John Q Khosravi Law Firm

Please contact our office for more information:

John Q. Khosravi Immigration Law Firm (JQK Law Firm)

Website: JQKLaw.com

Email: info@jqklaw.com

Phone: (818) 934-1561

Skype: john.khosravi


Licensed to Practice in CA. Practice Focus on Federal Immigration Law. This Blog is Legal Advertisement.

Saturday, March 30, 2019

ILP Episode 85

Full Interview with Immigration Attorney & Author Skyler Anderson
Author of "The Right Way: A Novel" (Amazon)
Email: skyler@andersonandbenson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utahimmigrationattorney/
Website: https://andersonandbenson.com/



Not Legal Advice. Consult with an Attorney

Saturday, March 23, 2019

ICE: Record arrests of undocumented immigrants with no criminal record

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/21/ice-sets-record-arrests-undocumented-immigrants-no-criminal-record/3232476002/

Complex Case Example

Dear Friends,

Immigration cases may seem straight forward. Many think that you just fill out an application and mail it in. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. These types of cases require heavy legal work and knowledge of legal nuances. Anyone can file an application but it takes the right attorney to use the necessary knowledge and expertise to help the client in every step.  An example of this fact is what happened with a recent client's case:

I had a young woman come to my office for a consultation. She had married a U.S. citizen and obtained a Conditional Green Card. Because their marriage was new, the Green Card was only valid for a 2-Year Conditional period. When the expiration of the Green Card was near, she filed a new application for Removal of Conditions to prove to the immigration department that her marriage was real and that she was living with her husband. Right now, it can easily take 1-2 years after filing for a Removal of Conditions application to be approved.

The issue was that the woman was in an abusive relationship. Her previous immigration attorney told her to just stay in that relationship to avoid problems with the immigration department. Moreover, because the case was taking so long, she could file for citizenship, which that attorney had helped her do. You can file for U.S. Citizenship while the second application for Removal of Conditions is pending. This is one fact many may not be aware of.

While both of these cases were pending, the abuse and violence increased. She wanted to call the police but the American spouse said if she does, he would accuse her of Marriage Fraud to the Immigration Department (USCIS) that she only married him for a Green Card. So she just stayed in that relationship. Unfortunately, this scenario is widespread in America. Her Attorney told her not to rock the boat and to wait it out.

At the request of her friend (one of my former clients), she came to talk with me about her case. Her situation had become dire and her attorney wasn’t responding to her requests.

The first thing I said was that she needs to protect herself. There is no point in having a Green Card if she wasn’t alive. She would need to leave him and find shelter. The Immigration issues could be worked out.

Secondly, the Green Card Removal of Conditions has a Waiver exception that permits abused spouses to be approved for a Permanent Green Card if they can prove the abuse. This waiver is available even if she left or divorced her husband. Unfortunately, we did not have police reports and good direct evidence, but we were able to gather the testimonies of friends and her personal affidavit.

The last issue was her citizenship. Normally one must be a Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder) for at least 4 years and 9 months before filing for citizenship. However, if married AND living with a U.S. citizen, the Citizenship application can be filed after 2 years and 9 months of obtaining the Green Card. Here the client had filed for Citizenship after 2 years 9 months but now would be leaving her husband. Many Attorneys and Immigration Officers are not aware of this exception: the Regulation only requires that the spouses be living together at the time of filing the Citizenship application, but not afterward. The only caveat is that they do not divorce before the Citizenship Oath Ceremony. In this case, the client could leave her abusive spouse but should hold off on divorcing until after becoming a U.S. citizen.

We found a solution to the client’s problems. It was just a matter of knowing the rules and preparing the client, educating the adjudicating Officer (in case they were not familiar with these rules), and preparing a strong case with proper evidentiary material.

We were ready to proceed with the case. Because Removal of Conditions takes so long, the Citizenship interview was scheduled while that case was still pending. The client and I went to the local Field Office for her Citizenship interview. There, the Officer told us that he could not approve the citizenship until after the Removal of Conditions was approved and that he did not have the training to do the Removal of Conditions interview. This meant that we had to wait for a future appointment. This would have been a complete waste for my client who had taken a day off of work and had lost her wages for that day. It also meant that she would have to stay married for many more months. This was unacceptable.

As her attorney, I was able to request a supervisor and demand that the Removal of Conditions interview happen right then and there. They scrambled and eventually found another Officer to do that interview. The Officer was stern but fair. She heard my client’s testimony and reviewed the documents and believed the client’s true story of abuse.  The Removal of Conditions Waiver was approved on the spot. We then walked over to the previous Officer’s room to complete the Naturalization interview. He questioned whether she was still living with her husband. Again, I had to step in and remind the Officer that it was sufficient that my client was living with her husband at the time of filing and they were still married. After that, my client passed the interview with no issues. One month later she was a U.S. Citizen and free from the shadow of her abusive husband.

Cases involving abuse take a lot of personal energy and emotions out of me so I don’t normally accept them. But when I had this consultation with a battered woman who needed help and was not getting the right advice from her attorney, I knew that I had to help.

Today, my client lives a full and happy life in America.

- John Khosravi, Esq.


Disclaimer: not legal advice. consult with an attorney to review your individual case. Attorney Advertisement.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

USCIS Form I-129 Updated

https://www.uscis.gov/i-129?utm_source=rss-feed&utm_campaign=Forms%20Updates

More lawyers, reporter stopped and questioned at border by U.S. officials

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/ncna984256

Immigration Courts Overwhelmed by Indigenous Languages

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/19/us/translators-border-wall-immigration.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Canadians To Require New Authorization For European Travel

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/canadians-require-new-authorization-european-travel-singer-lawyer/

April 2019 USCIS Filing Charts

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-file-your-adjustment-status-application-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-preference-visas-april-2019

USCIS Announces FY 2020 H-1B Cap Season Start, Updates, and Changes

https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-announces-fy-2020-h-1b-cap-season-start-updates-and-changes

Border Patrol says detention centers are full — and starts releasing migrants

https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-texas-border-migrants-released-20190319-story.html

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

A New Study Uncovers Troubling Information About Immigrant-Only Prisons

https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/a-new-study-uncovers-troubling-information-about-immigrant-only-prisons

White House: No TPS Asylum Relief for Venezuelans

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/03/13/white-house-no-tps-asylum-for-venezuelans/

What Immigration Restrictionists Can’t Foresee

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/03/you-cant-control-demographics-immigration-policy/584722/?fbclid=IwAR1i31FUPNtJ7Seuymq_seBA7cFsEpaOyEz4LO1XBilKtkovQLq-q3YFQgE

In 2018, USCIS issued Requests for Evidence in H-1B visa cases for these top 3 reasons

https://twitter.com/jvburk/status/1105613110541312005/photo/1

Note: Employer/Employee relationship

CNN exclusive: Supervisors aren't always reviewing ICE detention warrants as required

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/03/13/us/ice-supervisors-dont-always-review-deportation-warrants-invs/index.html

6 charged with taking English tests for Chinese students seeking visas

https://www.foxnews.com/us/6-charged-with-taking-english-tests-for-chinese-students-seeking-visas

Dream and Promise Act: House Democrats introduce bill for DREAMers and TPS holders

https://www.vox.com/2019/3/12/18261574/dream-act-daca-tps-democrats-bill

Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Former CBP agent sentenced to nine years for accepting bribes from drug traffickers

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/cbp-agent-gave-drug-trafficking-organization-keys-fences/story?id=61602268

Trump Administration Seeks To Close International Immigration Offices

https://www.npr.org/2019/03/12/702807908/trump-administration-seeks-to-close-international-immigration-offices

America is withdrawing all remaining diplomatic personnel from Venezuela

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6798165/US-withdrawing-remaining-diplomatic-personnel-Venezuela.html

Discussing the importance of membership in Immigration Law Trade Associations with Nicholas Mireles, Esq.



USCIS Must Revisit Docs Of Man Who Wed 4 In Under 4 Years

https://www.law360.com/immigration/articles/1137540/uscis-must-revisit-docs-of-man-who-wed-4-in-under-4-years-?nl_pk=3d58be1d-130f-45ab-8328-a9ad142de766&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=immigration

Uptick In Visa Scrutiny Pushing Employers To Move Abroad

https://www.law360.com/immigration/articles/1137685/uptick-in-visa-scrutiny-pushing-employers-to-move-abroad?nl_pk=3d58be1d-130f-45ab-8328-a9ad142de766&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=immigration

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Simple Ideas for Immigration Reform w/ Nicholas Mireles, Esq.



Simple Ideas for Immigration Reform w/ Nicholas Mireles, Esq.
ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com
Not Legal Advice. Consult with an Attorney.

Friday, March 8, 2019

Americans Will Need a Visa to Visit Europe Starting in 2021

https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-news/americans-need-visa-europe

Trump admin extends immigration protection for South Sudanese

https://thehill.com/policy/international/africa/433229-trump-admin-extends-tps-for-south-sudan-for-18-months

"overseas posts with State’s highest foreign policy priorities had the highest percentages of vacant Foreign Service positions"

https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/697281.pdf

ICE Is Detaining 50,000 People, an All-Time High

https://www.thedailybeast.com/ice-is-detaining-50000-people-a-new-all-time-high

U.S. Embassy in Tunis Begins Processing Libyan Immigrant Visas

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/20190304_us-embassy-in-tunis-begins-processing-libyan-immigrant-visas.html

CBP Announces Change in I-94 Permit Application Process for Travelers at Tecate Port of Entry

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/cbp-announces-change-i-94-permit-application-process-travelers-tecate

Davis Wright Sues CBP Over Cannabis Immigration Docs

https://www.law360.com/immigration/articles/1136262/davis-wright-sues-cbp-over-cannabis-immigration-docs?nl_pk=3d58be1d-130f-45ab-8328-a9ad142de766&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=immigration

Law Barring Asylum Reviews Is Unconstitutional: 9th Circ.

https://www.law360.com/immigration/articles/1136493/law-barring-asylum-reviews-is-unconstitutional-9th-circ-?nl_pk=3d58be1d-130f-45ab-8328-a9ad142de766&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=immigration

Thursday, March 7, 2019

USCIS Adjustment Filing Dates for March 2019

https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-file-your-adjustment-status-application-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-preference-visas-march-2019

[84 Full] Discussion with Immigration Attorney Nicholas Mireles


Not Legal Advice. Consult with an Attorney.
ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com
Wide-Ranging Conversation with Attorney Nicholas Mireles about Law Practice, Immigration



Kelly dismisses need for wall along full US-Mexico border

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/07/politics/john-kelly-border-wall/index.html

USCIS Updates Forms I-129F, I-131A, I-191, I-942

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Trump Administration Imposes Another Unnecessary Obstacle: USCIS to Issue New Version of Form I-539 and New I-539A

http://blog.cyrusmehta.com/2019/03/trump-administration-imposes-another-unnecessary-obstacle-uscis-to-issue-new-version-of-form-i-539-and-new-i-539a-on-march-8.html

USCIS is fighting immigration fraud using data science

https://www.fedscoop.com/uscis-fighting-immigration-fraud-using-data-science/

HOW TWO IMMIGRATION LAWYERS CREATED A RAPID-RESPONSE TEAM TO COMBAT ICE

https://theintercept.com/2019/03/05/ice-detention-legal-aid-rapid-response/?fbclid=IwAR2dB1OBWNCaiD5VlXQj3fLT6IxJ8yC2d57inqaP2fZWXFXRMzcySdktv4s

The Trump Administration Will Pause Hiring Of Immigration Judges Amid A Massive Backlog Of Cases

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hamedaleaziz/trump-administration-immigration-judges-hiring-pause