By Mary Campbell For many non-citizens and green card holders in the United States, public assistance programs provide critical financial support, food security, healthcare, and housing assistance. However, receiving public benefits can also impact an individual’s ability to adjust status, naturalize, or petition for family members under U.S. immigration laws. Understanding how federal and state […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. When a U.S. green card holder (lawful permanent resident) marries a spouse who is overseas, they face an important decision: Should they petition immediately for their spouse under their current status, or wait until they become a U.S. citizen to file the petition? The key consideration in this decision is speed—how […]
By Esther Claudette Gittens For many non-citizens and green card holders in the United States, public assistance programs provide critical financial support, food security, healthcare, and housing assistance. However, receiving public benefits can also impact an individual’s ability to adjust status, naturalize, or petition for family members under U.S. immigration laws. Understanding how federal and […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. Becoming a U.S. citizen is a monumental step in solidifying your place in the United States, ensuring greater opportunities, security, and rights. If you are a green card holder eligible for naturalization, applying for U.S. citizenship is one of the most important decisions you can make for yourself and your family. […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. A green card, or lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, grants noncitizens the right to live and work in the United States indefinitely. However, this status is not unconditional. One of the most critical obligations for green card holders is maintaining continuous ties to the United States. Extended absences from the country […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: Evgenia Parajanian / shutterstock.com To address these challenges, a combination of short-term and long-term solutions is needed. Hiring immigration attorneys and filing mandamus lawsuits can provide immediate relief for individuals stuck in the backlog, but these options are costly and do not address the root causes of the […]
By Emma Winger | September 28, 2023 A recent Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) decision bars certain recently arrived noncitizens from becoming lawful permanent residents. In Matter of Cabrera-Fernandez, the BIA held that the petitioner had not been paroled into the United States when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released him from immigration detention. Without parole he […]
By Emma Winger | September 28, 2023 A recent Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) decision bars certain recently arrived noncitizens from becoming lawful permanent residents. In Matter of Cabrera-Fernandez, the BIA held that the petitioner had not been paroled into the United States when the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released him from immigration detention. Without parole he […]
Editorial credit: aaronschwartzphoto / Shutterstock.com By American Immigration Council Staff | Aug 25, 2023 When the Trump administration proposed an overhaul of federal policy regarding when immigrants could be denied green cards or visas based on use of public benefits – the public charge rule – it made an impact in immigrant communities long before it technically took […]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is opening a new service center to try to fix some of its most egregious backlogs. The agency reportedly has already reassigned 150 employees – and plans to have over 300 – to staff a virtual service center, which will eventually operate fully remotely (though it will accept paper as well […]
