Immigration Updates

Press Release Date: September 5, 2017 1. WHY IS DHS PHASING OUT THE DACA PROGRAM? – Taking into consideration the federal court rulings in ongoing litigation, and the September 4, 2017 letter from the Attorney General, it is clear that program should be terminated. As such, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security rescinded the June…

USCIS offers immigration services that may help people affected by unforeseen circumstances, including disasters such as Hurricane Harvey. The following measures may be available on a case-by-case basis upon request: Note: When making a request, please explain how the impact of Hurricane Harvey created a need for the requested relief. Call the National Customer Service…

Hundreds of thousands of people are deported from the United States every year. Most are unable to return to the United States on an immigrant visa, due to a variety of factors. Some lack a way to obtain a new immigrant visa, and others face grounds of inadmissibility for which they are unable to obtain…

Release Date: June 15, 2017 On June 15, Department of Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, after consulting with the Attorney General, signed a memorandum rescinding the November 20, 2014 memorandum that created the program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (“DAPA”) because there is no credible path forward…

(i) In general.-An alien present in the United States without being admitted or paroled, or who arrives in the United States at any time or place other than as designated by the Attorney General, is inadmissible. (ii) Exception for certain battered women and children.-Clause (i) shall not apply to an alien who demonstrates that- (I)…

Not all criminal history disqualifies an applicant from receiving a visa or green card. Generally speaking, immigration authorities may deny entry if you have been convicted of any of the following crimes of “moral turpitude”: Even crimes that normally would render a person inadmissible may be subject to a waiver under certain circumstances. Moreover, convictions…

The DACA and DAPA Deferred Action Initiatives

“Pela autoridade que me foi conferida como presidente pela Constituição e pelas leis dos Estados Unidos da América, incluindo a Lei de Imigração e Nacionalidade (INA), Título 8 do Código dos EUA, parágrafo 1101 e alterações subsequentes, e a seção 301 do Título 3 do Código dos Estados Unidos, e para proteger os americanos de…

Release Date: March 15, 2017 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2018 cap on April 3, 2017. All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, 2017, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected. The H-1B program allows companies in the United States to temporarily employ…

Terrorism-Related Inadmissibility Grounds (TRIG) Generally, any individual who is a member of a “terrorist organization” or who has engaged or engages in terrorism-related activity as defined by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is “inadmissible” (not allowed to enter) the United States and is ineligible for most immigration benefits. The definition of terrorism-related activity is…