Rockville

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

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

H1B Visa- The #1 Work Visa H-1B Cap Count

The H-1B Visa is the number one visa option for professionals with at least a bachelors degree or bachelors degree equivalent.  One’s occupation must meet the muster of being classed as a “specialty occupation”.

H1B visas are “capped” visas.  A limited number of visas are available each year and once the cap is reached, no further visas are available until the fiscal year reopens each April.  Historically, when the fiscal year opens the visa cap has been met in one… 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

Global Love and Relationships- Immigration and Bringing your Life Partner to the United States

The internet has changed the way we “do life”.  Amongst one of the greatest changes, is the way we socialize and form new relationships.  Today nearly 50% of couples who marry initially made a connection on line.  Many U.S. Citizens are expanding their horizons to build relationships with individuals from other countries.

If a U.S. citizen desires to bring his or her fiance to the United States, this requires patience and planning from an immigration standpoint.  There are several considerations… Continue reading

What is the Correct Consular Post for Pakistan

Often our Pakistan Clients Would like to confirm the correct consular post to process visas.  The answer is below: All visa processing happens in Islamabad regardless of where  the individuals resides  in Pakistan. The other consulate locations only provide services to US Citizens living in those areas. For further information you may contact me at (703)261.6881/202.296.0122 or info@scottcclaw.com. Glendia Rice-Mondesir Attorney-at-law