Many people think that once they obtain U.S. citizenship through naturalization, their status as a U.S. citizen can never be lost. It will come as a surprise to some to learn that U.S. citizenship can in fact be taken away or revoked by the government under certain circumstances. And the ... Read More
Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced a so-called “zero tolerance” policy on illegal entry into the United States, requiring the criminal prosecution of all individuals who enter the United States without authorization. The results of this draconian policy were cruel and severe. Thousands of children were forcibly separated from ... Read More
In August 2014, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued a decision that allowed a woman to seek asylum based on the years of extreme domestic violence she suffered. That violence rose to the level of persecution, and it was on account of her membership in a particular social group of ... Read More
On August 9, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final policy memorandum revising the rules for calculating unlawful presence for those in student F (student), J (exchange visitor), and M (vocational student) nonimmigrant status and their dependents while in the United States. Most non-immigrant visa holders are admitted ... Read More
Lorena (not her real name) was distressed when she first came to our office. She just received a decision from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denying her application for permanent residence. Lorena had applied for permanent residence based on a visa petition filed by her mother, who is ... Read More
Until recently, the majority of H-4 visa holders (derivative spouses of H-1B professional visa holders) were dependent on their H-1B spouses for income and for many, their survival. Since 2015, H-4 visa holders have been permitted to work in the United States if they meet one of two very limited criteria. ... Read More
“Mr. Jones,” a 65-year-old client who has been a lawful permanent resident (LPR) since the age of 4, desired to renew his green card. This may seem like a normal event; however, Mr. Jones had avoided renewing his green card for many years. Without valid proof of his LPR status, ... Read More
In this current climate of increased audits and administrative site visits, it is crucial for businesses to remain compliant with all I-9, H-1B, PERM and EB-5 regulations. In this article, we provide an overview of the relevant compliance requirements, as well as an explanation of the government players during site ... Read More
Informed immigrant entrepreneurs are well familiar with the obstacles in U.S. immigration law facing entrepreneurs hoping to obtain long-term residence in the United States. SGG clients enjoy successes in obtaining immigration benefits in non-immigrant categories such as L-1, E-1, E-2, O-1 and H-1B. But all of these categories have their ... Read More
It is perhaps an understatement to say that immigration is a controversial political issue. With Congress deeply divided regarding immigration reform, it seems improbable that any new immigration laws will be passed. However, the divisions in Congress have not stopped this Administration from proceeding with significant changes to immigration policy. ... Read More
