Tag: #greencard
New Interview Questions Emerging After the Memo
In addition to the language of the memo itself, other attorneys are already reporting new lines of questioning at marriage-based I-485 interviews, particularly in cases involving B-2 visitor visa entry prior to adjustment filing. Reported questions include: These questions are extremely revealing because they help clarify what USCIS is now focusing on under the new…
New USCIS Adjustment of Status Memo: What Employment-Based and Family-Based Applicants Should Know
On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued a new policy memorandum emphasizing that Adjustment of Status (“AOS” or Form I-485) is an “extraordinary” discretionary benefit and not something intended to routinely replace normal immigrant visa processing abroad. The memo has understandably generated significant concern, and our office has been flooded with questions over the past several…
Visa Bulletin Update FY 2024
February 2024 USCIS determined that for November 2023, applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories and all employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart. The most notable change is in the F2A category, where the final action dates for most countries moved forward from November 2019 to February 2020. Categories in the employment-based…
Importance of Verifying Your Green Card Issuance: USCIS May Incorrectly Approve your GC Too Early
Navigating the labyrinth of immigration procedures is not an easy task, and even when everything is done correctly, errors can still happen. This can sometimes be due to oversights on the part of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This article will focus on one such case, where we represented a client whose…
Processing Times for Family-based petitions and applications, including I-130 and I-485
September 12, 2024 Based on recent sample case approvals, here is a processing time range for various categories. 1. Spouse of U.S. Citizen (I-130 and I-485 Combined) 2. Parent of U.S. Citizen (I-130 and I-485 Combined) 3. Spouse of Lawful Permanent Resident (I-130 Only) 4. Unmarried Child of U.S. Citizen (I-130 Only) 5. Fiancée (I-485…
USCIS Will Automatically Extend Green Cards for Naturalization Applicants
Starting December 12, 2022, all applicants for N-400 (naturalization) will receive an automatic extension of their green card for up to 24 months. Applicants no longer need to file a separate I-90 to extend their green cards. The automatic extension will be stated on the N-400 receipt notice. The receipt notice can be presented with…
Visa Bulletin Update FY 2023
September 2023 September 2023 Visa Bulletin Highlights USCIS announced that for September 2023 applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart and applicants in all employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart. August 2023 August 2023 Visa Bulletin Highlights Continual monitoring and necessary adjustments to these categories…
I-485 EB Processing Time (Filed in FY 2023)
Final Update ***Final update to finish off the processing times for FY 2023. Updates for FY 2024 will be here. *** In this update, we finalize the update for for I-485 EB approvals received before October 2023. Sample Cases: Update August 4, 2023 In this update, we have a sample I-485 EB approval for an…
Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Program
Update August 17, 2021 USCIS issued another reminder that the deadline to submit green card applications for Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) from eligible Liberians and their immediate family members is December 20, 2021. Q. What are the requirements for a family member to adjust status based on LRIF? A. To adjust based on LRIF,…
The Supreme Court Rules TPS Is Not an Admission for Purposes of Adjustment of Status
The Supreme Court just handed down a decision that will deflate the hope of filing for green card (while present in the U.S.) for about 400,000 individuals in the U.S. with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The case concerns the plight of Jose Sanchez who with his wife and three children entered the US illegally in…