“Maryland”

You and Family Becoming Legal in the U.S.–245i Eligibility and Grandfathering

INA 245(I)  is the latest grace extended by the U.S. government to legalize anyone in the United States back in April 2001 who overstayed their current U.S. visa or walked across the border without inspection (EWI).

In order to be considered grandfathered under 245i, an alien must satisfy the following requirements pursuant to 8 CFR 245.10:

1) The alien was the beneficiary of a qualifying immigrant petition or application for labor certification filed on or before April 30, 2001. 2) … Continue reading

Immigration News- Dream Act

Imagine, you are 16 years old and excited to finally get your driver’s license but suddenly you find out the worst!  Or you have dreamed your entire life about becoming a doctor, nurse or engineer and followed good advise  “just get good grades in school” and you will succeed; you do all this only to find out the roadblocks you face to a post secondary education and career are often insurmountable.

Without the Dream Act, millions of undocumented young women… Continue reading

Immigration Consequences To Criminal Charges Or Convictions – The BIG Mistake—Don’t Rest Easy!—Removability AND Inadmissibility Immigration Considerations Before Pleading

The purpose of this article is to hopefully reduce the huge mistake that costs U.S. Permanent Residents and Non-Citizens their right to travel back to their home country. Specifically, if a Permanent Resident or Non-Citizen with a brief criminal history travels abroad they are often faced with the surprise of arriving at the airport back in the United States only to be told by Customs Border and Patrol (CBP) that they are “inadmissible”. In other word, they are banned from… Continue reading

Digging Deeper and Deeper How Far Will They Go? When the Non-Citizen is in Deportation Proceedings…Challenging the Government on Removability

Categorical, Modified Categorical, Matter of Silva-Trevino—what does this all mean for someone who has been placed in removal based on past criminal convictions?

This brief article gives a simplified explanation of how someone, who is not a lawyer, may understand a couple critical ways to challenge ICE (“the government”) if they are placed in removal based on past criminal convictions. However, as this is a highly complex area of the law, immigration counsel is an absolute necessity to win… Continue reading

Domestic Violence? No Matter What Your U.S. Immigration Status, or Sex—You Have a Powerful Voice and Potential Immigration Benefits in the United States….Don’t Waste It.. Use Your Power!

Domestic Violence is one of the most difficult forms of abuse to face “head on” as it touches every aspect of one’s life, whether male or female.  It can leave an individual emotionally, financially, spiritually, physically and logistically paralyzed.  The issues of shame, codependency,  and fear for themselves or fear for their “victimizer” (whom they love or loved) makes taking necessary quick protective action seem distant.  However, a supportive network of friends, family, psychological counselors, legal counselors and spiritual support… Continue reading

When “I Do” Becomes “I Don’t” and Immigration Consequences for U.S. Conditional Permanent Residents

Marriage between U.S. Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents to Nationals of other countries has become the norm rather than the exception. U.S. Immigration laws have strict guidelines and requirements for couples to demonstrate that their marriage under 2 years is “bona fide”.  In order to meet this mandate, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will only issue a 2 year green card to individuals married under 2 years at the time the I-130 petition and concurrent I-485 application is filed… Continue reading

Ready to Bond Out or Served your Time?….Only to be told “ICE Has Issued a Detainer on You”

The concept of a detainer is often hard to comprehend and accept.  What it means to an individual who is incarcerated in State custody, and his family is overwhelming and causes great grief when not immediately placed in perspective.  Not being able to get bond, or be released from jail after serving time is the harsh consequence of a detainer.

Overall, a detainer is placed by the federal government on a foreign national/non-citizen so that the state will hold them… Continue reading

A Win-Win Situation- Investing in the United States Temporary and Permanent Investor Visas

As the United States has recently experienced a downturn in the economy, it is exciting to know that jobs can be created in the United States when foreign nationals make a decision to invest in the U.S. economy by opening a company.  It’s a “win-win” situation. Investors are able to gain permanent or temporary residency, while jobs for United States Residents and Citizens are created.

The purpose of this short article is to discuss the minimum financial requirements needed for… Continue reading

Collecting Child Support from Your Illegal or Undocumented Children’s Parent

Child support is for the child, not the parent, so a child is entitled to the support.  I have a few clients who are undocumented who have to pay child support according to Court orders.  It is hard to enforce.  Family Court has nothing to do with Immigration.  However, if the illegal parent refuses to pay and it becomes a criminal matter he or she could then be subject to removal proceedings if ICE is informed.

ScottMond Law Firm

(703)955.7998

HELPING THE REMOVAL NIGHTMARE TO BE OVER SOONER! Petition for Alien Relative Relief, Form I-130 and Expedited Relief in Removal Proceedings

On August 20th, 2010 U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (“ICE”) issued a memorandum from Assistant Secretary John Morton that will make a non-citizen or alien who is placed in removal proceedings eligible for relief if they have a pending Petition for Alien Relative (“Form I-130 or petition”).

Basically, ICE and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“ USCIS”) will now work more efficiently together so that non-citizens placed in removal will either have his and/or her case expedited or dismissed… Continue reading