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. The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) provides a pathway for survivors of domestic abuse to apply for immigration relief without relying on their abusive U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse, parent, or child. VAWA allows these individuals to self-petition for a green card if they can demonstrate they were […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. The U.S. immigration system has strict eligibility requirements for family-based green cards, particularly for children of U.S. citizens or permanent residents. If a person is approved for a green card under the classification of a “child” (unmarried and under 21), getting married before entering the U.S. can have serious legal consequences. […]
By Janet Howard As of January 22, 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has waived the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for individuals applying for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (green card) within the United States. This policy change means that applicants are no longer required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: fuadstephan / shutterstock.com Traveling with pending criminal cases or past convictions presents significant risks for green card holders. Introduction For lawful permanent residents (LPRs), commonly known as green card holders, traveling—whether domestically or internationally—can be risky if they have pending criminal cases or past convictions. U.S. immigration laws […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. Green Cards, officially known as Permanent Resident Cards, serve as proof of an individual’s authorization to live and work permanently in the United States. Prior to August 1989, the U.S. government issued Green Cards without expiration dates. These cards, often referred to as “indefinite” Green Cards, remain valid today. However, there […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. An analysis of the current Green Card Lottery system. If you are undocumented in the US, you are most likely not eligible. Be careful of lottery scams that can get you deported by notaries or lawyers. The Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program, often referred to as the Green Card Lottery, is […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. U.S. immigration law provides a pathway for U.S. citizens to petition for their foreign-born spouses to adjust their immigration status and obtain lawful permanent residency, commonly known as a Green Card. However, this process can become more complex when the foreign spouse has entered the U.S. on a temporary visitor visa […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial credit: art4you1 / shutterstock.com One of the most common pathways to obtaining permanent residency (commonly known as a green card) in the United States is through family-based immigration. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) can petition for certain family members living overseas to join them in […]
By Brian Figeroux, Esq. | Editorial Credit: Yuri A / shutterstock.com The National Interest Waiver (NIW) is an immigration pathway available to certain foreign nationals under the Employment-Based Second Preference (EB-2) category of the U.S. immigration system. The NIW allows an individual to seek a waiver of the job offer requirement, including the labor certification […]
