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Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S.

10 07, 2014

Healthcare Workers Seeking Green Cards: Make Sure Your Visa Screen Certifications and Licenses are Current!

By |2014-07-10T12:06:46-05:00July 10th, 2014|Categories: Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Employment Authorization / Work Cards in the U.S., Employment-Based Immigration Law, General, Green Cards, Immigrant Health Care Workers in the U.S., Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., Non-Immigrant Visas for Temporary Workers / H-1B, U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, United States Embassies Abroad|

Published:  July 10, 2014 In recent months, the line allowing foreign nationals seeking residence in the U.S., by way of a job offer as a professional healthcare worker, has moved forward considerably.  So whether they are in the U.S. or abroad, the intending immigrant should pay careful attention to the expiration date on their Visa Screen Certification and U.S. license (if applicable to their profession), since the final approval of their I-485 application for permanent residence (if in the U.S.) or application for immigrant visa (if applying at a U.S. consular post abroad) will depend on the submission of current documentation. […]

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17 06, 2014

Green Card Holders and International Travel: The Most Common Questions

By |2014-06-17T14:50:24-05:00June 17th, 2014|Categories: Citizenship / Naturalization and the N-400 Application, Conditional Permanent Residence Based on Marriage, Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), DHS / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Employment-Based Immigration Law, Family-Based Immigration Law, General, Green Cards, Immigrant Health Care Workers in the U.S., Immigrant Visas for Spouse / Fiancee / Child Visas, Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., United States Embassies Abroad|

Published:  June 17, 2014 The U.S. government issues permanent resident cards, or “green cards,” to individuals seeking to “reside” in the U.S.   That means there are significant limits on the amount of time Green Card holders can spend outside the U.S. for a given period or for any single trip.  Below is a discussion of the most common questions Green Card holders present when it comes to international travel and related issues. In general, what is the maximum amount of time a Green Card holder can travel outside the U.S. on a single trip? In general, a U.S. resident can leave […]

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7 10, 2013

DHS/CIS Largely Unaffected by Government Shutdown; A Different Story for Related Agencies

By |2013-10-07T08:29:51-05:00October 7th, 2013|Categories: Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), DHS / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Removal / Deportation Proceedings and Court Hearings, United States Embassies Abroad|Tags: , |

Published:  October 7, 2013 With no end in sight for the ongoing government shutdown, many wonder how federal government agencies performing immigration-related functions will be impacted for the foreseeable future.  Below is a summary assessment: Department of Homeland Security/Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/CIS):  In general, business as usual.  DHS/CIS primarily operates by way of “fee for service” funding, and thus is not affected by a lapse in annual appropriated funding.  That is, most of DHS/CIS’ functions are funded by way of filing fees supplied by applicants and petitioners.  So, green card and citizenship interviews and decision-making will continue without interruption.  However, […]

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27 04, 2013

I-94 Arrival/Departure Cards Become “Paperless”

By |2013-04-27T09:35:04-05:00April 27th, 2013|Categories: Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S.|Tags: , , , , , , |

Published:  April 27, 2013 For as long as anyone remembers, Form I-94 has been the white, passport sized card the majority of nonimmigrant foreign nationals have been issued and had stapled to a page in their passport upon entry into the U.S.  Whether entering as a visitor, student or worker, the foreign national, by way of their I-94 card, is provided evidence of their formal inspection into the U.S. and the time they are authorized to remain.  Upon the completion of their stay and departure, nonimmigrants are theoretically required to give their I-94 back to immigration authorities.  Starting this week, however, U.S. Department of Homeland […]

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15 04, 2013

The Semantics of Immigration Reform; Never Mind the Details…..For Now

By |2013-04-15T07:59:18-05:00April 15th, 2013|Categories: Amnesty for Immigrants in the U.S., Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, Undocumented Immigrants and Workers in the U.S.|Tags: , , , |

Published:  April 15, 2013 A draft of proposed immigration reform legislation has been released by the Gang of 8, that bipartisan group of U.S. Senators who have been attempting to style a legislative solution to our society’s current immigration related ills.  The details contained in the bill may or may not be of much relevance for the moment because A) the proposal is NOT law yet and B) the actual legislation signed into law, if and when that happens, may very well bear little resemblance to the draft bill released to the public this week. In general, most expect any new law to […]

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1 03, 2012

Information For Visitors Thinking About Extending Their Visit or Changing to Student Status

By |2012-03-01T09:33:43-06:00March 1st, 2012|Categories: Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., General|Tags: , , |

Published: March 1, 2012 Foreign nationals entering the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 visa are generally granted 6 months at their port-of-entry to accomplish the purpose of their trip, be it for pleasure or business. Most visitors for business or pleasure do not remain in the U.S. for the entire 6 months, since they have work and/or residences to return to overseas. For those seeking to remain in the U.S. for the entire 6 month period, or possibly extend or even convert their stay to another status, such as F-1 student, a variety of current trends and rules must be kept in […]

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4 01, 2012

My Take on Republican Takes on Immigration

By |2012-01-04T09:44:28-06:00January 4th, 2012|Categories: Amnesty for Immigrants in the U.S., Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Employment-Based Immigration Law, Green Cards, Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., Non-Immigrant Visas for Temporary Workers / H-1B, Removal / Deportation Proceedings and Court Hearings, U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, Undocumented Immigrants and Workers in the U.S.|Tags: , , , |

Published: January 4, 2012 President Obama has always made it known that he favors the enactment of some form of comprehensive immigration reform to allow for a “path to citizenship” for at least some of the approximately 12 million living in the U.S. without legal immigration status. During his term, it’s been a Republican Congress that’s been the main obstacle to getting any type of immigration reform initiative passed, whether it be the DREAM Act, or more comprehensive reform proposals. If you are wondering how the Republican candidates for President would approach the issue – below are direct quotes attributed to […]

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28 11, 2011

Newt’s Nerve

By |2011-11-28T15:53:36-06:00November 28th, 2011|Categories: Amnesty for Immigrants in the U.S., Citizenship / Naturalization and the N-400 Application, Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S., U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation, Undocumented Immigrants and Workers in the U.S.|Tags: , , , , |

Published:  November 28, 2011 Watching presidential debates is not one of my favorite things to do, mainly because I have a hard time believing a single word coming out of any of the participants’ mouths.  The posturing is so obvious, with each candidate trying their hardest to get their sound bites in, and say the things their “people” tell them they need to say.  So it was by accident – while looking for enjoyable garbage to watch on the Dumb Box (my mother’s affectionate term for the television), that I happened upon the debate involving Republican candidates for President last week.  […]

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15 02, 2011

The Merger of the Employer Authorization and Advance Parole Travel Document

By |2011-02-15T07:41:47-06:00February 15th, 2011|Categories: Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Employment Authorization / Work Cards in the U.S., Employment-Based Immigration Law, Family-Based Immigration Law, Green Cards, Lawful Permanent Residence in the U.S.|

Published:  February 15, 2011 This past week the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) announced the merger of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole Travel Document (AP) for certain applicants for adjustment of status applicants. Previously, CIS issued separate documents authorizing employment and international travel for eligible applicants for adjustment of status, and their issuance and renewal required two separate applications. Now, however, a single document will be issued to eligible, pending adjustment of status applicants to prove their ability to work lawfully in the U.S. as well as facilitate a return trip back into the […]

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24 04, 2010

The New Arizona Law Prompts Big Picture Discussion on U.S. Immigration

By |2010-04-24T13:12:12-05:00April 24th, 2010|Categories: Amnesty for Immigrants in the U.S., Customs and Border Patrol / Travel to and from the U.S., DHS / Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Immigration and Criminal Law / Detainees, Removal / Deportation Proceedings and Court Hearings, U.S. Immigration Law and Legislation|

The New Arizona Law Prompts Big Picture Discussion on U.S. Immigration Published: April 24, 2010 The question has been lingering for years:  what is our nation going to do about the 15 million or so undocumented living in the U.S.? Commence removal proceedings against them? Grant legal status to most or all of them who are otherwise law abiding? Do nothing and essentially allow for a continued, de facto amnesty?     In part to address the question of undocumented in their state, and in part to cry out for help regarding the security of their state and border with Mexico, the State of Arizona has taken the […]

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