Immigration Blog
The Legal Framework in Immigration Cases
The Legal Framework in Immigration Cases When handling immigration cases, it is crucial to navigate the complex web of laws and regulations governing immigration in the United States. I.S. Law Firm [...]
J-1 Exchange Visitor Program for Knowledge and Skill Exchange
J-1 Exchange Visitor Program for Knowledge and Skill Exchange Are you interested in teaching, studying, conducting research, or receiving specialized training in the United States? If so, the J-1 visa classification, [...]
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a U.S. Visa
7 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a U.S. Visa Applying for a U.S. visa can be a complex and intricate process that requires meticulous attention to detail and strict [...]
Immigration Attorneys/Lawyers vs. Paralegals
Immigration Attorneys/Lawyers vs. Paralegals: Understanding the Key Differences In the realm of immigration law, two primary roles come into play: immigration attorneys or lawyers and immigration paralegals. While both play vital [...]
Diversity Visa Lottery: Next Steps for Winners Inside the United States
Diversity Visa Lottery: Next Steps for Winners Inside the United States Congratulations to all the winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery for 2024! If you're one of the lucky individuals selected [...]
Diversity Visa Lottery: Next Steps for Winners Outside the United States
Diversity Visa Lottery: Next Steps for Winners Outside the United States The Diversity Visa (Green Card lottery) results have been released, and we are thrilled to see many winners among [...]
What is the Diversity Visa Program or the Green Card Lottery?
What is the Diversity Visa Program or the Green Card Lottery? The Diversity Visa Program, commonly called the Green Card Lottery, is a unique opportunity for individuals from countries with historically [...]
Deportations Increase on US-Mexican Border as Title 42 Gives Way to Title 8.
Deportations Increase on US-Mexican Border as Title 42 Gives Way to Title 8. On May 11, the US will cancel Title 42, a policy that allows immigration authorities to expel undocumented [...]
The Difference Between Visa, Status, and Lawful Presence
The Difference Between Visa, Status, and Lawful Presence Immigration can be a complicated process, especially when it comes to understanding the differences between visa, status, and lawful presence. Therefore, in this [...]
1500 soldiers sent to the US – Mexican border to help with asylum seekers
1500 soldiers sent to the US - Mexican border to help with asylum seekers The Biden administration's decision to deploy 1,500 active-duty troops to the southern border comes as the [...]
United States wants Canada to reimpose visas for Mexicans, fearing more asylum seekers are coming through the US – Canada border
United States wants Canada to reimpose visas for Mexicans, fearing more asylum seekers are coming through the US - Canada border The United States has asked Canada to reimpose visa [...]
EB-3 Visa: Obtaining Permanent Residency Through Employment
EB-3 Visa: Obtaining Permanent Residency Through Employment If you are looking to immigrate to the United States based on employment, the EB-3 visa may be a suitable option for you. This [...]
What Really Affects Your Visa Approval Chances?
Demystifying Consular Approval Ratings: What Really Affects Your Visa Approval Chances? Welcome to our blog, where we aim to address some common misconceptions about the consular interview process and approval [...]
Cancellation of Removal Success: An Example of Extreme and Unusual Hardship for a Mexican Immigrant
Cancellation of Removal Success: An Example of Extreme and Unusual Hardship for a Mexican Immigrant Recently, Ismail Shahtakhtinski had a remote individual hearing with an immigration judge in a new Immigration [...]
Challenging the Immigration System: The Story of One Family’s Fight for a Better Life
Challenging the Immigration System: The Story of One Family's Fight for a Better Life Attorney Ismail Shahtakhtinski had recently achieved success in a particularly challenging immigration case, which had been [...]
What Happens at a Master Hearing and Individual Hearing in Immigration Court?
immigration court What Happens at a Master Hearing and Individual Hearing in Immigration Court? Immigration law generally is complicated. It is even more complicated when you are placed [...]
Don’t Risk Losing Your Green Card: What You Should Know About Reentry Permit
reentry permit Don't Risk Losing Your Green Card: What You Should Know About Reentry Permit If you hold a Green Card and travel frequently outside the United States, it [...]
The Role of Luck in Immigration Cases: How to Increase Your Chances of Approval
The Role of Luck in Immigration Cases: How to Increase Your Chances of Approval Immigration lawyer Ismail Shakhtakhtinski is often asked by clients what their chances are of winning an [...]
Confusing USCIS Announcement About the 1-Year Wait Time for Asylee Green Card Applications
Legal Analysis of Confusing USCIS Announcement About the 1-Year Wait Time for Asylee Green Card Applications By: Ismail Shahtakhtinski, Esq. On February 2, 2023, the USCIS announced a new policy about [...]
How to bring parents to the USA?
How to bring parents to the USA? As an immigration lawyer, one of the most common questions I receive from clients is how to bring their parents to the USA. [...]
E-1 Treaty Trader Visa and E-2 Treaty Investor Visa
investor E-1 Treaty Trader Visa and E-2 Treaty Investor Visa As the world's largest economy, the United States has always been an attractive destination for foreign investors looking [...]
What documents must I take with me when moving to the USA?
Documents What documents must I take with me when moving to the USA? If you are planning to move to the United States, it is essential to be [...]
Bringing Siblings to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents
Siblings Bringing Siblings to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents To petition to bring your sibling (brother or sister) to live in the United States as [...]
Bringing Spouses to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents
Sp Bringing Spouses to Live in the United States as Permanent Residents In order to bring your spouse (husband or wife) to live in the United States as a [...]
Permission to Work in the US based on an Asylum
To apply for employment authorization, you must file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: Based on a Pending Asylum Application. To apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) based on [...]
Credible Fear Screening Individuals Seeking Asylum
Assume you are in expedited removal proceedings and are found to have a credible fear of persecution or torture. In that case, you may seek asylum before an asylum officer with [...]
I am a U.S. permanent resident. How do I get a reentry permit?
A lawful permanent resident (LPR) normally may travel outside the United States and return; however, there are some limitations. A reentry permit can help prevent two types of problems: Your [...]
How can I sponsor my parents to move to the US?
Everyone is familiar with the process of sponsoring immediate family members, such as children or spouses, but not so much about the parents. The first thing to know is that the [...]
How to speed up the process of getting a work permit? How to make an expedite request?
Currently, obtaining a work permit takes a very long time. Even in ordinary cases of family reunification immigration (the adjustment of status process to a green card), obtaining a work permit [...]
How can students work? What rights do they have?
If you would like to study as a full-time student in the US, you will generally need a student visa. The F-1 Student Visa (Academic Student) allows you to enter the [...]
Pro Bono Success Story
Please meet our Pro Bono Client. Debora is from Brazil and came to the United States in 2016. Shortly after she became a permanent resident, Debora joined the US Army in [...]
O-1 for Fencing Coach
Within a short span of time, I.S. Law Firm secured approvals of O-1 visa for 5 professional fencing coaches, including a professional fencing coaches (maestro) from Italy, Ukraine, UK, China, and [...]
New Parole Program for Venezuelans
New Parole Program for Venezuelans The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting applications providing quick and safe entry into the United States for Venezuelans and their immediate family members. [...]
What is EB-3 Visa? What are the Benefits?
EB-3 visa is a Third Preference Employment-Based Immigration visa for the following types of workers: Skilled workers - persons whose jobs require a minimum of 2 years of training or experience, not of [...]
10 Steps to Naturalization
10 Steps to Naturalization Find a general description of the naturalization application process: Determine if you are already a US citizen. If you are not a US citizen by birth or [...]
What are the first steps in obtaining an E-2 visa?
The E-2 is an investor’s visa for a small business. It is a very beneficial type of visa and allows the principal applicant to come and work for their own business. [...]
Diversity Visa (Green Card Lottery) Adjustment of Status
Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa Lottery) Next Steps: Adjustment of Status (DV AOS) Congratulations on your Diversity Visa selection! If you are in the United States, you may be eligible to [...]
Options for Ukrainian Refugees Trying to Enter the US and Protections for Ukrainian Nationals Currently in the United States
Updated as of 5/10/2022: As you can imagine we are working around the clock to respond to numerous inquiries from our Ukrainian clients and friends about the ways they can bring [...]
List of President Biden’s immigration actions so far (as of February 3, 2021)
List of President Biden's immigration actions so far (as of February 3, 2021): Submitted a comprehensive immigration reform bill to Congress on Day 1. The contents are not formally disclosed yet, [...]
File Your Marriage-Based Green-Card, AOS, EAD or Citizenship Papers Before Fees Increase!
It is not too late to file your immigration papers before the USCIS filing fees increase. Whether it is citizenship or green-card application you have been postponing, the time to file [...]
USCIS Filing Fees Will Change Effective October 2, 2020
Effective October 2, 2020, the USCIS will change filing fees for most forms as shown below. The most notable changes include: Twice increased fee for naturalization application; $50 Filing Fee for [...]
Q&As on New Presidential Proclamation Restricting Issuance of Visas
Q&As with attorney Ismail Shahtakhtinski on New Presidential Proclamation Restricting Issuance of Visas: Who is affected by Trump’s new proclamation? The new ban applies to visa applicants currently outside of the [...]
Proving Your Marriage in the 21st Century
Proving Your Marriage in the 21st Century When you apply for a marriage-based green card, you must prove that the marriage is real. This means [...]
Successful Waiver of Inadmissibility Based on Misrepresentation
Successful Waiver of Inadmissibility Based on Misrepresentation Our firm secured a non-immigrant waiver of alleged misrepresentation-based inadmissibility, for a B1/B2 visa applicant. The applicant’s visitor’s visa was initially granted, but later [...]
MAINTAINING LPR STATUS (GREEN-CARD) AND QUALIFYING FOR CITIZENSHIP
MAINTAINING LPR STATUS (GREEN-CARD) AND QUALIFYING FOR CITIZENSHIP Overview A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) is a person who is not a citizen of the United States, [...]
LGBTI from Azerbaijan are Increasingly Seeking Asylum
LGBTI from Azerbaijan are Increasingly Seeking Asylum By: Ismail Shahtakhtinski and Aynur Jafar Azerbaijan has proven to be an inhospitable place for LGBTI. Individuals are targeted based [...]
How to Prepare for Asylum Interview
How to Prepare for Asylum Interview It’s important that you thoroughly prepare for an asylum interview. There are various traps which could lead to your asylum application [...]
Remarks by Attorney Ismail Shahtakhtinski at the conference on Abuse of Interpol Red Notices by Authoritarian States
Remarks by Attorney Ismail Shahtakhtinski at the conference on Abuse of Interpol Red Notices by Authoritarian States Immigration lawyer Ismail Shahtakhtinski warns that countries like Kazakhstan, [...]
USCIS Posts New Asylum Interview Scheduling Bulletin
USCIS Posts New Asylum Interview Scheduling Bulletin 2018 Updates to Asylum Interview Processes As of February 2018, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) [...]
How Can I Sponsor My Parents to Move to the United States Permanently?
How Can I Sponsor My Parents to Move to the United States Permanently? Many immigrants who live in the United States want to “sponsor” their parents to [...]
10 Things to Know When Applying for Citizenship
10 Things to Know When Applying for Citizenship Schedule a Consultation Now Applying for citizenship (also known as naturalization) in the United States is not [...]
What if I Marry a U.S. Citizen while my Asylum Case Is Pending?
What If I Marry a US Citizen While My Asylum Case is Pending? If you have successfully filed your asylum application with the United [...]
Asylum Travel – Refugee Travel Document
Asylum Travel - Refugee Travel Document If you are an asylum applicant, asylee (an individual who has been granted asylum), or lawful permanent resident who obtained such status based [...]
Change of Address
When and How to Change Your Address with the USCIS If you are NOT a U.S. citizen, you must report any change of address to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [...]
Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a permission for nationals of certain countries to reside and work in the United States. The Secretary of Homeland Security [...]
Asylum Seekers from Turkey
Asylum Seekers from Turkey By: Ismail Shahtakhtinski August 1, 2016 In this article, we attempt to provide some useful information about the current country conditions in Turkey, [...]
Finding the Best Asylum Lawyer
Finding the Best Asylum Lawyer Applicants for asylum in the United States often ask this question: “Do I need a lawyer?” Although the results of each specific asylum case [...]
How to Expedite Asylum Interview or Hearing
How to Expedite Asylum Interview or Hearing Applying for asylum in the United States can be frustrating, because asylum application is a complex and often lengthy process. It [...]
Best Ways to Bring Your Spouse to US
Best Ways to Bring Your Spouse to US SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION Historically, family reunification has been the easiest and fastest way of bringing your loved [...]
Diplomatic Immunity: What, Who, Why and How?
Diplomatic Immunity: What, Who, Why and How? By: Ismail T. Shahtakhtinski, Esq. Living in or near the nation’s capital means that one way or another you [...]
Humanitarian Parole for a Child of Asylum Applicant
Humanitarian Parole for a Child of Asylum Applicant Recently I.S. Law Firm successfully secured a humanitarian parole for a child of the asylum applicant while the case had [...]
Trump’s Executive Order: deporting aliens who committed crimes
Trump's Executive Order: deporting aliens who committed crimes On the issue of deporting aliens who committed crimes: Trump's order does not create any new basis for deportation. The [...]
The Critical Role of an Asylum Lawyer
For those that are seeking asylum, a good lawyer can mean the difference between success and failure. While it's true that the final decision will be influenced by factors such as [...]
Top 3 Reasons L-1 Visas Are Rejected
L-1 (L-1A or L-1B) visas permit you to transport a worker with expert knowledge into the country. But just because you have a valid reason to bring over a worker has [...]
7 Common Immigration Mistakes
Here at I.S. Law Firm, we know that the immigration process is complex and often difficult. For those that don't work with an immigration attorney in Virginia, it can be almost [...]
Tips for Finding the Best Immigration Lawyer
Having the perfect immigration attorney take on your case can mean the difference between having a good or bad outcome. Here at I.S. Law Firm, we are here to help you. [...]
How to Find the Best Immigration Lawyer
If you are looking to immigrate to the United States, ask for asylum, file a petition with USCIS or apply for a change of status, your first step is to find [...]
Asylum for Syrian Family
Asylum for Syrian Family One of recent cases which I.S. Law Firm successfully secured a grant of asylum for our client was the case of a Syrian family. [...]
Asylum for Syrian Activist
Asylum for Syrian Activist One of recent cases which I.S. Law Firm successfully secured a grant of asylum for our client was the case of the Syrian [...]
Asylum for a Political Activist from Nepal
Asylum for a Political Activist from Nepal I.S. Law Firm secured a grant of asylum for a Nepalese political activist through the immigration court proceedings. Since 1990s, Nepal [...]
Online Registration for DV-2018 Begins Soon!
Online registration for Diversity Visa Lottery (green-card lottery) begins soon! Entries for the DV-2018 Diversity Visa program must be submitted electronically at www.dvlottery.state.gov between Tuesday, October 4, 2016 at 12:00 noon, [...]
AILA Welcomes Legislation Designed to Protect Refugees
AILA Welcomes Legislation Designed to Protect Refugees WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) welcomed the introduction of the Refugee Protection Act of 2016 [...]
Asylum for a Political Activist from Russia
I.S. Law Firm has recently secured a grant of asylum for a woman fleeing political persecution from Russia. She was assaulted and received death threats on multiple occasions for being an [...]
What if I Applied for Naturalization Based on Marriage, but I am now Separated?
What if I Applied for Naturalization Based on Marriage, but I am now Separated? If you are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR; also known as a green card [...]
I Entered the U.S. as a K-1 Fiancé(e), Now What?
I Entered the U.S. as a K-1 Fiancé(e), Now What? There are many ways to become a permanent resident (get a green card) through your family. According [...]
What to Do if I Was Placed in Removal Proceedings
What to Do if I Was Placed in Removal Proceedings This article will help explain how removal proceedings work, describing the types of relief that are available in [...]
What to Expect During Diversity Visa Interview?
NOTICE: The information contained on this page site is intended to educate the general public and is not intended to provide legal advice. To ensure proper handling of your individual situation, [...]
TPS Registration Period Extended for Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone
TPS Registration Period Extended for Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone On June 25, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the initial registration deadline for Temporary Protected [...]
How to Prepare for Diversity Visa Interview?
How to Prepare for Diversity Visa Interview? Being selected in Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Lottery) is random. DV Lottery, also known as Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, makes 50,000 [...]
Initial Registration Deadline for Syria TPS is July 6, 2015
Initial Registration Deadline for Syria TPS is July 6, 2015 Recently, the USCIS announced that Monday, July 6, 2015, is the deadline to register for TPS for eligible [...]
What If I Was Selected in Diversity Visa Lottery When I Am Already in the United States?
What If I Was Selected in Diversity Visa Lottery When I Am Already in the United States? Being selected in Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Lottery) is random. [...]
Nepal Designated for Temporary Protected Status
Nepal Designated for Temporary Protected Status On June 24, 2015, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced its decision to designate Nepal for Temporary Protected [...]
What If I Was Selected in DV Lottery When I Am Still Living in My Country?
What If I Was Selected in DV Lottery When I Am Still Living in My Country? Being selected in Diversity Visa Lottery (DV Lottery) is random. DV [...]
Asylum for a Political Activist from Azerbaijan
Asylum for a Political Activist from Azerbaijan I.S. Law Firm secured a grant of asylum for our client, a political activist from Azerbaijan who had been persecuted in [...]
How Can I Bring My Parents to Visit the United States?
How Can I Bring My Parents to Visit the United States? Many immigrants who live in the United States want to “sponsor” their parents to come to [...]
TPS Extended For Somalia
TPS Extended For Somalia On June 1, 2015, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Somalia (and [...]
Spouses of Certain H-1B Visa Holders Can Now Apply for Work Permits
Spouses of Certain H-1B Visa Holders Can Now Apply for Work Permits Certain H-4 dependent spouses may now apply for employment authorization under the H-4 rule. Effective today, [...]
Voluntary Departure
Voluntary Departure Every year, thousands of immigrants are placed in what is called “removal proceedings,” meaning that they are in the process of being removed (deported) from the [...]
Green-Card Extension Approval for a Battered Spouse of U.S. Citizen
Green-Card Extension Approval for a Battered Spouse of U.S. Citizen I.S. Law Firm received an approval of our petition to extend the permanent residency for our client, who [...]
Asylum for a Political Activist from Ethiopia
Asylum for a Political Activist from Ethiopia I.S. Law Firm secured a grant of asylum for our client, a political activist from Ethiopia who had been persecuted in [...]
Opening a Business with an F-1 Visa
Opening a Business with an F-1 Visa Many international students who are studying in the United States would like to start their own business or open [...]
Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders Will be Eligible for Work Permits
Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders Will be Eligible for Work Permits On February 24, 2015, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced eligibility for employment [...]
Start of Application Process for Expanded DACA is Delayed
Start of Application Process for Expanded DACA is Delayed On February 18th, 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was expected to start accepting applications for [...]
USCIS will begin accepting requests for expanded DACA on February 18, 2015
USCIS will begin accepting requests for expanded DACA on February 18, 2015 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will expand Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) [...]
Temporary Protected Status Extended for El Salvador
Temporary Protected Status Extended for El Salvador United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of El Salvador for [...]
Nationals of Syria Can Register and Re-register for Temporary Protected Status
Nationals of Syria Can Register and Re-register for Temporary Protected Status On January 5, 2015 , due to an ongoing armed conflict and temporary conditions in Syria [...]
President Obama Announces Executive Action on Immigration
President Obama Announces Executive Action on Immigration On November 20, 2014, President Barack Obama unveiled his executive action plan on immigration. The President’s plan will affect [...]
Nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone can apply for Temporary Protected Status
Nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone can apply for Temporary Protected Status On November 20, 2014, due to the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, [...]
National Interest Waiver for a Financial Analyst
National Interest Waiver for a Financial Analyst I.S. Law Firm obtained permanent residence (“green-card”) through a process called National Interest Waiver for our client, a financial analyst [...]
DHS to Implement Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program
DHS to Implement Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program On October 17, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that, starting in early 2015, it will begin implementation [...]
Temporary Protected Status Extended for Honduras and Nicaragua
Temporary Protected Status Extended for Honduras and Nicaragua On October 16, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Honduras [...]
Immigration Enforcement Statistics for Fiscal Year 2013
Immigration Enforcement Statistics for Fiscal Year 2013 On October 1, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its immigration enforcement statistics for the 2013 fiscal year, which [...]
Diversity Visa Lottery 2016
Diversity Visa Lottery 2016 Entries for the DV-2016 Diversity Visa program must be submitted electronically at www.dvlottery.state.gov between noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Wednesday, October 1, [...]
DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status for Sudan and South Sudan
DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status for Sudan and South Sudan On September 2, 2014, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson announced that he would extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for [...]
Immigration Relief Measures to Nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone
Immigration Relief Measures to Nationals of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone On August 15, 2014, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced Ebola outbreak-related immigration relief [...]
Asylum for a Tribe Member from Yemen
I.S. Law Firm secured grant of asylum in immigration court for our client, a Yemeni citizen who was persecuted in Yemen because he belongs to one of the Yemeni tribes.Attorney Ismail Shahtakhtinski [...]
Obama to take executive action on immigration
Obama to take executive action on immigration On Monday, June 30th, 2014, President Barack Obama announced that he would take executive action to address the United States' [...]
Asylum for LGBT Activist from Nigeria
Asylum for LGBT Activist from Nigeria I.S. Law Firm recently secured a grant of asylum through asylum office for a member of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) [...]
Asylum through Immigration Court for Whistleblower from Azerbaijan
Asylum through Immigration Court for Whistleblower from Azerbaijan I.S. Law Firm, PLLC secured grant of asylum in immigration court for our client who had uncovered a money laundering [...]
DHS Announces Proposals to Attract and Retain Highly Skilled Immigrants
DHS Announces Proposals to Attract and Retain Highly Skilled Immigrants On May 6, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the publication of two proposed rules, [...]
CBP Website Now Shows Arrival/Departure History
CBP Website Now Shows Arrival/Departure History On May 1, 2014, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) launched a new webpage that offers non-immigrant U.S. visitors access to their I-94 [...]
Why Should I Hire a Lawyer for my Marriage-Based Adjustment Case?
Why Should I Hire a Lawyer for my Marriage-Based Adjustment Case? People applying for marriage-based permanent residency in the United States (also known as “green-card”) often [...]
USCIS Reaches FY 2015 H-1B Cap
USCIS Reaches FY 2015 H-1B Cap On April 7, 2014, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions [...]
H-1B Cap Likely To Be Filled by April 7
H-1B Cap Likely To Be Filled by April 7 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2015 [...]
Naturalization Approval through N-336 Hearing
Naturalization Approval through N-336 Hearing I.S. Law Firm secured approval of a previously denied application for naturalization (Form N-400) for our client through an N-336 hearing on a [...]
Healthcare for Immigrants
Healthcare for Immigrants If you live in the United States, you have probably been hearing a lot about healthcare recently. Specifically, you may have heard about the “Affordable [...]
Temporary Protected Status
Temporary Protected Status Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a permission for nationals of certain countries to reside and work in the United States. The Secretary of Homeland Security [...]
TPS Overview
TPS Overview Temporary protected status is a permission for nationals of certain countries to reside and work in the United States. The Secretary of Homeland Security may designate a [...]
DHS Designates Chile Into the Visa Waiver Program
DHS Designates Chile Into the Visa Waiver Program On February 28, 2014, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, joined by Deputy Secretary of State for Management and [...]
Temporary Protected Status Extended for Haitians
On March 3, 2014, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Haiti for an additional 18 months, effective July 23, 2014 through January 22, [...]
H-1B Overview
NOTICE: The information contained on this page site is intended to educate the general public and is not intended to provide legal advice. To ensure proper handling of your individual situation, [...]
USCIS Warns of New Telephone Scam
On January 30, 2014, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the agency had received several reports of a scam in the past few days. According to USCIS blog, the [...]
Settlement on Asylum Interview Notes
Settlement on Asylum Interview Notes On November 19, 2013, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area and co-counsel at Davis Wright Tremaine [...]
Non-Immigrant Visas
NOTICE: The information contained on this page site is intended to educate the general public and is not intended to provide legal advice. To ensure proper handling of your individual situation, [...]
ICE proposes changes to international student programs
ICE proposes changes to international student programs On November 20, 2013, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) proposed changes to the requirements governing its Student and Exchange Visitor [...]
Asylum Clock Settlement Approved
Asylum Clock Settlement Approved On November 4, 2013, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Jones ordered the final approval of a nationwide class action settlement agreement. According to the [...]
Temporary Protected Status Extended for Somalis
Temporary Protected Status Extended for Somalis On November 6, 2013, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Rand Beers has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of Somalia [...]
Expedited US Citizenship through MAVNI Program
Expedited US Citizenship through MAVNI Program Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) is a recruiting program that allows certain lawfully present non-citizens to enlist in the [...]
Religion-Based Asylum from Uzbekistan
Religion-Based Asylum from Uzbekistan I.S. Law Firm secured grant of asylum in immigration court for a Christian from Uzbekistan, who had been persecuted for his religious beliefs in [...]
Diversity Visa Lottery 2015
Diversity Visa Lottery 2015 Online registration for the Diversity Visa (DV) 2015 Program will begin on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) [...]
Separation/Divorce and Conditional Permanent Residence
Separation/Divorce and Conditional Permanent Residence If you obtained green-card based on your marriage to a United States citizen, you will most likely receive a so-called “conditional permanent resident” [...]
Implementation of DOMA Ruling
Immediately after the landmark Supreme Court ruling on June 26, 2013, the United States immigration authorities have started working to eliminate discrimination against same-sex married couples in the implementation of United [...]
First Same-Sex Marriage-Based Green-Card Approved
First Same-Sex Marriage-Based Green-Card Approved On June 28, 2013, the first marriage-based immigration petition filed by a same-sex couple has been approved. This is the first ever green-card [...]
Asylum for a Bahai from Iran
Asylum for a Bahai from Iran I.S. Law Firm secured a grant of asylum for our client who had been threatened, attacked and intimidated in her native Iran [...]
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Gay Marriage On June 26, 2013, the United States Supreme Court issued two landmark decisions in favor of same-sex marriage. I.S. Law [...]
Supreme Court Blocks Law Requiring Voters to Prove Citizenship
Supreme Court Blocks Law Requiring Voters to Prove Citizenship On June 17, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled, 7 to 2, that states may not [...]
DHS Re-Designates Syria for Temporary Protected Status
DHS Re-Designates Syria for Temporary Protected Status On June 17, 2013, United States Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has re-designated Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and [...]
Immigration Reform Update
Immigration Reform Update On June 13, 2013, the United States Senate voted to block Senator Grassley’s amendment 1195, which would prohibit the granting of Registered Provisional Immigrant (RPI) [...]
Do I need a lawyer for my asylum case?
Do I need a lawyer for my asylum case? People applying for asylum in the United States often ask this question: “Do I need a lawyer?” Although the [...]
Court Finds Undocumented Immigrant with Temporary Protected Status Eligible for Green-Card
Court Finds Undocumented Immigrant with Temporary Protected Status Eligible for Green-Card On June 4, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ruled that [...]
VAWA Approval for Abused Spouse of US Citizen
VAWA Approval for Abused Spouse of US Citizen I.S. Law Firm secured approval of a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petition. It was filed on behalf of [...]
H-1B Visa for Employee of Home Business
H-1B Visa for Employee of Home Business I.S. Law Firm secured approval of H-1B work visa for an employee of a small home-based business. In securing this approval, [...]
E-2 for Convenience Store Investor
E-2 for Convenience Store Investor On February 27, 2013, I.S. Law Firm secured approval of E-2 status for an investor in a convenience store business.In securing approval of [...]
Employers Must Use Revised Form I-9
Starting May 7, 2013, all United States employers must use the revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification (Revision 03/08/13) for all new hires and re-verifications. The use of previous versions of the [...]
US Customs to Verify All Student Visas
US Customs to Verify All Student Visas On May 2, 2013, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued an order to all border agents to verify that [...]
DV Lottery 2014 Results Available May 1, 2013
DV Lottery 2014 Results Available May 1, 2013 The results of Diversity Visa Lottery-2014 will be available starting at noon (Eastern Daylight Time) on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. [...]
US State Department Releases 2012 Human Rights Reports
US State Department Releases 2012 Human Rights Reports On April 19, 2013, the United States Department of State released Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012. Country reports [...]
Immigration Reform Bill Introduced in US Senate
Immigration Reform Bill Introduced in US Senate On April 17, 2013, a group of senators introduced their long-awaited bill for comprehensive immigration reform that would overhaul the immigration [...]
Immigration Bill Outline Published
Immigration Bill Outline Published On April 16, 2013, a bipartisan group of senators published the outline of their proposed immigration bill, titled “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization [...]
Asylum Clock Update
Asylum Clock Update Agreement Reached in National Class Action Lawsuit on Work Authorization for Asylum Seekers On April 12, 2013, the plaintiffs in A.B.T. et al. v. [...]
USCIS Reaches FY 2014 H-1B Cap
USCIS Reaches FY 2014 H-1B Cap For the first time since 2008, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reached the statutory H-1B cap of 65,000 for fiscal [...]
Congress Passes VAWA Reauthorization
Congress Passes VAWA Reauthorization On February 28, 2013, the United States House of Representatives passed, 286-138, the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), securing [...]
Immigration Reform Moves Forward
Immigration Reform Moves Forward Comprehensive immigration reform is a step closer to becoming reality as a Senate group introduced its immigration plan, followed by president Obama’s own [...]
Asylum for a Youth Leader from Azerbaijan
Asylum for a Youth Leader from Azerbaijan Attorney Ismail Shahtakhtinski secured a grant of asylum through immigration court for a co-founder of an opposition youth organization [...]
Asylum from Russia for an Ethnic Korean
Asylum from Russia for an Ethnic Korean I.S. Law Firm recently secured a grant of asylum through asylum office for an ethnic Korean woman who was [...]
USCIS Announces Final Rule to Support Family Unity During Waiver Process
USCIS Announces Final Rule to Support Family Unity During Waiver Process On January 2nd, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that certain immediate relatives [...]
USCIS Asylum Office Customer Satisfaction Survey Results
USCIS Asylum Office Customer Satisfaction Survey Results The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) Refugee, Asylum and International Operations Directorate and the Office of Policy and Strategy’s [...]
New Appointment System at US Embassy in Baku
New Appointment System at US Embassy in Baku The U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan, has announced that it will implement new, improved visa application and appointment scheduling procedures [...]
Foreign Students Boost US Economy
Foreign Students Boost US Economy In November 2012, NAFSA, Association of International Educators, published a report, “The Economic Benefits of International Students to the U.S. Economy: Academic Year [...]
Republican Senators Counter DREAM Act with ACHIEVE Act
Republican Senators Counter DREAM Act with ACHIEVE Act W-1 Status W-2 Status W-3 Status On November 27, 2012, Senator Kay Bailey [...]
Estimating US Resident Nonimmigrant Population
Estimating US Resident Nonimmigrant Population In November of 2012, the Department of Homeland Security released data on the resident nonimmigrant population in the United States for [...]
Maryland Voters Approve Dream Act Law
Maryland Voters Approve Dream Act Law On November 6, 2012, a Maryland law that grants an in-state tuition discount to undocumented college students won voter approval [...]
Immigrants Play Key Role in Virginia Economy
Immigrants Play Key Role in Virginia Economy In October 2012, The Commonwealth Institute of Virginia released a new report titled “Critical Assets: The State of Immigrants [...]
I.S. Law Firm Will Submit Your Entry for Diversity Visa Lottery-2014 for Free
I.S. Law Firm Will Submit Your Entry for Diversity Visa Lottery-2014 for Free This year, I.S. law Firm again offers free services to those who wish [...]
Guide to Deferred Action for Immigrant Youth (DACA)
Guide to Deferred Action for Immigrant Youth (DACA) The Obama administration recently announced that it will offer relief from deportation for young immigrants who were brought to the country [...]
Asylum Clock
Asylum Clock Many asylum applicants have experienced problems with the so-called “asylum clock”. The asylum clock is a clock that measures the 150 days after an applicant files [...]
Obama Administration to Halt Deportations of DREAMers
Obama Administration to Halt Deportations of DREAMers On June 15, 2012, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano announced that, effective immediately, certain young people who were [...]
Battle over VAWA Continues
Battle over VAWA Continues The U.S. Congress remains deadlocked over the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which provides immigration relief to victims of domestic [...]
Asylum Statistics
Asylum Statistics On July 26, 2012, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Asylum Division has released asylum statistics by applicants’ countries, gender, asylum offices, types, [...]
USCIS Begins Accepting Requests for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
USCIS Begins Accepting Requests for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals On August 15, 2012, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun accepting requests for consideration of [...]
Supreme Court Rules on Arizona Immigration Law
Supreme Court Rules on Arizona Immigration Law On Monday, June 25, 2012, the United States Supreme Court issued a mixed decision in the case of Arizona Et Al. [...]
US Takes Steps to Keep Talented Foreign Students in the Country
US Takes Steps to Keep Talented Foreign Students in the Country Immigration Impact published the following opinion with regard to the recent expansion of the Department of Homeland Security's List [...]
3 Myths about Adjustment of Status Process
3 Myths about Adjustment of Status Process The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published useful information to dispel some myths about the adjustment [...]
DV Lottery-2013 Results Announced May 1, 2012
DV Lottery-2013 Results Announced May 1, 2012 The results of Diversity Visa Lottery-2013 will be available starting at noon (Eastern Daylight Time) on Tuesday, May 1, [...]
H-1 B Count FY2013
H-1 B Count FY2013 The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to accept H-1B petitions for the fiscal year 2013 cap season. U.S. businesses [...]
Asylum for a Pro-Democracy Activist from Azerbaijan
Asylum for a Pro-Democracy Activist from Azerbaijan I.S. Law Firm secured a grant of asylum through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for a [...]
USCIS Designates Syria for Temporary Protected Status
USCIS Designates Syria for Temporary Protected Status Due to the violent upheaval and deteriorating situation in the Syrian Arab Republic (Syria), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on [...]
Anti-Immigration Laws Damage US Economy
Anti-Immigration Laws Damage US Economy As many U.S. states are considering and implementing harsh immigration-control laws, research shows that the impact of such laws can harm states’ economies, [...]
Asylum Travel
Asylum Travel If you are an asylum applicant, asylee (an individual who has been granted asylum), or lawful permanent resident who obtained such status based on your [...]
White House to Attract Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs and Highly Skilled Immigrants
White House to Attract Foreign-Born Entrepreneurs and Highly Skilled Immigrants On January 31, 2012, the White House and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled their strategy [...]
Asylum from Russia for a Victim of Police Corruption
Asylum from Russia for a Victim of Police Corruption I.S. Law Firm secured a grant of asylum through immigration court in a case involving a [...]
Obama to Boost Tourism and Improve Visa Processing
Obama to Boost Tourism and Improve Visa Processing On January 19, 2012, President Obama signed an executive order to improve visa and foreign visitor processing and travel promotion. The [...]
Political Asylum from Azerbaijan
Political Asylum from Azerbaijan On January 20, 2012, I.S. Law Firm secured a grant of asylum in immigration court for a pro-democracy political activist from Azerbaijan who [...]
Immigration Creates US Jobs
Immigration Creates US Jobs Immigration creates jobs for native-born Americans, a new report finds. Immigration does not reduce employment among U.S.-born population; instead, foreign-born workers “complement” U.S.-born workers. [...]
Gang-Related Asylum from El Salvador
Gang-Related Asylum from El Salvador We have secured a grant of asylum in immigration court for a young woman from El Salvador who was persecuted because of her [...]
USCIS to Reduce Separation Time for Families
USCIS to Reduce Separation Time for Families On January 6, 2012, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) proposed a regulatory change that will decrease the amount of time that [...]
Lautenberg Amendment Extended
Lautenberg Amendment Extended I.S. Law Firm applauds extension of Lautenberg Amendment, which provides protection to refugees seeking religious freedom, through fiscal year 2012. The Lautenberg Amendment has been [...]
ICE Launches New Hotline for Detainees
ICE Launches New Hotline for Detainees On December 29, 2011, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced new measures to ensure that individuals being held by [...]
Asylum for an Activist from Azerbaijan
Asylum for an Activist from Azerbaijan Attorneys I.S. Law Firm have secured a grant of asylum in immigration court for a political activist from Azerbaijan [...]
Asylum for a Prominent Political Dissident from Armenia
Asylum for a Prominent Political Dissident from Armenia I.S. Law Firm has achieved an important court victory in securing the grant of asylum for a prominent political [...]
Asylum for a Blogger from Azerbaijan
Asylum for a Blogger from Azerbaijan I.S. Law Firm has been successful in securing asylum for a young political activist and blogger from Azerbaijan who was systematically persecuted [...]
Asylum from Russia
Asylum from Russia I.S. Law Firm has secured asylum for a young woman from Russia who had been subject to persecution in Russia based on her ethnicity and [...]
Asylum from Kyrgyzstan
Asylum from Kyrgyzstan I.S. Law Firm has secured asylum for a young Uyghur-Uzbek student who was systematically persecuted by the ethnic majority in Kyrgyzstan based [...]
Asylum from Iran
Asylum from Iran I.S. Law Firm secured a grant of asylum under Section 208 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) for a refugee from Iran, who [...]
Asylum from Kenya
Asylum from Kenya I.S. Law Firm secured asylum for a victim of the recent tribal and ethnic clashes and the Kenyan government’s forced return of internally [...]
Asylum from Uzbekistan
Asylum from Uzbekistan I.S. Law Firm has secured asylum for a young Muslim systematically persecuted by the Uzbekistani government based on his religious beliefs and activities. The [...]
Asylum for a Kurdish Family from Russia
Asylum for a Kurdish Family from Russia I.S. Law Firm has recently secured asylum for a Kurdish family from Russia. I.S. Law Firm demonstrated to the [...]
Religion-Based Asylum from Azerbaijan
Religion-Based Asylum from Azerbaijan I.S. Law Firm has been successful in securing asylum for a young Muslim student systematically persecuted by the Azerbaijani government based on his religious [...]
E-2 Investor Visa for a Small Business (Treaty Investors)
E-2 Investor Visa for a Small Business (Treaty Investors) I.S. Law Firm secured and successfully extended an E-2 visa for a small electronics retailer. We are [...]
EB-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) Visa for a Political Psychologist
EB-1 (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) Visa for a Political Psychologist I.S. Law Firm is proud to announce an important victory in securing an approval of EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability) [...]
National Interest Waiver (EB-2)
National Interest Waiver (EB-2) We are proud to announce that we succeeded in approval of National Interest Waiver immigrant visa (green-card) petition for an accounting professional from Azerbaijan! National [...]
Alien with Extraordinary Ability (EB-1)
Alien with Extraordinary Ability (EB-1) It is our pleasure to announce an important victory in securing an approval of EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability) petition for a former [...]