Posted by Karol Brown | Jan 31, 2024 |
In the pursuit of justice and protection for victims of crime, the U visa stands as a beacon of hope. This non-immigrant visa is designed to provide temporary legal status and work eligibility to individuals who have suffered substantial physical or mental abuse as a result of certain criminal ac...
Posted by Karol Brown | Jan 29, 2024 |
Bringing your family to the United States is a dream for many, and understanding the basics of family immigration petitions is crucial for turning this dream into reality. In this guide, we'll address common questions about family immigration, providing you with essential information on the process, timelines, and the possibility of bringing your entire family to the USA.
Posted by Karol Brown | Jan 26, 2024 |
Key Changes Proposed for the H1B Cap Lottery System
The Office of Management and Budget cleared a final regulation from the Department of Homeland to revise some aspects of the H-1B program
Details of this final rule will be available once published in the Federal Register.
There will likely be a switch in the H1B Cap Registration System to allow each beneficiary to have the same chance in the lottery ("beneficiary-centric")
Other anti-fraud proposals will likely be included in the final rule.
These rules will likely take effect in time for the start of the Fiscal Year 2025 cap season (which opens in March 2024 for an October 1, 2024 start date).
Posted by Karol Brown | Jan 24, 2024 |
Today’s blog post deals with the difficult subject of the death of a petitioner for permanent residency. We know that navigating the complex world of immigration law can be a daunting task, especially when you are dealing with the emotional strain of losing a loved one. Today, we will answer a question that was posed by a prospective client during a consultation, "Does my approved I-130 petition die when the petitioner dies?"
Posted by Karol Brown | Jan 23, 2024 |
Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. Elections play a crucial role in shaping our communities and the nation as a whole. While the United States is known for its rich tapestry of immigrants, the requirement for voting in most cases is clear: you must be a U.S. citizen. Understanding and respecting this fundamental requirement is vital to preserving the integrity of the electoral process and maintaining the principles upon which the nation was founded.
Posted by Karol Brown | Dec 05, 2023 |
In recent developments, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has introduced a set of proposed changes to the H-1B program. These changes aim to create a new era of efficiency and flexibility while enhancing program integrity. These proposed regulations are currently open to public feedback and will undergo further scrutiny before becoming official.
Posted by Karol Brown | Nov 30, 2023 |
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated its policies regarding the validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for specific groups of noncitizens. These changes try to make the immigration process more efficient and reduce the administrative burden on applicants. As immigration attorneys, we want to inform you about these important changes to work authorization policies.
Posted by Karol Brown | Nov 16, 2023 |
The United States has long been a destination for professionals, entrepreneurs, and individuals seeking opportunities to work and contribute to its diverse and vibrant economy. Whether you're a treaty trader, an extraordinary artist, or a specialized knowledge employee, the U.S. offers various work visas designed to accommodate different qualifications, skills, and goals. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the most common work visas available and the qualifications, application processes, job duties, length of stay, and extension options associated with each.
Posted by Karol Brown | Nov 08, 2023 |
Obtaining permanent resident status in the United States is a significant achievement, marking a step closer to achieving your American dream. However, it's important to understand that, for certain immigrants, this status initially comes with conditions. In this guide, we will discuss what conditional permanent residency is, what not to do, and how to navigate the process effectively.
Posted by Karol Brown | Oct 26, 2023 |
Selecting the right immigration attorney is an important decision for anyone facing immigration challenges. Your choice can significantly impact your case's outcome, so it is essential to make it wisely. This article lists several key factors to consider when making this important decision. You can also view our video about this critical process via our social platforms.
Posted by Karol Brown | Oct 11, 2023 |
Navigating the U.S. immigration system can be a complex and challenging process. One common hurdle that people may encounter on your journey to obtaining a work visa, green card, or US citizenship is receiving a Request for Evidence (RFE) from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). While receiving an RFE can be scary and frustrating, it is essential to respond to it correctly and promptly. This article guides you through the process of responding to an RFE to maximize your chances of a successful outcome.
Posted by Karol Brown | Oct 04, 2023 |
The H1B visa program is a critical pathway for highly skilled foreign workers to live and work in the United States temporarily. Since October 1st is the first date in H1B status for many applicants, we thought we’d write about how to maintain valid H1B visa status.
This article outlines your key responsibilities to ensure that your H1B visa remains valid throughout your stay in the United States.
Posted by Karol Brown | Oct 04, 2023 |
Are you dreaming of a new life living and working in the United States? The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery, also known as the Green Card Lottery, provides a unique opportunity for people from countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States to obtain a green card and pursue their American dream. The DV Lottery for 2024 is just around the corner! This article guides you through the lottery application process, eligibility requirements, and key dates for this exciting opportunity.
Posted by Karol Brown | Sep 26, 2023 |
As the clock ticks down to midnight on October 1, the United States government faces the possibility of a shutdown if Congress fails to reach an agreement on several appropriations bills or a short-term spending measure. The shutdown would impact all government agencies to varying degrees, including immigration services. This article summarizes how a government shutdown could affect immigration functions and what steps you can take to navigate these uncertain times.
Posted by Karol Brown | Sep 26, 2023 |
On September 13, 2023, federal judge Andrew Hanen ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is illegal. This latest decision is the latest in a long and complex legal battle that has lasted over a decade. This article provides some details about Judge Hanen's ruling and what it means for DACA recipients. We also talk about ways that DACA recipients can urge Congress to change the laws that provide security and work authorization to so many people.
Posted by Karol Brown | Mar 10, 2023 |
An expert panel of Harvard alumni talk immigration policy and answer questions about the future of US immigration.
Posted by Karol Brown | Feb 24, 2023 |
By Katrina Mendoza
The I-130 Petition for Alien Relative is the first step in sponsoring an eligible family member to immigrate to the United States with Lawful Permanent Residence or a "green card." A common misconception is that once the United States and Immigration Services approves an I-130 ...
Posted by Karol Brown | Feb 15, 2023 |
by Andrea Lee
The new rule regarding the public charge ground of inadmissibility went into effect on December 23, 2022. As a result, Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, was updated with additional questions that have proven confusing for some. This article ...
Posted by Karol Brown | Feb 10, 2023 |
An official of the U.S. State Department official said in an interview that the agency is creating a pilot program to allow certain foreign nationals to revalidate their visa stamps within the United States, without having to travel abroad and apply at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.
This pil...
Posted by Karol Brown | Sep 27, 2022 |
Karol Brown spoke at the Pacific Northwest Immigration Law Conference on September 22, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. Her panel was titled, "Weighing Whether to Go to Press or the Public with Your Business Clients." Her co-panelists were Jamie Langton, immigration attorney in Oregon, and Belle Woods, ...
Posted by Karol Brown | Jun 01, 2022 |
By Katrina Mendoza
For the last few years, the adjudication of I-751 Petitions to Remove Conditions on Permanent Residence by USCIS has been significantly backlogged. The global pandemic has only exacerbated these delays, leaving hundreds of thousands of conditional permanent residents with their...
Posted by Karol Brown | May 19, 2022 |
By Feiya Go
Job hunting is hard enough. Ever go through 18 interviews at a trendy tech company only to be told you weren't a good fit? How about seeing the application portal that makes you manually enter each experience again, even though you just uploaded your resume? All this warrants a deep b...
Posted by Karol Brown | May 11, 2022 |
By Andrea Lee
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the expansion of premium processing service to more case types. Premium processing is an expedited adjudication service for specific types of forms filed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It is currently a...
Posted by Karol Brown | May 05, 2022 |
In this episode of the Lawyerist Podcast, podcast host Stephanie talks with the managing attorney for World One Law Group, Karol Brown, about the importance of tracking KPIs in your law firm and what metrics you should track. In Karol's firm, they realized they were not measuring enough, so they ...
Posted by Karol Brown | Apr 18, 2022 |
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The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has notified people regarding H1B registration lottery results for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Registered agents started receiving notifications on H1B 2023 lottery results on March 25, 2022. On Marc...