Common Immigration Issues: 5 Times You Need an Immigration Lawyer
It's the American Dream. Millions of people file for immigration status in the USA every year. But, with a very complex immigration process and limits on immigration, many of these applicants are denied. Whether you are applying for immigrant status [...]
Must We Really Deport All of Our Undocumented? The U.S. Supreme Court Is About to Weigh In
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published December 6, 2022 Homeowners are a lot like governments. Both must give attention to the imperfections before them. In a house it might be broken windows, chipped paint, or even termites. In a government, it might involve a [...]
Immigration Lawyers Association Honors Richard Hanus with the Beacon of Light Award
The Law Offices of Richard Hanus is proud to announce that the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Chicago Chapter honored Richard Hanus, on June 14, 2022, by presenting him with the “Minsky Beacon of Light Award.” The Beacon of Light [...]
When the Worlds of Marijuana, State Law and U.S. Immigration Meet: Yes Means No
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published November 14, 2022 Mixed signals. This is the best way to describe our society’s stance when it comes to marijuana use and U.S. immigration law. Our state laws send one message, such as in Illinois where marijuana [...]
Citizenship Filings Processed at Lightning Speed and Other Immigration Law News
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published October 30, 2022 Processing times for N-400 applications Lawful permanent residents living in the Chicago area and across the U.S. are seeing their applications for U.S. citizenship processed at record pace. For my clients across [...]
COVID and the Curveballs It Throws at Immigrants
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published October 12, 2022 The COVID pandemic continues to be one giant curveball for societies across the globe. The way we interact with one another, whether socially or for business, may never be the same. The pandemic has [...]
How Do You Petition a Family Member for a Visa? Ask a Chicago Immigration Attorney
Family-based immigration accounts for nearly 65% of annual lawful immigration to the U.S. In recent years, this number has been as high as 85%. Family reunification continues to be the backbone of the immigration system, and despite long backlogs of applications, it's [...]
Foreign Nurses, Green Cards and Employment Contracts: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published September 21, 2022 A typical work visa holder in the U.S. often wonders where the grass might be greener as far as work environment is concerned. That is usually because their aunt has a friend…. [...]
Reasons Why Your Green Card Got Denied – Chicago Immigration Attorney
United States immigration laws are notoriously complex. In addition to the plain bases of ineligibility, even a minor mistake on your green card application can lead to a denial. In fact, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denies [...]
Lawsuits Against U.S. Immigration Can Work, Especially When a File is Stuck in a Government Basement
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published August 24, 2022 When it comes to a long delayed immigration filing, such as for U.S. citizenship or permanent residence, the decision to sue the government to compel a decision can be a tough one. Importantly, a lawsuit in [...]
Green Card Interviews – Why Are They Required? Are They Ever Excused?
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published August 10, 2022 With some exceptions, foreign nationals seeking to live and work permanently in the U.S. will undergo some sort of interview before being approved for lawful permanent status, aka Green Card status. If [...]
I am a U.S. Citizen Residing Abroad But Soon Relocating to the U.S. – How Do My Foreign National Spouse and Child Get Green Cards ASAP?
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published July 18, 2022 U.S. citizens live and work all over the world and many of them will face substantial bureaucratic hurdles when it comes to relocating back to the U.S. One of the most common hurdles [...]
The Dog Ate My Homework OR U.S. Immigration Can’t Process My Citizenship Application Because My File is Stuck in a Government Warehouse Basement
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published June 23, 2022 Over the course of the pandemic, people in the U.S. and around the world have gotten used to all kinds of inconveniences and delays. There is a new normal out there and we [...]
What Are the Main Types of Immigration Visas?
With over 40 million immigrants in the USA, the country is no stranger to newcomers. However, despite the large number that has completed the process successfully, it can seem daunting to those who are about to begin the process or [...]
4 Essential Q & A’s on One of the Most Important Defenses to Deportation
By: Richard Hanus, Esq. Published May 28, 2022 For foreign nationals living in the U.S. for an extended period without immigration status, one of the most often used and potent defenses to deportation is an Application for Cancellation of Removal for [...]