Many immigrants are scared of reporting their experiences as victims of crime because they believe they will risk deportation from the United States if they come forward. U.S. law provides several protections and options for legal and undocumented immigrants who have been victims of a crime. There are specific protections for victims of domestic violence, …
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Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is an immigration benefit for immigrants present in the United States, whose countries have experienced a humanitarian crisis. The relevant TPS countries are Syria; Sudan; South Sudan; Somalia; Honduras; Nicaragua; Nepal; Haiti; El Salvador; and Yemen. Each TPS designated country has its own specific requirements for qualification. Click here for more info. …
Continue reading “TPS ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS, I.E. OBTAINING YOUR GREEN CARD WITH TPS”
In order for immigrants to apply for citizenship, applicants must, among other qualifications, proof of GMC (Good Moral Character). Immigration is assessing whether the lawful permanent resident has good character and follows state and federal laws in order to qualify for naturalization. To be a person of good moral character means that the individual will …
Continue reading “Applying for Citizenship with Arrests or Citations”
As the United States, 2020 General Election grows closer, more and more individuals are registering to vote for this historic election. With the Covid-19 pandemic still a prominent issue, voting will no doubt look different this year, but will that also help to increase the problem of noncitizen voting by accident? The process of getting …
On October 2, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will increase filing fees for naturalization applications from $720 to $1,160 or $1,170 for online applications. The fee waivers associated with citizenship applications will also become significantly more difficult to obtain. Previously, one could get a fee waiver by simply showing they were receiving a …
Continue reading “File for Citizenship Now or Pay More Later”
In 2012 under the Obama administration, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was created to assist some individuals with unlawful presence in the United States after being brought to the country as children. DACA allows these individuals to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and obtain work authorization. This program …
On August 14, 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), published new rules which expand the current definition of public charge. This impacted thousands of immigrants who wish to obtain lawful permanent residency in the United States (a green card) or to extend their …
On March 7, 2020, President Trump declared a national emergency regarding the spread of Covid-19 in America. The spread of the virus has had a big impact on the nation’s education system. This school year’s abrupt halt with in-person learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic has left many international students pondering what to do concerning …
Continue reading “Non-immigrant Student Visa Holders Face Roadblocks Under Trump Administration”
This year’s presidential election has one more significant stake – the fate of DACA recipients, otherwise known as “Dreamers.” The Supreme Court on June 17, 2020, rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to end the DACA program, handing a major victory to about 700,000 immigrants — most of whom entered the U.S. illegally as children more than …
Continue reading “DACA Stays – Dreamers’ Dreams Come True…At Least For Now”
In October 2000, Congress created T nonimmigrant status (often referred to as the “T Visa”) to fight against human trafficking and to provide immigration relief for those who are trafficked into the United States. T nonimmigrant status is a temporary immigration visa that allows certain victims of an extreme form of human trafficking to remain …
Continue reading “Victims of Human Trafficking May Qualify for Green Cards”