The delays at USCIS have reached egregious levels. Work permit applications, including renewals, are pending well over 6 months (when it used to take just 3). Adjustment of status and naturalization applications are taking over a year in several jurisdictions, including Dallas. Despite paying hefty fees for their applications, immigrants are simply not receiving the […]

The Department of State has released the June 2019 visa bulletin. Visit it here. The family preference categories have all either stayed the same or moved forward slightly. For adjustment of status cases, visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at www.uscis.gov/visabulletininfo to determine whether applicants should use the “Final Action Dates” chart or […]

Bad news of the day #2. Beginning November 19, 2018, USCIS may issue Notices to Appear for removal proceedings based on denials of applications by trafficking victims (T visa applicants), victims of certain crimes (U visa applicants), domestic violence victims (Violence Against Women Act self petitioners), special immigrant juveniles, and refugee/asylee relatives (I-730 applicants). Prior […]

Now the bad news of the day #1. The Trump administration announced new rules today that would, in effect, create a bar to asylum for certain individuals who cross the border at a place that is not a port of entry. Asylum is a humanitarian protection afforded to those who fear persecution in their home […]

It has been yet another busy – and exhausting – day in the immigration law world. A bit of good news and, as is the norm these days, plenty of bad. Let’s start with the good. Today, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling preventing the Trump administration from ending the […]