Tag: citizenship

Have you worked in the US without permission?

Worked in the US without permission? Understand the implications and the importance of disclosure in immigration applications in this article.This won’t be a problem for a spouse of a US citizen UNLESS the person worked without permission and then did NOT disclose that fact when asked about it on an online immigration application, paper submitted application, or in person with an immigration official. A common situation is for a student on an F-visa to babysit while he is in school, and then not disclose that when asked about it on an online immigration application, paper submitted application, or in person with an immigration official. If you’re asked by a US immigration official about unauthorized work and you lie, you may turn a non-problem (the work) into a big problem (lying, fraud, misrepresentation).

If you need to talk to an experienced immigration attorney. We’ve helped hundreds of people traverse the complicated immigration and citizenship process. We would love to help you as well.  Call (617-766-0214) or email hello@cambridgeimmigrationlaw.com to get in touch.

 

Can I renew my two year green card if I am no longer with my spouse?

 

 

Renew your green card through marriage after separation with Form I-751 and a waiver. Get legal help.If you obtained your two-year green card through marriage and you are no longer with your spouse, you may still be able to renew your green card by filing Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. If you are successful, USCIS will grant you a 10-year green card (Form I-551)! To be successful on this application, you will need to show that yours was a “real” (aka bona fide) relationship and marriage. Or, in other words, you need to prove to USCIS that you did not get married just to get a green card.  

 

 

To renew your green card if you are separated from your spouse, you will need to file the Form I-751 jointly with your former spouse. However, if your spouse refuses to sign Form I-751, then you will have to qualify for a waiver to get your Form I-751 approved and your green card renewed for 10 years. You can request for a waiver based on one of the following grounds:

  1. Your spouse has died;
  2. Your marriage was real but your married is legally ended by divorce or annulment;
  3. Your marriage was real, but your US citizen spouse (or green card holding spouse) abused you physically, sexually, financially, or emotionally; or
  4. You will suffer extreme hardship if your green card is not renewed for 10 years.

To win a waiver case, you must not only prove it was a “real marriage” but you also need to prove the other issue of death, divorce, abuse, or extreme hardship. Waiver applications are difficult to prepare and win, and USCIS is always looking for fraud in I-751 waiver applications. Don’t file a waiver application without an experienced immigration attorney!

 

If you need to talk to an experienced immigration attorney. We’ve helped hundreds of people traverse the complicated immigration and citizenship process. We would love to help you as well.  Call (617-766-0214) or email hello@cambridgeimmigrationlaw.com to get in touch.

Fiance Visa to Citizenship

From Fiance visa to citizenshipOur client of many years recently got their Citizenship Application approved! When they came to us, they were a newly engaged couple who had experienced some complications with their Fiancé Visa application.  They decided that they couldn’t wait to get married so we filed an I-130 instead.  Once their application was approved, we worked with them on the National Visa Center applications and prepared them for the Embassy Interview.  Not long after that, the couple was reunited in Massachusetts!  A couple of years later we submitted their I-751 application.  While their I-751 was still pending we submitted their Citizenship Application.  On the day of the interview, both the I-751 and the N-400 were approved! All these years later and the newly engaged couple has grown into a happily married family of four.

 

If you need to talk to an experienced immigration attorney. We’ve helped hundreds of people traverse the complicated immigration and citizenship process. We would love to help you as well.  Call (617-272-7980) or email hello@cambridgeimmigrationlaw.com to get in touch.

US citizenship in less than 3 months

This week one of our clients became a US citizen in less than three months. She had been a permanent resident for more than 5 years and decided that it was time to take the next step in her immigration process. We immediately began to work with her and submitted a strong application to USCIS on her behalf. She was scheduled for her Naturalization interview within 3 months. Our attorney prepared our client for her naturalization interview and went with her to the interview. The attorney was with our client through the whole interview process to make sure everything went smoothly. Our client’s naturalization application was approved the same day. She is now a United States citizen, in what we consider record time.

 

If you need to talk to an experienced immigration attorney. We’ve helped hundreds of people traverse the complicated immigration and citizenship process. We would love to help you as well.  Call (617-272-7980) or email hello@cambridgeimmigrationlaw.com to get in touch.

Expedited Travel Document and Green Card in One Visit

Expedited Travel Document and Green Card in One Visit

Recently, we were able to help one of our clients to get approval on her green card and expedited travel documents. She got a change to visit their very ill mother in India. Our client was waiting on a pending green card application and urgently needed to leave the country. She wanted to see her ill mother and to take care of her. Our attorney was able to get her an appointment to request to expedite her application for a travel document at USCIS. The appointment went so well that not only did our client leave with an approved travel document,  which allowed her to leave the country to visit her mother, she also left the appointment with an approved green card!

 

If you need to talk to an experienced immigration attorney. We’ve helped hundreds of couples traverse the complicated immigration and citizenship process. We would love to help you as well.  Call 617-714-4375 or email hello@cambridgeimmigrationlaw.com to get in touch.

Peace of Mind After 11 Years!

Green card approved after winning the removal proceedings

This week our firm obtained a big win for one of our clients at their removal hearing. Our client had been in removal proceedings since 2011. Our client suffered 11 years of stress because of the removal proceedings.

Our attorney was able to gather strong evidence and argued a strong compelling argument in favor of our client. The court granted our client his green card. Not only will our client get his green card, but he will also have peace of mind and the opportunity to build a future in the United States.

 

If you and your partner are beginning the green card process as an affianced couple or as a married couple, you should discuss your situation with an experienced immigration attorney. We’ve helped hundreds of couples traverse the complicated immigration and citizenship process. We would love to help you as well. Call 617-714-4375 or email hello@cambridgeimmigrationlaw.com to get in touch.

USCIS may reopen on June 4 for US naturalizations/citizenship

Today I received a message from the New England Chapter of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) informing me that USCIS offices in Massachusetts plan to bring workers back into its offices on June 1 and reopen to the public on June 4 for limited services.

Once reopened, USCIS will focus on scheduled small-batch US naturalization ceremonies. Also, USCIS will begin scheduling N-400 interviews.

We do not have information about when green-card/adjustment interviews, biometrics, or other in-person services will resume in Massachusetts.

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 or LPR petitioner is eligible to obtain a green card for his/her family member. In short, the form and the requirements are unfair and likely unlawful.

 

The Form is at https://www.uscis.gov/i-944 .

I am still in the process of making a list of documents that are necessary for this form. In addition to my standard requests for three years of IRS tax transcripts, three years of W-2, recent paystubs and employer letters, I am requesting many more financial documents from my clients. For now, the new list of documents includes:

1. Proof of Petitioner and Beneficiary having health insurance in the form of Form 1095 (a federal tax form), a policy explanation from your health insurance company, or a letter from  your employer regarding your health insurance

2. Credit reports for Petitioner and Beneficiary from one of the major credit agencies, Equifax, Experian or TransUnion

3. Latest bank statements for all Petitioner and Beneficiary’s accounts and

4. Latest statements for all retirement, investment, etc. for Petitioner and Beneficiary

5. Latest mortgage statement from any real estate owned by Petitioner and Beneficiary

6. Latest statements for any car loans, student loans, credit card debt, other loans for Petitioner and Beneficiary

 

$10 million in Grants to Fund Citizenship Preparation Services

USCIS recently funded many community-based organizations that help permanent residents prepare and apply for U.S. citizenship. Look at the information at the USCIS website to see where you may be able to get low-cost or free legal services relating to naturalization. In Boston, Massachusetts, the Irish International Immigrant Center is one of the organizations that recently received funding. Also, look at  Citizenship Resources to use web resources to learn more about the N-400 Application for Naturalization.

If you have complications (such as criminal convictions, tax issues, or lengthy periods of time outside of the US), you should consult with an immigration attorney about your eligibility for US citizenship. I have helped many LPRs with legal complications win citizenship, and I may be able to help you too.

Please visit Citizenship Resources to use web resources that provide learning materials to help permanent residents prepare for the naturalization process.

Credit Cards Payments Accepted for N-400 Applications

Effective September 24, 2015, you may pay for your N-400, Application for Naturalization, using a credit card. The N­400 is the only form that can be paid for by credit card using the G­1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transaction.

For further information please visit AILA.

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Marriage-Based Green Card Document Guide

We work hard to make your immigration case easy for you. Use this easy guide to help you organize the documents that you would use if you are eligible to submit an application for a marriage-based green card application. You should consult with an attorney to figure out if you are eligible for a green card before you submit any applications or documents to the U.S. government.