Blog
Voting by Accident and Citizenship
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...
File for Citizenship Now or Pay More Later
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...
DACA: Dead or Alive?
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...
Why the New Public Charge Rule Has Made it Harder for Immigrants to Obtain Green Cards
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...
Non-immigrant Student Visa Holders Face Roadblocks Under Trump Administration
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...
DACA Stays – Dreamers’ Dreams Come True…At Least For Now
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...
Victims of Human Trafficking May Qualify for Green Cards
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...
The Dangers of Denaturalization
A naturalization oath ceremony is a highly emotional event. It marks for many, a point in life where the road to U.S. citizenship has finally come to a close. A common misconception is that once a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) naturalizes, that this...
COVID-19 in the Context of Immigration Benefits
It is Thursday, March 26, 2020, and tomorrow will mark two weeks that the office of Michael G. Murray, P.A. has operated remotely, serving our immigration clients from the safety of our homes. COVID-19 has affected immigrants in countless ways that remain to be fully...
How long does it take for a VAWA Abused Spouse Petition to be Approved?
TheViolence Against Women Act (VAWA) has immigration provisions to protect non-resident victims of domestic violence. Though other provisions of VAWA expired in 2018, the immigration provisions do not require congressional reauthorization, and therefore remain in...