Who should be the signatory for immigration forms within a company?  This is a question that many new corporate clients ask us, and it’s a great question! The USCIS policy manual instructs that benefit requests (immigration filings) filed by legal entities like corporations, LLCs, etc should be signed “by a person with the authority to sign on behalf of the petitioning entity.” That certainly leaves a lot a leeway, but it also doesn’t mean that just anyone employed by the company can sign the immigration paperwork. Authorized persons typically include:  An executive officer (CEO, CO ..read more

We love helping people apply for U.S. citizenship! But we often here our clients give reasons not to apply for naturalization. Those reasons are often wrong! Here’s a list of common reasons we hear for not applying, and why those reasons may not be a problem.  My green card will expire soon. So I have to apply to renew my green card first.  The N-400 receipt notice serves as valid, unexpired evidence of your permanent residence for 24 months from the “card expires” date on the green card. There used to be a rule about having to apply to renew your green card if it was going to exp ..read more

File now to avoid the USCIS fee increase! In January 2023 we wrote about the proposed rule that would significantly increase USCIS filing fees. Emily also posted about the impending higher USCIS fees on her LinkedIn page a few weeks ago. The time has come, folks, and the final rule will become effective April 1, 2024. Do you need to take action to secure an employee for the long-term? Was it a new year’s resolution to take action on your immigration status, or that of your family? This is your sign to take action now, and file before the significant USCIS fee increase! What’s included in the U ..read more

What are the vaccination requirements for the green card? Filing for a U.S. green card can be a complex process with lots of moving parts, including one that may be unexpected: the medical exam. The medical exam is a formal step of the process to ensure a foreign national doesn’t have health conditions that make them ineligible for U.S. immigration benefits. One requirement of the medical exam, whether you’re applying for the green card from within the U.S. or from overseas, is showing that you have had all required vaccinations.  VACCINATIONS/WAIVERS: U.S. immigration law has certain vac ..read more

Stateside visa processing is here! We are thrilled that the U.S. Department of State (DOS) is offering a pilot program that will allow qualified visa applicants to renew their visas here in the U.S., rather than having to travel overseas. While we are very excited for those who will be able to participate, we encourage everyone to take a deep breath – this is a new program, it’s limited as to who qualifies, how many visas will be issued, and the duration of the program. If you are not eligible to participate this go round, or if you’re not able to snag a spot, we are very hopeful that this pro ..read more

USCIS expands myProgress to I-821 and I-485! Did you know you can check the status of your pending USCIS case on myProgress, and it will give you personalized estimates of wait time for major milestones and actions on your case? You must first create an online USCIS account, or logon to your existing account, and select the application for the timeline you would like to check.  This service is currently available for the Forms I-765 (employment authorization document), I-131 (travel document), N-400 (naturalization application), I-90 (application to replace a green card), I-130 (petition ..read more

Getting married is a life-changing experience. Moving to a new country (or deciding to stay permanently) is also life-changing. Add those two together, and you’re in for an exciting but challenging ride! Read on for five tips for your marriage-based green card filing! Select the right type of filing: Options for a marriage-based green card filing include filing while here in the U.S. (sometimes called a one-step marriage-based green card filing), starting the process while the foreign national spouse is overseas (sometimes called consular processing), the K-1 fiancée visa and subsequent gree ..read more

It’s not uncommon for a foreign national here in the U.S. on an H-1B visa, L-1 visa, or other temporary visa classification (F-1, E-2, J-1, etc.) to fall in love with a U.S. citizen or green card holder, get married, and apply for a marriage-based green card. We love advising clients on going from H-1B or L-1 visa to marriage-based green card as this aspect of U.S. immigration law draws on our experience with employment-based immigration and family-based immigration. Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the process of transitioning from an H-1B or L-1 visa to a marriage-based green c ..read more

USCIS has recently announced two EAD and dependent biometrics updates! First, certain EADs (employment authorization documents) will be valid for five years, instead of two years. This includes EADs based on adjustment of status filings. In other words, when a foreign national submits Form I-485, application for adjustment of status here in the U.S., they can also apply for an EAD and for advance parole (AP, also called a travel document). Until now, USCIS has generally approved the EADs for two years. USCIS says that they made the change to reduce the administrative burden on both USCIS and a ..read more

USCIS has recently announced two EAD and dependent biometrics updates! First, certain EADs (employment authorization documents) will be valid for five years, instead of two years. This includes EADs based on adjustment of status filings. In other words, when a foreign national submits Form I-485, application for adjustment of status here in the U.S., they can also apply for an EAD and for advance parole (AP, also called a travel document). Until now, USCIS has generally approved the EADs for two years. USCIS says that they made the change to reduce the administrative burden on both USCIS a ..read more