis (every few days) until you learn of the new hearing date. You will need your A# with you when you call. If you fail to attend the next Read More
USCIS Offices Closure & InfoMod USCIS Appointments
Is USCIS Closed? USCIS offices and Application Support Center Offices closed starting today through 4/1/2020. This means that all "green card"/adjustment of status interviews, InfoMod USCIS (formerly InfoPass) appointments, citizenship interviews, and biometrics interviews scheduled between 3/18 and 4/1 are closed. USCIS states that it will send de-schedule and re-schedule notices to applicants. See USCIS.gov for Read More
Don’t Lie: An Immigration Golden Rule
The immigration process can be stressful and frustrating. It can be tempting to lie on an application or during an immigration interview to get it over with and keep the process “less complicated”. You may even know people who have lied and then successfully obtained their green card and even US citizenship. But lying on an immigration application, or to an immigration officer, is a bad idea. Please don't do Read More
You Married a US Citizen. Now, document your life together and get a green card!
Congratulations on your marriage! Now that you’ve married a U.S. citizen, you’re probably wondering what comes next. U.S. citizens can apply for a foreign-born spouse to move to, or remain in, the U.S. to live permanently. Obtaining a marriage green card is a three-step process. Apply for a “marriage-based” immigrant visa by establishing your marital relationship Apply for your green card Attend the green card Read More
USCIS Obtains “Admissions” to Marijuana Use during USCIS Interviews
Use, possession, sale and other activities relating to marijuana/cannabis are legal in many states in the United States and in other places worldwide. However, all marijuana activities (with very limited scientific research exceptions) are illegal under US federal law and in turn under US immigration law. Non-US citizens using marijuana and/or involved in legal cannabis activities throughout the US put themselves Read More
Why Pay USCIS with a Check, When Will USCIS Cash My Check & More
If you submit an immigration petition to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you almost always pay a fee. Paying a fee may seem pretty straight forward, but there are still small mistakes that can slow down, or in cases with deadlines, thwart your immigration application. You’ll need to ensure that you pay the correct fee. I recommend that clients pay by check or money order, not by credit Read More
Form I-944 Financial Information Required for Most Green Card Applications from within the US
As of February 24, 2020, USCIS requires that all Form I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status ("green card applications") be accompanied by Form I-944 Declaration of Self-Sufficiency. This form requires a burdensome amount of financial documents from the US citizen or LPR petitoner and from the intending immigrant. Also, this inquiry goes well outside the prior scope of financial inquiry of whether the US citizen Read More
Does a criminal record mean that I can never obtain any immigration benefit?
If you’re an immigrant who has ever been arrested, summonsed to court, admitted to criminal activity, or convicted of certain criminal offenses, you must discuss your legal history with an immigration attorney before submitting any paperwork to any US government agency or attending any interview or hearing. A broad category of crimes can render an individual ‘inadmissible’ to the United States and can trigger Read More
Will my criminal history make me ineligible for immigration benefits?
Having a criminal record can affect your ability to receive immigration benefits, whether you’re seeking a temporary visa, green card, or an adjustment of status. But under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) convictions for certain crimes, or admissions to committing certain crimes, will automatically make you “inadmissible” to the United States. If you’ve been convicted of or admitted to any of these crimes, Read More
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