What Will Happen if USCIS Furloughs 70 Percent of Their Staff?
USCIS announced that its planning to furlough of 70% of its employees on August 31 unless Congress acts on the agency’s $1.2 billion emergency [...]
USCIS to Increase Application Fees
The Department of Homeland Security has announced new application fees that will take effect on October 2, 2020. This new announcement will increase the [...]
USCIS Resumes Naturalization Ceremonies
After halting all in person interviews and naturalization ceremonies for 3 months since March amid the coronavirus pandemic, USCIS has resumed naturalization ceremonies last [...]
What are Some Disqualifying Factors for Citizenship? Can I Become a Citizen if I Committed a Crime?
There are a number of factors that can derail the citizenship process. There are outlined below. You can find out more about citizenship by [...]
USCIS Announces US Service Members and Veterans can File for Naturalization Online
USCIS announced today that U.S. service members and veterans can now file for naturalization online. Naturalization is the process a legal permanent resident must [...]
Marriage Based Green Card Approval
Scott Legal, P.C. just had a green card approval for a petition based on marriage. The applicant completed the adjustment of status interview and [...]
USCIS Provides New Definition for Residency for Citizenship Applications. Children of U.S. Government Employees and Military Stationed Overseas No Longer Considered Residents
If you are a U.S. citizen and your child was born outside the U.S., your child may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. However, simply [...]
New Public Charge Rules Revealed: Higher Scrutiny for Immigrant and Nonimmigrant Applicants Receiving Certain Federal Public Benefits
The Department of Homeland Security has issued the final rule on public charge. Originally published in October 10, 2018, the new rules seek to [...]
USCIS No Longer Accepting Abandonment of Green Card Status at International Field Offices
A “green card” or permanent resident card is a document that shows a that a person can stay in the U.S. and work here [...]
House of Representatives Passes Relief Bill for Dreamers
On May 28, 2019, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. This Act would provide a path to [...]
One McPassport with a Side Order of Fries to Go, Please!
In lighthearted and joyous news today, the U.S. Embassy in Vienna has announced on Facebook that the U.S. Ambassador to Austria, Trevor Traina, signed [...]
I am a U.S. citizen and my child was born abroad. Is my child a U.S. citizen? What should I do after my child is born? Can my child get a U.S. passport?
If you are a U.S. citizen and your child was born outside the U.S., your child may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. However, simply [...]
My Green Card application is pending, and my EAD card and Advance parole are about to expire. Do I have to renew them? Do I have to pay for the renewals?
Let’s analyze the following scenario: You filed your Green Card application with the USCIS and you simultaneously applied for an Employment Authorization Document (“EAD”) [...]
My immigrant visa was approved at the U.S. Consulate abroad: Will I be able to enter the U.S. when I do not have my green card yet? How long will it take to get my green card?
If your green card application (such as family based green card, employment green card, or green card through the diversity lottery) was approved at [...]
What is the Citizenship Question on the 2020 Census?
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge George Hazel began trial on lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 census. [...]
What is Continuous Residence and Physical Presence? Do I need to satisfy both of them to apply for U.S. citizenship?
Two requirements that you need to satisfy to become a U.S. citizen are continuous residence and physical presence. Even though these requirements may sound [...]
What if I am a derivative beneficiary in a green card application and I age out before the green card application is approved? Am I still eligible for a green card?
Let’s analyze the following scenario: Your uncle is a United States citizen and you want to immigrate to the United States. You cannot file [...]
Are my spouse and children eligible for green cards if I did not include them on my green card application? What are follow-to-join benefits?
If you were married or had children at the time your green card application was approved and your spouse or children did not apply [...]
Federal Judge Removes Military Roadblock for Immigrants
On Friday U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a policy that treats non-citizens in the military as “second-class recruits” [...]
How do I maintain my green card?
Although a Green Card is thought to be Permanent, there are a number of ways one could lose the permanent residency status. Here is [...]
Trump Administration Making It More Difficult for Legal Immigrants to become Citizens
As reported on June 6, 2018, the Trump administration will publish a regulation that will seek to bar a number of legal immigrants from [...]
Denaturalization: How can an American Citizen lose their Citizenship
For some U.S. citizens, the wait after submitting an immigration applicant can be decades long, add another few years of holding permanent residence status [...]
What is Dual Citizenship? Can an Individual be a Citizen of More than One Country?
Dual citizenship, and its relationship to immigration law, is a complex legal concept that can be easily misunderstood. Distilled to its essence, the concept [...]
Applying for U.S. citizenship: What are the requirements to apply? What are the benefits of applying? When Can I Apply for Citizenship?
What are the requirements to apply? There are several requirements that green card holders must meet in order to apply to become U.S. citizens. [...]
USCIS to Create Organization of Professional Responsibility
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is creating a new internal division to more rigorously police its own caseworkers. The division, called [...]
If I was born abroad to a US citizen parent, does that make me a US citizen?
Acquisition of citizenship is the legal term given to children born to U.S. citizens abroad who automatically become U.S. citizens at birth. Simply being [...]
If my company transfers me abroad, will I still be able to apply for citizenship? Can I apply for citizenship if I have to spend time outside of the United States?
In today’s global economy, intercompany transfers between U.S. companies, their foreign branches, or subsidiaries are common. For green card holders of the United States [...]
How Will Traveling Outside the U.S. Affect My Green Card? How Will Travel Affect My Citizenship Application?
If my company transfers me abroad, will I still be able to apply for citizenship? Can I apply for citizenship if I have to [...]
Green Card Holder? Reasons to Apply for U.S. Citizenship
As a legal permanent resident (green card holder), you are accorded various rights, including the ability to live permanently and work in the United [...]
Citizenship Requirements and What Are Your Options If Your Citizenship Application is Denied
There are several requirements that must be met in order to qualify for citizenship. In order to qualify, the applicant must be at least 18 [...]
