Ask Garry
President Biden and Amnesty
There has been a lot of talk about the Biden Administration providing amnesty benefits to people living in the U.S. illegally. This rumor has motivated me to write an article on the subject of amnesty and how the U.S. government system works to check the powers of the various branches of the federal government. What…
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USCIS Application Fees Increase October 2, 2020
USCIS has announced a significant fee increase for most applications. The new fees are set to go into effect on October 2, 2020. Here is the chart of the adjustments on filing fees of various processes. Immigration Benefit Request Current Fee Final Fee Change ($) Percentage Change I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (online…
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Ask Garry: USA Political Asylum Issues – One Year Filing Deadline and Work Authorization
Many people come to the United States for the purpose of seeking protection from persecution in their countries of nationality. To pursue that protection, a person must file an I-589 Application for Political Asylum. For an application to be arguable, the applicant must be able to prove that they are at risk of being persecuted…
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Ask Garry: DACA vs Trump | What’s the Future of DACA under the Trump Administration?
Let me start by saying President Trump does not like DACA. Does that comment shock anyone? If it does, then you haven’t been paying attention. The courts have tried to check the President and give it back. The President continues fighting against it. In this article, I will review the recent events on DACA between…
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Trump Bans Work Visas for The Remainder of 2020
President Trump has issued a new executive order that prohibits visa issuance for certain classes of employment visas. The affected classes are H-1B, H-2B, some categories of J-1, and L-1. The ban also includes dependent family members who could accompany the spouse with the primary visa classification, such as a spouse and unmarried minor children.…
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A Lifeline to Dreamers: Supreme Court Extends DACA Protections
The US Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, extended a reprieve to recipients of benefits under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA). Although they did not find President Trump’s political decision to end the program outside the bounds of his power as President, or to make it permanent for those who have it,…
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President Trump, Politics and the Limits of Executive Power
President Trump recently announced that he would halt immigration to the US, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and rampant unemployment caused by the shutdown of the US economy in response to the pandemic. Specifically, he said: “In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our…
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Coronavirus and Immigration | Ask Garry
The World Health Organization has declared the Coronavirus as a “public health emergency of international concern.” How does this tragic outbreak affect US immigration? USCIS has closed its international offices in Beijing and Ghuangzhou, China. All appointments will be rescheduled. Additionally, USCIS has encouraged everyone who feels sick or has started manifesting symptoms of illness…
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How Public Charge Policy Affects Immigration | Ask Garry
Last year, USCIS announced proposed policy changes relating to the requirement that a person seeking admission to the U.S. is not likely to become a public charge. A public charge is someone who is dependent on public resources while in the U.S., such as welfare benefits. A person seeking admission is anyone seeking to obtain…
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Ask Garry: Why Are The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Fees Going Up?
USCIS has announced a change in the fees it charges for the services it provides. The announcement became official November 14th, but is subject to comments from the public for over 30 days. The rate change is expected to go into effect in December 2019, while the comment period is still running. Here is…
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