Imagine this….you came to the United States as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) when you were only three years old. You are now almost 40 years. All of your relatives are in the United States. Somewhere in your late teens and early 20’s, you spent time with some bad kids and got into trouble. You […]
USCIS Filing Fees Are Increasing!
USCIS is increasing filing fees! New (and significantly higher) filing fees will be effective as of December 23, 2016. Here are the new filing fees effective December 23, 2016. If you are eligible for an immigration benefit but haven’t yet filed your case, you may want to think about doing it before the new fees […]
USCIS Filing Fees are Increasing on December 23, 2016
USCIS filing fees are increasing! New fees go into effect 60 days after the publication of this final rule on 10.24.2016 (which is December 23, 2016), If you are eligible to file a case, you should consider filing before the fees increase! Some notable increases in fees: I-130 petition – $535 (currently $420) I-485 application […]
Expansion of Provisional Waiver (I-601A)
Effective AUGUST 29, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will expand the reach of the provisional waiver initially implemented in 2013. On January 3, 2013, DHS promulgated a final rule, Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers of Inadmissibility for Certain Immediate Relatives, in the Federal Register. See 78 FR 536 (Jan. 3, 2013) (“2013 Rule”). To […]
Supreme Court Issues a Disappointing Decision on President Obama’s DAPA and Expanded DACA Programs
On Thursday, June 23, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in U.S. v. Texas. By a vote of 4-4, the Court was deadlocked, meaning the Fifth’s Circuit’s decision issuing a nationwide injunction on President Obama’s DAPA and expanded DACA programs remain in effect. This means 4 million people who expected to benefit […]
Cancellation of Removal Victory in New York Immigration Court
Today, on a rainy, windy, unseasonably cold day in May, I won a cancellation of removal case at the New York immigration court. I actually want to credit my client for winning the case! It was his honesty, remorse, rehabilitation, and taking responsibility for his actions that won the case. So really, it was HE […]
NYC Immigration Attorney Ruchi Thaker Named as One of Top Women Attorneys in New York Metro Area
New York immigration attorney Ruchi Thaker was selected again to be included as one of top women attorneys in New York City Metro area for the year 2016 in the field of immigration law! Ms. Thaker is listed among a few selected women immigration lawyers in the New York City area for this honor by […]
Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in President Obama’s Executive Order Challenge
On Monday, April 18, 2016, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the highly anticipated case of US v. Texas, where President Obama’s Executive Order announcing expanded DACA and the new DAPA programs are at question. You can read the transcript of the oral arguments to see how the case was presented to […]
Old I-130 Petition Reopened and Approved
Recently, I helped a client reopen and get an approval of an old I-130 petition that had been denied on the basis that the client failed to respond to a notice for evidence that was sent to her back in 2009. The client had petitioned for her brother (Fourth Preference category) from India prior to […]
How Does a 3 Year Old Child Represent Self in Immigration Court?
Recently, an Immigration Judge said that a 3 or 4 year old child can adequately represent himself or herself in immigration court. In light of this, a group of colleagues (immigration lawyers) compiled videos of their own children to show how a young child would answer questions in immigration court (that the judge thinks would […]