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Vangala v. USCIS: End of the “No Blank Space Rejection Policy”
Under the Trump administration, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adopted an agency policy that targeted humanitarian benefits for asylum seekers and survivors of violent crimes such as domestic violence. The policy, known as the “N…
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Refugee vs. Asylum Seeker: What’s the Difference?
Contributor: Van T. Doan
With the COVID-19 pandemic dominating the news for more than a year, the public’s attention has been diverted from other important issues, such as people fleeing their native countries to seek a better life in the United States as a refugee or asyl…
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How the Mendez Rojas Settlement Affects Asylum Seekers
United States law requires that a person seeking asylum in the U.S. must apply for asylum within one year of their last arrival to this country. A recent case, Mendez Rojas v. Wolf, involved a challenge to the federal government’s failure to give p…
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Cancellation of Removal and the Supreme Court Decision in Barton v. Barr
Contributor: Van T. Doan
An April decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Barton v. Barr addresses the so-called “stop-time” rule eligibility for cancellation of removal for lawful permanent residents (LPR). Under 8 U.S.C. §1229(a), the U.S government is autho…
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Categories: Immigration Law
International Students in the U.S. During Coronavirus
Contributor: Van T. Doan
On July 6, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a policy directive requiring international students to take at least some in-person courses in order to be able to remain in the United States. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, almost all univer…
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Categories: Immigration Law
What to Expect From Your Green Card Marriage Interview
Contributor: Van T. Doan
If you are a foreign national married to a U.S. citizen, you may plan to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR) of the United States—commonly known as a “green card” holder. You probably know that part of this process involves an interview wi…
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Effect of Executive Order at US ports of entry as of Jan 30th
Contributor: Van T. Doan
On January 28, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) “Protecting The Nation From Terrorist Attacks By Foreign Nation.” While the EO was purportedly limited to visa holders and citizens and nationals of the seven (7) listed countri…
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Categories: Immigration Law
Do I Need to Speak English to Become a U.S. Citizen?
Contributor: Van T. Doan
If you’ve come to the United States from a non-English speaking country and want to become a citizen, you have probably heard that you must pass an English test. The good news is that the test is not complicated, and there are free resources av…
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Categories: Immigration Law
I-864 Affidavit of Support: Calculating What Is Owed to a Beneficiary
Contributor: Van T. Doan
U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who petition for a beneficiary to immigrate to the United States must promise to provide adequate financial support for the beneficiary so that he or she does not become a public charge. This promise is ma…
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Categories: Immigration Law
I-864 Affidavits of Support: Who Can Sue, When, and Where?
Many foreign nationals trying to obtain permanent U.S. residence through family-based or employment-based applications must have Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) filed by a sponsor. This requirement is designed to ensure that foreigners who are like…
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Categories: Immigration Law