Immigration
The U nonimmigrant status (U visa) is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. Congress created the U nonimmigrant visa with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant…Read More
The U-Visa is a nonimmigrant status for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and have been helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of the crime. Congress created the U nonimmigrant visa with the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (including the Battered Immigrant Women’s Protection…Read More
The I-130 petition, or “Petition for Alien Relative,” is a common form processed by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Using this form, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident can establish the relationship to certain alien relatives who wish to immigrate to the United States. Citizens or Permanent Residents of the United States may help a relative become a…Read More
On November 20, 2014, President Obama announced a series of executive actions to crack down on illegal immigration at the border, prioritize deporting felons not families, and require certain undocumented immigrants to pass a criminal background check and pay taxes in order to temporarily stay in the U.S. without fear of deportation. One initiative addressed in the executive actions is…Read More
The H-2A and H-2B Visa programs allow U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural and nonagricultural jobs, respectively. USCIS only approves H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of countries the Secretary of Homeland Security has designated as eligible to participate in the programs. USCIS may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals of…Read More
There are currently two cases at the Supreme Court set for oral argument this month that will have immigration-related implications. The cases generally concern whether a non-citizen (even a permanent resident) can be mandatorily detained and deported for possessing drug paraphernalia. The immigration and Nationality Act broadly authorizes the deportation of noncitizens that find themselves charged with crimes related to…Read More