Covid & Consular Post Updates: K-1s, Immigrant Visa Interviews, and USCIS Interviews

Many of our clients have been patiently waiting for their interviews at the U.S. consulate overseas or with USCIS to be rescheduled following agency closures due to the Covid pandemic. Unfortunately, many of our clients, and other applicants, are sti… Read More
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October 2020 Visa Bulletin: FAQs for I-485 Preparation

Our office is in full swing I-485 prep mode, helping clients old and new file the I-485 application for adjustment of status, and sometimes a concurrent I-140 downgrade. We are list the Frequently Asked Questions and answers here, as a point of refer… Read More
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Can I downgrade my EB-2 I-140 petition to EB-3?

With the October 2020 visa bulletin dropping this morning, we’ve received lots of questions about whether it’s possible to file an I-140 petition “downgrade” to EB-3. The answer is yes, it likely is! This refers to a situation in which a fore… Read More
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Surviving and Thriving Through the H-1B Cap Lottery Loser Blues: 15 H-1B Alternatives

By Brianne Donovan USCIS has conducted the H-1B cap lottery and by this time, the H-1B cap “winners” (those whose registration was selected) have been notified. If your H-1B registration was not selected in the lottery, the online portal will sti… Read More
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New Public Charge Rule is Here: Brace Yourselves (and consider filing now)!

The information below may significantly impact many types of U.S. immigration filings, including green card applications (both ones filed from within the US, and ones filed through consular processing), as well as nonimmigrants (H-1B, L, E, etc) in c… Read More
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I-751 Conditional Residence Processing Delays, Receipt Delays, and a Solution?

USCIS has traditionally taken a long time to process the I-751 petitions to remove the conditions on a marriage-based green card — we typically tell clients it will take around a year if everything goes as expected. However, in this current pre… Read More
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Visa Bulletin Predictions for June 2018 and Beyond!

Each month the American Immigration Lawyers Association has a “check-in” with Charlie Oppenheim, the man behind the curtain of the visa bulletin. During this check-in, Mr. Oppenheim provides us with his own insights and analysis of current green… Read More
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What You Can Do While Waiting For The Work Permit Approval

By Nikita Hernandez, Paralegal at Sumner Immigration Law Generally speaking, when a person applies for a green card in the U.S. by submitting the I-485 application for adjustment of status, they cannot work in the U.S. until they receive the work per… Read More
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Breaking News: USCIS Fees Are Increasing – File Now or Forever Pay Higher Fees!

In May 2016, USCIS issued a new proposed rule that would increase USCIS filing fees for the first time since 2010. The comment period on the proposed rules has ended, and USCIS has published an advance copy of the final rule. We anticipate that the f… Read More
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How to Get a Social Security Number and Driver’s License After Receiving a Green Card or EAD

If you are a foreign national living in the U.S. and you recently applied for a green card or received an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), you may be wondering how to get a Social Security Number (SSN) or driver’s license. These documents a… Read More
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