“Maryland”

When You or Your Loved One Signs to Be Removed from the United States with ICE then Change Your Mind

We often have detained clients who contact our office after signing to be removed from the United States. These clients have often been detained unexpectedly and are tired. Suddenly an ICE Officer appears advising client that their case may be “hopeless”. The ICE officer then provides the option for the client to sign to be removed.

Detained individuals will typically be presented with two different documents when in immigration detention.  An 826 Notice is presented and a 10 page document… Continue reading

TPS – Special Situations and Humanitarian Relief Such as Flooding

USCIS News – Reprint Below:

Relief for Nationals from Central America Stranded in the U.S. Due to Extreme Flooding

Extreme flooding occurring in Central America has led U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to reminding everyone of immigration benefits available upon request to eligible nationals from countries in that region.

USCIS understands that a natural disaster can affect an individual’s ability to establish or maintain lawful immigration status. Temporary relief measures available to eligible nationals from Central American countries that… Continue reading

Interacting Successfully with the U.S. Consulate Overseas

Many of our readers and clients often ask how to file applications with their consulate overseas.  In this short blog tip we provide basic guidance on filing with your country’s local U.S. Consulate.

The Department of State(DOS) website www.travel.state.gov contains a listing of all the consulates throughout the world.  It is important to go unto the DOS website and follow the instructions for the particular visa which you intend to file with the U.S. consulate.  Each consulate’s customs may also… Continue reading

Ability to Pay and Employment Based Sponsorship of a Foreign National

An I-140 is a petition by a U.S. Employer who seeks to sponsor and employ someone who is abroad or a foreign national.  Small, large or new companies may sponsor a foreign national once they can demonstrate an ability to pay the employee. The sponsorship is for a future job since there are very stringent requirements that need to be met before a foreign employee may begin working.

The three essential steps are 1) PERM- Labor Certification; 2) I-140 –… Continue reading

Finally, Some Relief for Clients and Respondents in Removal—But What DoesThis All Mean?

On August 18th, 2011, the current Obama Administration and the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) announced the establishment of a high-level joint Department of Homeland Security along with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to determine which cases are high priority versus low priority. In distinguishing between these two categories, only high priority cases will cause individuals to be placed into removal proceedings, and low priority cases already in proceedings would be strongly considered for administrative closing by ICE/DHS attorneys.  Closing… Continue reading

My Immigration Case is Over, I Have Done My Part, Now How Do I Get Back Money Posted For Bond

Our clients often have questions about how to request their bond back from ICE-Department of Homeland Security after being in Deportation or Removal Immigration Proceedings.  While the immigration attorney is not involved in this process nor influences it, the purpose of this article is to provide some guidance on the issue.

First, it is important to understand that a client will not be able to get back their bond until the their case is actually closed with the U.S. Immigration… Continue reading

Status Problems in the United States ? Do Not Lose Hope Until You Explore All Possible U.S. Waivers!

Our law firm files a variety of  U.S. Immigration Waivers for clients who are illegal, out of status, subject to residency requirements, subject to the three or ten year bar,  Conditional Residents whose marriages are ending in divorce, individuals who entered without inspection (“EWI”), or those in need of  a waiver for fraud, crimes, and more. (See below for a list).  The purpose of this article is to provide a couple popular case scenarios to inform clients about how waivers… Continue reading

ILLEGAL OR OUT OF STATUS IF YOU ARE A CRIME VICTIM—-U VISA STATUS OPTIONS

If you know someone who is out of status here in the United States and has been the victim of a crime, he or she may be eligible for a U Visa. U visas are available to foreign nationals or aliens who are in the United States  and entered without inspection (“EWI”) or  have overstayed an original visa grant.

U visas have even been considered and granted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) based on the following scenarios.

When Returning to your Home Country From the United States Is NOT an Option Asylum, Withholding of Removal and CAT

Asylum

Asylum status may be given to an individual who meets a very strict definition of refugee. A refugee or asylee is defined as any person outside his or her county of nationality (or in the case of a persons having no nationality, their last habitual residence) who, because of a “well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion, is unable or unwilling to return to that country, and is… Continue reading

Virginia Assault and Battery- Immigration Consequences for the Non-Citizen

The purpose of this article is to discuss the often confusing subject of whether an assault and battery in the State of Virginia is an aggravated felony prohibiting a U.S. non-citizen who is convicted of such a crime from applying for many forms of relief if placed in removal.  Without relief, a non-citizen client will be removed (deported) from the United States.

If you or your loved one are currently charged with assault and battery as a non-citizen of the… Continue reading