Ask Garry
What is Political Asylum?
Political asylum is an application filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), that allows an applicant to seek protection from persecution in their country of nationality. An applicant must prove the following: That the application has been filed within one year of entry into…
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How Public Charge Policy Affects Immigration | Ask Garry
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, has recently implemented changes relating to the public charge rule that impact immigration cases (particularly anyone seeking admission) in the United States. This guide explains the new public charge rule, as well as how it may impact your case and whether you can provide documentation to help show…
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Options for Ukrainians Wishing to Immigrate to the United States
Our hearts go out to the people of Ukraine in this difficult time in world events. It may be news to many of us, but it’s real life to those affected and whose loved ones are impacted by the aggression. I personally have friends and many clients who are from Ukraine and our thoughts and…
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The US Government to Require COVID Vaccine for Permanent Residence
When someone is applying to become a permanent resident, the person must establish that they are “admissible” as defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act Section 212 (INA Section 212). For INA Section 212 purposes, admissible means legally eligible to be “admitted” to the US, such as on a visa. It also means eligible to…
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Current USCIS Application Fees
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services periodically adjusts its application fees. Often, fee changes take place at the beginning of the next fiscal year, which begins in October. However, that’s not always the case. Because these fees are subject to change, it’s best to check with the USCIS website to determine the current filing…
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DACA in Jeopardy Again
After 9 years of having the DACA program in place, a federal judge has chosen now as the right time to determine that when it was put in place 2 presidents ago, the rules were not properly followed in starting the program. Frankly, it’s inexplicable. If this were an issue, it should have come up…
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Significant Policy Shift for F-1 Change of Status Applications with USCIS
Recently, USCIS announced a major change in policy related to applications to change status from any other immigration status to F-1 student status. Change of status is a technical process managed by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services agency of the Department of Homeland Security in which a person who came into the US on…
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Deportation News: Administrative Closure Restored
The US Attorney General has issued a decision restoring Administrative Closure as a tool for Immigration Judges to use in removal proceedings to effectively manage their dockets. With this decision, along with the recent memorandum restoring prosecutorial discretion to the ICE Office of the Chief Counsel, the deportation authorities again have the power to control…
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Hope for Victims of Crime Seeking Asylum in the US
Domestic violence and gang violence are rampant throughout the world, particularly in Central America. Governments there either don’t care, are too corrupt, or are incapable of addressing these serious issues. Women and children in particular are targets for physical and sexual abuse and marginalization and have nowhere to turn for protection from maltreatment. Often they…
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Supreme Court Decision on TPS and Admission for Green Card Application Purposes
The US Supreme Court recently issued a decision on the matter of Adjustment of Status eligibility for people who have Temporary Protected Status. Here is the link if for those of you who would like to read it: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/20-315_q713.pdf In Sanchez v. Mayorkas, the Supreme Court held that a person who has been granted Temporary…
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Temporary Protected Status – Protection from Humanitarian Crisis
When a country is facing challenges, such as armed conflict or a natural disaster, the United States may designate that country for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The designation is made for the benefit of citizens of those nations when those citizens cannot return safely, or the countries cannot handle the return of their citizens. It’s…
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