There is no better time to become a US citizen as we approach a critical presidential election in November 2020. In the Boston area, USCIS processes N-400 Applications for Naturalization (citizenship) in about five months. This means that if you apply soon (ex., January or February 2020), there is a great chance that you will be able to VOTE in the November 2020 election. You can hire an attorney to represent you Read More

Decreased Communication and Negotiation with the Government Under the Trump Administration  To those paying attention, it is clear that the Trump administration is working hard to decrease legal immigration to the United States. The applicant backlog at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) currently stands at around 2.4 million–a figure higher than it has been since 2013.     While Read More

Increase in Requests for Evidence Under the Trump Administration    You completed your application for an H-1B visa, marriage-based green card, or another immigration petition. Now you’ve received a “Request for Evidence” from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Your stomach might be sinking, but stay calm. The request doesn’t necessarily mean that the USCIS will deny your Read More

President Trump’s Healthcare Insurance Proclamation for New Immigrants is Temporarily Barred  Since October many of my clients have asked me about health insurance requirements for their immigration cases. Should they apply for state-funded insurance for which they are entitled? Should they delay an immigration application until they have health insurance? How can they get health insurance in the U.S. without a U.S. Read More

Getting a Marriage-Based Green Card in the U.S. Versus at a Consulate If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident married to a foreign spouse, getting a marriage-based green card can follow more than one path. If you are both living in the United States, your process will differ from that of a couple living abroad or living in different countries. However, no matter where you reside, eligibility for a marriage Read More

Common Marriage-Based Green Card Interview Questions The last part of the marriage green card process is an interview with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Many of my clients thinks that idea of a face-to-face interview with a USCIS is scary and overwhelming. In most cases, I assure my clients that the interviews are generally easy-going conversations if they are prepared. Read More

The Importance of a Practice "Green Card Interview" with a Lawyer If you are a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident with a foreign spouse that you wish to bring to the United States to live and work, you will need to apply for a marriage green card. Part of this process involves an interview with an officer from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or a consular officer abroad. In the U.S. the Read More

Fiancé Visa Versus a Spouse Visa Many of my clients have questions about the nitty-gritty of the fiancé or marriage visa application process. They want to know how they can prove and document that their marriage is real; if their same-sex spouse or fiancé will be recognized; and how the fiancé and marriage visas differ.  Read More

So, You’ve Married a U.S. Citizen: How to Document the Next Four Years of Your Life Until You, Too, are a U.S. Citizen You married a US citizen. Congratulations on wedded bliss! Now, what comes next? You will need to document your life together for the next few years until you get your green card and then you too become a U.S. citizen. What do you need? What should you document? In this post, I’ll walk you through Read More