U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) memorandum dated October 25, 2013 clarifying existing practices related to information that an individual seeking coverage under a qualified health plan through an insurance affordability program may provide regarding their immigration status or household members. For the purpose of administering the ACA, information that the applicants provide will be[…]

Immigration services that will stay open during the shutdown: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) – detention and enforcement operations will continue. Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) – court functions that support the detained caseload will continue, but other functions are suspended. Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) – processing emergency[…]

  We are pleased to inform you that the U.S. State Department has released the information on how to register for the fiscal year 2015 Diversity Lottery. You are encouraged to prepare and submit your own entry; an attorney is NOT required to submit it on your behalf. Some attorneys claim they have internal connections[…]

Effective September 3, 2013, the Department of State will transition to an online immigrant visa application replacing the current paper forms. The DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa Application & Alien Registration, will replace the paper-based DS-230. The DS-261, Choice of Address and Agent, will replace the paper-based DS-3032. These are fully integrated online electronic visa application[…]

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) would like to inform you that a revised Form I-817, Application for Family Unity Benefits, is now available for use. The form was revised to clarify language in some areas of the document and convert it from a one column to a two column format.  You may begin using the[…]

Secretary of State John Kerry has announced a policy change with immediate effect which allows the State Department to process visas for same-sex spouses in the same manner that it considers the application of heterosexual spouses. The new policy applies worldwide, regardless of whether same-sex marriage is legal in countries where embassies, consulates and visa-processing[…]

A panel of federal appeals court judges struck down a Farmers Branch Ordinance banning renters who are not in the country legally. The ruling comes after the city of Farmers Branch spent more than seven years, and over six million dollars in taxpayer money, fighting for the draconian measure which never even took effect, having[…]

Based on the new visa availability bulletin which becomes effective on August 1, 2013, we will be able to file both the I-130 petition and adjustment of status for the spouses and children (unmarried and under 21) of permanent residents.  This is the first time in decades this category has been current so we need[…]