Some good news has come to religious workers who intend on filing an I-485.
In a United States District Court decision out of the state of Washington, the court in RUIZ-DIAZ v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ruled that a Petitioner who filed or will file a Petition for Special Immigrant Religious Worker Visa (Form I-360) with the USCIS on behalf of an individual beneficiary may now file an Application for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) and, if the beneficiary seeks employment status, may also file an Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) even if USCIS ...<< MORE >>
The Law Office of Robert F. Mirque, Jr.
Grand Rapids' Pre-Emminent Immigration Law Firm
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Grand Rapids Immigration Lawyer Specializing In Marriage Visas, Green Cards, Deportation
ICE Announces Nearly 400,000 People Deported in 2011
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on October 18, 2011 their year-end removal numbers highlighting trends that underscore the agency's focus on removing individuals from the country that frall into priority areas for enforcement. These priorites include the identification and removal of those that have broken criminal laws, threats to national security, recent border crossers, repeat violators of immigration law and immigration fugitives.
In 2011, ICE removed 386,906 individuals -- the largest number in the agency's history. Of these, nearly 55 percent or 216,698 of the people removed were convicted of felonies or misdemeanors -- an 89 percent increase in the removal of criminals since 2008.
The Secretary of Homeland Security has directed ICE to to focus its resources as effectively as possible on key priorites. This includes the use and frequency of investigations and programs like Secure Communities and Operations Cross Check (SCOCC) that targets immigrants with criminal convictions.
In sum, the United States is working very hard to have aliens removed from this country who have criminal convictions more so than ever. This includes convictions of crimes that were previously not considered worthy of removing a person such as a drunk driving misdemeanor.
If you are a permanent resident who has been charged with a crime it is important than ever that you realize that a conviction could jeopardize your ability to stay in the United States. It is extremely important that the attorney handling your criminal case be familiar with the consequences a conviction might have on your immigration status. Or, at the very least, that your lawyer consult with an immigration lawyer.
Please call my office for a consultation on the consequences of a conviction to your immigration status before it's too late. My office's telephone number is 616-233-9300.
In 2011, ICE removed 386,906 individuals -- the largest number in the agency's history. Of these, nearly 55 percent or 216,698 of the people removed were convicted of felonies or misdemeanors -- an 89 percent increase in the removal of criminals since 2008.
The Secretary of Homeland Security has directed ICE to to focus its resources as effectively as possible on key priorites. This includes the use and frequency of investigations and programs like Secure Communities and Operations Cross Check (SCOCC) that targets immigrants with criminal convictions.
In sum, the United States is working very hard to have aliens removed from this country who have criminal convictions more so than ever. This includes convictions of crimes that were previously not considered worthy of removing a person such as a drunk driving misdemeanor.
If you are a permanent resident who has been charged with a crime it is important than ever that you realize that a conviction could jeopardize your ability to stay in the United States. It is extremely important that the attorney handling your criminal case be familiar with the consequences a conviction might have on your immigration status. Or, at the very least, that your lawyer consult with an immigration lawyer.
Please call my office for a consultation on the consequences of a conviction to your immigration status before it's too late. My office's telephone number is 616-233-9300.
DHS Announces 18-Month Extension of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan and Designation for South Sudan
The Secretary of Homeland Security extended the Temporary Protection Status (TPS) designation for Sudan for 18 months. The department also designated the Republic of South Sudan for TPS for 18 months.Both the extension and the new designation are effective November 3, 2011 and will continue through May 2, 2013.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has strongly encouraged nationals from these countries (and persons with no nationality who last habitually resided in either country) to review the rules regarding the extension or new designation and follow the instructions on how to file an initial or re-registration application for TPS.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security is automatically extending the validity of employment authorization documents issued under the last extension of Sudan TPS for an additional 6 months, through May 2, 2012.
All affected persons seeking to obtain or maintain their TPS must file their application package no later than April 10, 2012.
If you think this may apply to you or someone you know, please do not hesitate to call my office at 616-233-9300 to discuss this very important deadline.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has strongly encouraged nationals from these countries (and persons with no nationality who last habitually resided in either country) to review the rules regarding the extension or new designation and follow the instructions on how to file an initial or re-registration application for TPS.
Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security is automatically extending the validity of employment authorization documents issued under the last extension of Sudan TPS for an additional 6 months, through May 2, 2012.
All affected persons seeking to obtain or maintain their TPS must file their application package no later than April 10, 2012.
If you think this may apply to you or someone you know, please do not hesitate to call my office at 616-233-9300 to discuss this very important deadline.
URGENT DEADLINE APPROACHING FOR NON-MINISTER IMMIGRANT VISAS
Congress has temporarily extended the nonminister immigrant visa category, but only until October 31, 2009. Therefore, nonminister religious workers can presently file, or have adjudicated, their I-485 applications for permanent resident, but only for the next two weeks. Congress will consider a further extension, but when, or if that happens is uncertain.
1. Consider filing for adjustment by October 30, 2009, if you did not already
I Overstayed My Visa, Can I Apply For A Green Card If I'm Married to a US Citizen?
A foreign national who is married to a United States citizen can apply for a "green card" in the United States provided their last entry into the United States they presented themselves for inspection at a United States port of entry and were legally inspected and then admitted or paroled into the United States.
This provision of the law forgives the fact that the foreign national has not maintained their legal status in the Unted States and forgives any unauthorized employment by the foreign national.
This means that even though you fell out of status, you are eligible to apply for a "green card" ...<< MORE >>
This provision of the law forgives the fact that the foreign national has not maintained their legal status in the Unted States and forgives any unauthorized employment by the foreign national.
This means that even though you fell out of status, you are eligible to apply for a "green card" ...<< MORE >>
Holiday Travel Tips Across the US - Canadian Border
The Law Office of Robert F. Mirque and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminds travelers planning trips across the border into the United States to have their approved travel documents and to anticipate heavy traffic during the celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, implemented on June 1, requires U.S. and Canadian citizens, age 16 and older to present a valid, acceptable approved travel document that denotes both identity and citizenship when entering the U.S. by land or sea. WHTI-compliant documents include a passport, U.S. passport card, enhanced driver’s ...<< MORE >>
E-Verify Rule For Federal Contractors Becomes Effective Today
We are reminding federal contractors and subcontractors that effective today, they may be required to use the E-Verify system to verify their employees’ eligibility to work in the United States if their contract includes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) E-Verify clause.
In July, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano strengthened employment eligibility verification by announcing the Administration’s support for the regulation that will award federal contracts only to employers who use E-Verify to check employee work authorization.
The E-Verify federal contractor rule extends use of the E-Verify system to cover federal contractors ...<< MORE >>
Important Deadline for Religious Workers
Readers of my blog are reminded of an important deadline for religious workers who might benefit from the court's order in Ruiz-Diaz v. United States, No. CO-71881RSL (W.D. Wash. June 11, 2009).
Applications for adjustment of status must be filed by August 31, 2009. This deadline applies to those applicants who had Form I-360 religious worker immigrant petitions pending as of June 11, 2009, and have accrued unlawful presence or unauthorized employment from the date of filing. A properly filed adjustment of status application by August 31, 2009 will toll any such unlawful presence or unauthorized employment until USCIS issues a ...<< MORE >>
Applications for adjustment of status must be filed by August 31, 2009. This deadline applies to those applicants who had Form I-360 religious worker immigrant petitions pending as of June 11, 2009, and have accrued unlawful presence or unauthorized employment from the date of filing. A properly filed adjustment of status application by August 31, 2009 will toll any such unlawful presence or unauthorized employment until USCIS issues a ...<< MORE >>
Myth: Immigrants Are a Threat to Workable Health Care Reform
FACT: The more people who pay into a system of health insurance, the more everyone benefits. An important function of health insurance is to pool risks and use premiums collected from the healthy to pay for the medical care of those who need it.
FACT: U.S. citizens make up the majority of those who are uninsured. U.S. citizens make up the majority of the uninsured (78%), while legal and undocumented immigrants account for 22% of the nonelderly uninsured.
FACT: Immigrants do not impose a disproportionate financial burden on the U.S. health care system. ...<< MORE >>
US Court Orders USCIS to Accept Concurrently Filed Religious Worker I-360 and I-485
USCIS Announces Resumption of Premium Processessing for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
I have had a number of clients asking me about premium processing of their applications. Well, today the USCIS announced that effective
After an ...<< MORE >>