Tag: Travel Document

Case Status Update: Approvals- Employment Authorization Documents (EAD), Travel Documents & DACA Renewal Approvals (Part 1 of 2)

Our first case status update blog post since July due to how busy we have been! The hard-working immigration attorneys at The Shapiro Law Firm have secured numerous approvals for our clients since our last post. So many in fact, that we are breaking up the update into 2 parts yet again! Here is Part 1 of 2 of our recent case status approvals. Part 2 will be posted within the week. Congratulations again to all of our clients!

Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) Approved – Initial and Renewals: We received the following approval notices for Initial & Approval Work Permits (EAD):

I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

  • Native and citizen Cote d’Ivoire (initial) who is in Removal/ Deportation Proceedings:

I-797, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

  • Native and citizen of Senegal (initial) who is in Removal/ Deportation Proceedings:

I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Native and citizen of Indonesia (renewal), whose Removal/ Deportation Proceedings is also currently Administratively Closed:

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    Employment Authorization and Advance Parole Travel Documents for Adjustment of Status Applicants (Based on Marriage to U.S. Citizen) were approved for the following clients over the past few months:

    • Client, (hereinafter, client “T”), is a native and citizen of Mexico who entered the U.S. on a K-1 Fiancee visa. T married her U.S. Citizen Spouse within 90 days of her entry and subsequently applied to Adjust her Status to that of a Lawful Permanent Resident. T is now waiting for her Green Card interview and is happy that she can legally work and travel abroad while she waits:

    I-797, Notice of Action - I-131 Approval Notice

    I-797, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Client, (hereinafter, client “W”), a native of Pakistan and citizen of Canada initially entered the U.S. with a TN Visa. W subsequently married a U.S. Citizen, who file an Alien Relative Marriage Petition on her behalf. We concurrently filed for her Green Card, along with an EAD and advance parole travel document. The EAD and travel document were both approved on the same day and W should have received a joint EAD/ advance parole card. But, when W received her EAD card, it did NOT say “Serves as I-512 Advance Parole.” I immediately submitted an online case status inquiry for W to find out if there was a mistake or if she would be receiving the travel document separately. Shortly after submitting the inquiry, USCIS sent us a letter that her EAD card contained a mistake and she needed to mail back the card so that they could issue her a new one! A few months later USCIS fixed the error and notified W that the corrected card, containing both her permission to work and permission to re-enter the U.S. has been approved:

    I-797, Notice of Action - I-131Approval Notice

    I-797, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Approvals for other Adjustment of Status Applicants:

    • Client, (hereinafter, client “S”), is a native and citizen of Cote d’’Ivoire. S received approval for his renewal EAD, which is based on his application for Adjustment of Status. S is married to a U.S. Citizen and came to us after he and his wife filed the I-130 marriage petition and Green Card applications to represent them in the Stokes Interview. We helped S and his wife prepare for the Stokes interview and then attended it with them. The I-130 marriage petition was approved a few days after the Stokes Interview. S is now waiting or the I-485 approval so that he can finally become a Lawful Permanent Resident.

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    Employment Authorization Document (EAD) for other categories:

    I-797, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Client, (hereinafter, client “V”), who is a native and citizen of Jamaica received an initial approval for employment authorization. V is a VAWA self-petitioner. The category listed on the EAD card is for approved VAWA self-petitioners, but we have not gotten official word her VAWA petition was approved so V is still anxiously waiting for said confirmation! V is also waiting for her Green Card interview that is based on the VAWA petition.

    Employment Authorization (EAD) Card

    Advance Parole Travel Document Approved for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applicant:

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-131 Approval Notice

    • Client, (hereinafter, client “Z”), is a native and citizen of Ecuador. Z is currently in the U.S. on an H-1B visa that was recently approved for renewal. Z’s employer filed an employment-based visa for him, and Z concurrently filed for his Green Card and advance parole travel document.

    Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Renewal Approvals – We are also happy to announce the following DACA renewals were approved in less than 1 month! We are closely monitoring the status of DACA as the court challenges continue throughout the country. Check back for periodic websites on the status of DACA in our blog:

    • Native and citizen of Jamaica:

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-821D Approval Notice

    • Native and citizen of China:

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-821D Approval Notice

    We wish all of our recently-approved clients the best of luck!

    **If you need representation in Removal/ Deportation proceedings or with help filing for immigration benefits, contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm today to get started!**

    (*please note that all identification information has been removed in order to protect our clients’ privacy and in order to fully comply with attorney advertising rules and regulations*)

    Case Status Update: Approvals- I-751 (10-Yr Green Card), Fiancé Visa, H-1B Renewal+Labor Cert, Adjustment of Status, Refugee Travel Doc, Cancellation of Removal, and Naturalization!

    Part 2 of 2 – As promised, here are more of our case approvals over the last several months. We already have more case approvals that we were unable to add to this update so look for another case status update in the next few weeks! Congratulations to all of our clients whose case was recently approved!

    I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residency – Conditions removed, 10-Year Green Card Approved! Both of our clients who have had their I-751s recently approved, had their petitions granted without being called in for an interview with USCIS! This is thanks to the strong supporting evidence that we submitted with the petition. Both clients are already eligible to apply for naturalization, since they have been Permanent Residents for over 3 years, are married to U.S. Citizen’s, and are still married and living with their U.S. Citizen Spouses:

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-751 Approval Notice

    • Native and citizen of Jamaica (whose U.S. Citizen Spouse is a proud member of the U.S. Military):

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-751 Approval Notice

    Fiancé Visa Petition Approved – We received an approval notice for a client, (hereinafter, client “U”) who is a naturalized U.S. Citizen. U, a native of Senegal, filed a K-1 Visa petition for her fiancé, who is also a native and citizen of Senegal. Now that U’s petition has been approved, her fiancé has 4 months to enter the U.S. with his K-1 Visa. He then has 90 days to marry U or leave the country. If U and her fiancé wed within the 90 days, U can then file for adjustment of status to become a Permanent Resident.

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-129F Approval Notice

    H-1B Renewal Approved after responding to Request For Evidence (RFE) – We received an approval for an H-1B renewal for a client, (hereinafter, client “N”), who is a native and citizen of Ecuador. N is highly-skilled computer and network administrator who, like most applicants in his field, received additional scrutiny from USCIS and were forced to respond to a demanding RFE for approval. Fortunately, we were able to take care of the RFE response for N with no problem. N also had his Labor Certificationapproved earlier this year and has already submitted a I-140, Alien Worker Petitionalong with an application for adjustment of status. We are hopeful that N will be a Permanent Resident before the end of the year.

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-129 Approval Notice

    I-485, Adjustment of Status Approvals:

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-485 Approval Notice

    • We also received an approval notice for a client, (hereinafter, client “V”), who is also a native and citizen of Mali.

      • V initially entered the U.S. in 2000 with a B-2 visitor visa. In 2004, V married a U.S. Citizen who filed an I-130 petition on his behalf. The I-130 petition was pending for 5 years when V and his U.S. Citizen Wife were finally called in for a Stokes Interview. A few days after the Stokes Interview, V’s wife wrote a letter to USCIS to withdraw the I-130 petition that she had filed for V. As a result, the I-130 and I-485 were denied and V was placed into Removal/ Deportation Proceedings.

      • V got divorced and then married another U.S. Citizen, (who he already had 2 children with), while he was in Removal Proceedings. USCIS sent a Notice of Intent to Deny the second I-130 petition. This is because, when a person is in Removal Proceedings, there is a higher burden of proof to show that the marriage is real and the Petitioner and Beneficiary have to formally request an exemption in accordance with INA § 245(e)(3). Eventually the marriage petition was approved.

      • We then filed a motion to terminate** V’s Removal Proceedings so that he could pursue his Green Card (aka adjust his status) with USCIS, which was granted in 2016. Ever since then, V has been waiting for USCIS to approve his Green Card. V and his wife are thrilled that he is finally a Permanent Resident, and because they were already married for more than 2 years at the time of the Green Card interview, V received a 10-year Green Card. V will be eligible to apply for Naturalization in 2021, after 3 years as a Permanent Resident, provided that he and his wife are still married and living together.

    **We filed the Motion to Terminate prior to President Trump taking office on January 20, 2017. Since that time, many significant changes have taken place regarding how cases are handled in the Immigration Court. For example, DHS is no longer permitted to consent to terminate Removal Proceedings to allow an eligible individual to apply for adjustment of status before USCIS, and the Immigration Judge is no longer permitted to terminate Removal Proceedings for the same reason. Instead, the individual must wait for a full hearing before the Immigration Judge, who can then approve the adjustment of status application. Pursuing a Green Card before the Immigration Court takes years longer than it does before USCIS due to the ever-growing backlog of cases in the system. In all likelihood, V would still be waiting for his full hearing to see if the Immigration Judge would approve his Green Card application if he was unable to terminate his Removal Proceedings in 2016.

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-485 Approval Notice

    I-131, Refugee Travel Document Approved – We also received an approval for a client, (hereinafter, client “Z”), who is a native and citizen of Mauritania. Z’s refugee travel document is based on his pending asylum application. In order to receive a travel document with a pending asylum application, you have to prove that there is a humanitarian need for you to leave and re-enter the country. This is not an easy application to get approved. USCIS issued a Request for Evidence (RFE) for more proof that Z’s relative was sick, and since it took so long for USCIS to adjudicate the application, Z had to also prove that he still needed to travel.

    Despite the approval, it is always a risk to leave the country when you have an application pending, since the travel document itself does not guarantee you will be admitted. Admission is at the discretion of the CBP officer you encounter.

    We are happy to very happy to report that Z and his wife were able to go to Senegal to visit Z’s relative and had no problem re-enter the United States! Z will no continue to wait for his asylum interview.

    *It is important to note here that if you are an asylum applicant or an asylee and you return to the country where you are claiming that you have and/or will be persecuted, your application will be denied, your asylee status may be revoked (if your application had already been approved), you can lose your Green Card (if you obtained it based on your status as an asylee) and you may not even be permitted back in the United States!

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-131 Approval Notice

    Cancellation of Removal Granted for Husband AND Wife – For two clients, a husband and wife, (hereinafter, “HW”), who are natives and citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. HW were in Removal Proceedings together and had there merits hearing before the Immigration Judge back in 2013. At the hearing, HW both credibly testified about the following:

    1. they are persons of good moral character;

    2. they have continuously resided in the United States since their entry;

    3. they have been physically present in the U.S. for at least the 10 years preceding the Notice to Appear in Immigration Court, and;

    4. if they are removed from the country, it will result in an extreme and unusual hardship to their 2 U.S. Citizen children.

    As with all cancellation of removal cases, the hardest element to prove is the extreme and unusual hardship element. For HW, we proved to the court that one of their daughters has a debilitating fear of spiders and the other daughter has a serious skin disease. The Immigration Judge found that HW met their burden and granted them Cancellation of Removal. HW is now waiting for the Green Cards to be mailed to them and are so happy to finally have their Removal Proceedings cancelled!

    Order of the Immigration Judge - Cancellation of Removal Granted

    Order of the Immigration Judge - Cancellation of Removal Granted

    N-400, Naturalization Approvals – Finally, we have 3 new U.S. Citizens!

    • Native and citizen of Liberia who initially obtained permanent residence as an asylee derivative (he was listed as a minor child on his father’s asylum application)

    N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony

    • Native and citizen of Mali who was applying for the second time. The first time he applied he applied as the spouse of a U.S. Citizen who had been a permanent residence for only 3 years. The application was denied because he did not have enough proof that he was still married and living with his spouse (and this very much was the case). Rather then attempting to appeal the decision, he decided it was better to wait until he had the full 5 years. The application was easily approved this time around.

    N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony

    • Another native and citizen of Liberia who was an asylum derivative (based on her husband’s asylum application).

    N-445, Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony

    We wish all of our recently-approved clients the best of luck!

    **If you need representation in Removal/ Deportation proceedings or with help filing for immigration benefits, contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm today to get started!**

    (*please note that all identification information has been removed in order to protect our clients’ privacy and in order to fully comply with attorney advertising rules and regulations*)

    Case Status Update: Approvals- Employment Authorization Documents (EAD), Travel Documents & VAWA Approvals (Part 1 of 2)

    A new Case Status Update is finally here! The hard-working attorneys at The Shapiro Law Firm have been so busy that we have not been able to post about all of our new client approvals since February! Since so many cases have been approved since then, we will be posting all of the approvals in multiple parts. Here is Part 1 of 3. Part 2 will be posted within the next week.

    Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) Approved – Initial and Renewals: We received the following approval notices for Initial & Approval Work Permits (EAD):

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Native and citizen of Mali (initial):

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Native and citizen of Indonesia (initial):

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Natives and citizens of Indonesia – husband, wife and their minor children (initial):

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    Employment Authorization and Advance Parole Travel Documents for Adjustment of Status Applicants (Based on Marriage to U.S. Citizen) were approved for the following clients over the past few months:

    • Native and citizen of Brazil:

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-131 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Native and citizen of Mali:

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-131Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-131 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-131 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Approvals for other Adjustment of Status Applicants:

    • Client who is a native and citizen of Mali. Her Adjustment of Status application is based on her status as an Asylee.

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Client who is also a native and citizen of Mali. Her Adjustment of Status application is based on her approved VAWA Petition for being an abused spouse of a U.S. Citizen.

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Client who is a native and citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. Her Adjustment of Status applications is also based on her VAWA Petition (recently approved, see below) for being an abused spouse of a U.S. Citizen.

    I-797, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    • Client who is a native and citizen of Mali. His adjustment of status application is based on marriage to a U.S. Citizen. He came to us after his I-485 application was denied (within 30 days of the denial). We filed a motion to reopen/reconsider the I-485 denial. The motion is still pending, but we were able to renew his EAD while he waits for the new decision.

    Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Approvals for Other Categories:

    • Native and citizen of Senegal. His EAD is based on his Order of Supervision.

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

    I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

      Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Approvals – We received the following approvals for clients who filed for an immigrant visa as an abused spouse of a U.S. Citizen:

      I-797, Notice of Action - I-360 Approval Notice

      • Our client, (hereinafter, client “X”), who is a native and citizen of Nigeria had his VAWA petition approved. X is a male who married a female U.S. Citizen. Not long after their marriage, X’s wife physically assaulted him by spraying mace in his eyes and then robbing him in broad daylight. Although the physical assault would be enough for the abuse element for the VAWA petition, X’s wife also subjected him to verbal abuse that we provided extensive documentation of. X is now finally scheduled for his I-485 interview next month and should be a Permanent Resident soon.

      • Our second VAWA approval is for a client, (hereinafter, client “W”), who is a native and citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. W came to us after her VAWA petition was pending for hers with no decision. We contacted USCIS to find out what was going on and received a request for evidence a few weeks later. We helped W identify and obtain the missing supporting documentation and her case was finally approved a few months later. W also has an order of removal, so our next step in her case is to file a motion to reopen and terminate her case so that she can apply for her Green Card with the Immigration Judge, or preferably with USCIS.

      I-797, Notice of Action - I-360 Approval Notice

      We wish all of our recently-approved clients the best of luck!

      **If you need representation in Removal/ Deportation proceedings or with help filing for immigration benefits, contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm today to get started!**

      (*please note that all identification information has been removed in order to protect our clients’ privacy and in order to fully comply with attorney advertising rules and regulations*)

      USCIS News Release: USCIS Will Continue to Accept DACA Renewal Applications Pursuant to Court Order

      USCIS News Release

      Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Response to January 2018 Preliminary Injunction

      Release Date: January 13, 2018

      Due to a Preliminary Injunction issued by a Federal Court, USCIS will resume accepting and processing DACA Renewal Applications. USCIS had abruptly ceased collecting DACA Renewal Applications after the issuance memo was rescinded by the Secretary of Homeland Security this past September. Many DACA recipients missed the October 5, 2017 deadline imposed for renewal submissions.

      The DACA program will operate just as it did prior to the rescission and USCIS will only accept applications for those who have been previously granted DACA and whose status expires on or after September 5, 2016. You can also request DACA if your status expired before September 5, 2016 or if your status was previously terminated, but you must file as an initial applicant.

      This is great news for anyone DACA beneficiaries who missed the deadline last year and who wish to remain in legal status and be allowed to legally work in the United States. Advance Parole Travel Documents for DACA Recipients still will NOT be accepted.

      For more information on the news from USCIS click here.

      If you need help filing for your DACA Renewal, click here to contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm, LLC today.

      Note: “Attorney Advertising” The information contained in this web site is intended to convey general information. It should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. It is not an offer to represent you, nor is it intended to create an attorney-client relationship. Any email sent via the Internet using email addresses listed in this web site would not be confidential and would not create an attorney-client relationship.

      Case Status Update: Approvals: Work Permits (EAD), Travel Documents, Alien Relative Petition, Naturalization, Removal Proceedings Terminated Based on Approved I-751 Self-Petition

      Initial Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for Asylum Applicants –We received the following approval notices for initial Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) or Work Permits for the following Asylum applicants:

      • A client (hereinafter, “X”), who is a native and citizen of Singapore. X’s asylum claim is based on her sexual orientation.

      I-797, I-765- Applicant for Employment Authorization, Approval Notice

      • A client (hereinafter “Y”), who is a native and citizen of Nigeria. Y is a rider on his father’s asylum application which is based on their religion.

      I-797, I-765- Applicant for Employment Authorization, Approval Notice

      • A client (hereinafter “Z”), a native and citizen of Mali. Z’s asylum claim is based on her membership in a particular social group relating to the practice of Female Genital Mutilation.

      Form I-797C, I-765- Applicant for Employment Authorization, Approval Notice

      Initial Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) & Advance Parole Travel Documents for Adjustment of Status Applicants (Based on Marriage to U.S. Citizen)- We also received the following approval notices for Work Permits (EAD) and Advance Parole Travel Documents based on pending marriage-based Adjustment of Status applications.

      • A client who is a native and citizen of Brazil:

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Form I-797C, I-131 Approval Notice

      • A client who is a native and citizen of Nigeria:

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Form I-797C, I-131 Approval Notice

      • Finally, we received approval notices for a client, (hereinafter “W”), a native and citizen of Guyana who married a Lawful Permanent Resident. W’s wife filed an I-130 Marriage Petition on his behalf and it was approved in 2015, but a visa number was not immediately available for W so he had to wait to file his Green Card application. In May of 2017, W’s wife became a Naturalized U.S. Citizen, bumping W up to the category of an Immediate Relative of a U.S. Citizen, and thus a visa number was now available for him and he filed the Green Card application, along with the applications for a work permit and travel document based on the pending adjustment application.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Form I-797C, I-131 Approval Notice

      All of our adjustment applicants can now legally work and travel abroad while they wait for their Green Card interview.

      Work Permit (EAD) Renewal Approved based on Order of Supervision (OOS) – We also received an approval notice for a work permit renewal based on an Order of Supervision for a client, (hereinafter, “U”), a native and citizen of Mali. U was ordered removed back in 1997 but never departed in the country. In 2012, DHS started requiring that U periodically appear at an ICE office to check-in with them for what is known as an Order of Supervision (OOS). So long as U does not decide to detain and deport U he is allowed to renew his work permit every year.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Work Permit (EAD) Renewal Approved Based on Deferral of Removal – We also received an approval for a renewal for permit for our client, (hereinafter “T”), a native and citizen of Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). T’s work permit is based on his grant of Deferral of Removal. This means that T is permit to reside in the United States permanently and renew his work permit every year, but he does have an Oder of Removal and does not have a path to a Green Card. If T becomes eligible for a Green Card through an alternative means, such as marriage to a U.S. Citizen, we can file a Motion to Reopen his case with the Immigration Court based on the new relief available. Regardless, T can legally remain and work here for the rest of his life.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      I-130 Alien Relative Petition Approved for Stepchild of U.S. Citizen – We also received an approval notice for an Alien Relative Petition for our client, (hereinafter “S”), a U.S. Citizen who filed for her Stepson, a native and citizen of Albania. S previously filed an Alien Relative Petition for her husband that was approved in 2015, but did not include her Stepson, a minor child, on the petition as well. She thus had to file a separate petition on his behalf. Now that the I-130 was approved, S and her Stepson will wait for the approval notice to be transferred to the National Visa Center where S’s Stepson will begin the Immigrant Visa process. Once he obtains his immigrant visa, he will be able to enter the United States as a Lawful Permanent Resident.

      Form I-797C, I-130 Approval Notice for Unmarried Child of U.S. Citizen

      Naturalization Application Approved – Last week, Attorney Shaffer accompanied our client, (hereinafter “R”), a native and citizen of Japan, to her Naturalization interview. T passed the English & Civics test with flying colors and was approved for Citizenship! This is T’s second attempt at applying for citizenship, her first using a lawyer, and is a textbook example of how different things can go when you do not use a lawyer for your immigration filings. T’s application was not denied because she was ineligible or lacked bad moral character, but based solely on the unstated discretion of her interviewing Officer. When T first came to us, she walked us through the interview and it was immediately clear that he was asking her inappropriate and irrelevant questions and was aggressive and abrasive towards her from the moment she began the interview. It was apparent that he was set out to deny her case from the beginning. The interview this week with Attorney Shaffer by her side was the polar opposite, despite submitting a nearly identical application. The interviewing officer this time stuck to the questions on the application, was very nice to T and granted her naturalization within 15 minutes of stepping not the room.

      No, it is not supposed to be like this. It is not supposed to matter whether or not you use an attorney to represent you in your filing and/ or at your interview. Unfortunately, however, this is not the first horror story that we have heard and there does appear to be a double standard. The bottom line: do yourself a favor and hire a lawyer. Of course we always recommend this considering how complicated the immigration laws are. There is no such thing as a straight-forward immigration filing. Even a person with no criminal history or negative factors can run into problems as a result of mistake, confusion or USCIS error. A minor typographical error can turn into unruly delays in processing your application and even denials.

      But if you need any more convincing to hire a lawyer to represent you in your immigration matter, let T’s experience be a lesson for you- right or wrong, USCIS interviews tend to be more amicable, less stressful and result in more favorable outcomes when an attorney prepares the filing and is present at the interview. When you have an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm, LLC, representing you, it is like having a teammate referee the game. We ensure that you are treated fairly, are given the best opportunity to get approved and we are silently cheering you on the whole time!

      Motion to Terminate Granted Based on Approved I-751 Petitions to Remove Conditions on Residence for Abused Spouse of U.S. Citizen and Her Son- Finally, the Immigration Judge granted our Motion to Terminate Removal Proceedings for our clients, natives and citizens of Jamaica, (hereinafter “Q” and “P”).Q & P obtained their Conditional Residence based on Q’s marriage to a U.S. Citizen. After she filed the I-751 Petition, her Spouse became very abusive, forcing her to obtain an Order of Protection from Family Court and file for Divorce. Her first I-751 was denied as it was filed jointly and her husband withheld the mail from her. Q and P did not even know about the denial until they are issued a Notice to Appear in Immigration Court. We then filed a new I-751 Petition for both her and her son, based on a marriage that was entered into in good faith but ended because of the U.S. Citizen’s abuse. After the I-751 was approved, we filed a Motion to Terminate with the Immigration Court and that Motion was Granted.

      As a result, Q and P both have their 10-year Green Cards, and since their time as Permanent Residents now dates back to the date they initially received the Conditional Green Cards, they are already eligible for Citizenship! We plan to file for Q and P’s Citizenship in the new year. Q is thrilled that for the first time in years she can travel back to Jamaica to see her family and return to the U.S. without any concern.

      We wish all of our recently-approved clients the best of luck!

      **If you need representation in Removal/ Deportation proceedings or with help filing for immigration benefits, contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm today to get started!**

      (*please note that all identification information has been removed in order to protect our clients’ privacy and in order to fully comply with attorney advertising rules and regulations*)

      Case Status Update: Approvals: Naturalization & Work Permits

      Naturalization Application Approved – Two weeks ago attorney Shaffer attended a naturalization interview with a client, (hereinafter, client “X”), a native and citizen of Haiti. X aced his interview and will officially be a U.S. Citizen when he takes his oath of allegiance at his upcoming Naturalization Ceremony. X is excited to finally become a U.S. Citizen! Congratulations!

      Naturalization (N-400) Interview Approval

      Work Permit Renewal Approved for VAWA Recipient – Last week we received an approval notice for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), (hereinafter, Client “Y”), who is a native and citizen of Nigeria. This is a renewal work permit for Y and is based on his pending Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) and concurrent Green Card applications. Y came to the U.S. in 2015 with a B1/B2 Visitor Visa and married a U.S. Citizen shortly thereafter. Y’s good faith marriage came to an abrupt end when his wife and a few friends maced him and stole his wallet when he refused to give her more money. Y had to be treated at the hospital and thankfully is doing much better.

      Although this horrific incident forced him to separate from his wife, he is clearly a victim of domestic abuse and thus was able to keep open his Green Card application by filing a VAWA petition.

      Form I-797, I-765 Approval Notice

      Work Permit (EAD) Approvals for Asylum Applicants – We received work permit approval notices for five more clients who are asylum applicants:

      Our first client, (hereinafter “Z”), is a native and citizen of Nigeria. Z, her husband and son entered the U.S. about a year ago with a B2 Visitor Visa and quickly filed for asylum. Z and her family are currently waiting for their asylum interview.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      The second client, (hereinafter “W”), is also a native and citizen of Nigeria. W and her family also came to the U.S. in 2016 and filed for asylum within a year of their entry.. W and her family initially had their work permits approved back in February, but their EAD cards were stolen from their mailbox. As a result, W and her family were forced to file for a replacement EAD. W and her family are also waiting for their asylum interview.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      The work permits allow W and Z (and their family members who applied) to work legally in the United States while they both await their Asylum interviews. Current wait times for Asylum interview if you live in the New York, NY area is about 2.5 – 3 years.

      Our third client, (hereinafter, “V”), is a native and citizen of Ghana. V first came to the U.S. as a child in 1994 and continuously resided here until 2011 when V decided to return to Ghana to see his 95-year-old Grandmother before she passed away.

      Back in Ghana, V became active in an opposition political party. It was not long before the government came after V and his friends who were attempting to bring to light government abuse and corruption. Fearing severe bodily harm and death, V fled Ghana and attempted to re-enter the U.S. with someone else’s passport. At the airport, V immediately admitted that he did not have permission to enter the U.S. and was detained by immigration and given a credible fear interview. Upon finding that V had a credible fear of returning to Ghana, V was released from detention. He subsequently filed for asylum and withholding of removal and placed into removal/ deportation proceedings.

      Despite having a strong Withholding of Removal claim and an approved marriage petition filed by his U.S. Citizen wife, V faced many inadmissibility hurdles, including possible fraud and misrepresentation, so in November of 2015 V’s removal proceedings were administratively closed.

      Although V does not have a future court date, he is still considered “in removal proceedings,” which means that his asylum application is still pending, allowing him to apply for EAD renewals.

      Our last work permit approval for an asylum applicant is a client, (hereinafter, “T”), a native of Niger and citizen of Mali. T entered the U.S. without inspection in 1997. T, a victim of the horrific practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), did not apply for Asylum until 2013, so she was referred to the Immigration Court after her Asylum interview earlier this year. Since T did not file within the 1-year filing deadline, she will not be eligible for asylum, but will be eligible for Withholding of Removal. T is also a mother of 5 U.S. Citizen children and is looking to file an application for Cancellation of Removal for non-Lawful Permanent Residents. While T waits for her first hearing before the immigration judge, she will be able to legally work.

      Work Permit (EAD) Approval for Applicant for Cancellation of Removal for Non-Lawful Permanent Resident– Last week we also received a work permit approval for our client, (hereinafter “U”), who is a native and citizen of Trinidad & Tobago. U entered the U.S. in 2000 with a B2 Visitor Visa. U and her husband applied for asylum after the 1-year deadline passed and were thus placed into removal/ deportation proceedings. U then submitted an application for cancellation of removal for non-lawful permanent residents based on the extreme hardship to her U.S. Citizen children. Last year, the Immigration Judge administratively closed U and her husband’s case. As with asylum applications, U’s cancellation application remains pending, allowing her to renew her work permit as needed.

      I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      We wish all of our recently-approved clients the best of luck!

      **If you need representation in Removal/ Deportation proceedings or with help filing for immigration benefits, contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm today to get started!**

      (*please note that all identification information has been removed in order to protect our clients’ privacy and in order to fully comply with attorney advertising rules and regulations*)

      Case Status Update: Approvals: Work Permits, Travel Documents & Naturalization

      Naturalization Application Approved – Two weeks ago attorney Shaffer attended a naturalization interview with a client, (hereinafter, client “X”), a native and citizen of Brazil. X aced his interview and will officially be a U.S. Citizen when he takes his oath of allegiance at his upcoming Naturalization Ceremony. X is married to a U.S. Citizen and has been a Green Card Holder now for over 10 years. X is excited to finally become a U.S. Citizen! Congratulations!

      Naturalization (N-400) Interview Approval

      Work Permit & Travel Document Approved for VAWA Recipient – Last week we received approval notices for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole Travel Document for a client, (hereinafter, Client “Y”), who is a native and citizen of Jamaica. Y’s work permit and travel document is based on her pending Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) and concurrent green card applications. Y came to the U.S. in 2002 with a B1/B2 Visitor Visa and in 2014 she married a U.S. Citizen. Y thought she had met the love of her life, but unfortunately, shortly after getting married, Y’s spouse started to abuse her.

      The verbal abuse turned into physical abuse when he punched her in the face. Y was too afraid to go to the police at the time as she was not in the U.S. legally. Last year, Y was finally able to escape her abusive husband and came to us to help her file a VAWA application so that she can finally become a Permanent Resident and straighten her life out. Y explained to us that she in no way married her husband to obtain a Green Card, and in fact he never even filed for her. Fortunately, VAWA does not require the abusive U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident spouse to have previously filed for the immigrant spouse to be eligible for VAWA.

      Y is currently waiting for her Green Card interview and is extremely happy that she can work legally while she waits and can also go back to Jamaica to see her daughter who she has not seen in over 15 years.

      Form I-797, I-765 & I-131 Approval Notice

      Work Permit (EAD) Approvals for Asylum Applicants – We received work permit approval notices for three of our clients who are asylum applicants:

      Our first client, (hereinafter “Z”), is a native and citizen of Indonesia. Z entered the U.S. in 2005 with a B2 Visitor Visa and has not left the U.S. since. Z is currently waiting for her asylum interview.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      The second client, (hereinafter “W”), is a native and citizen of Cote d’ Ivoire (Ivory Coast). W came to the U.S. in 2013 and filed for asylum within a year of his entry. W is also waiting for his asylum interview.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      The work permits allow W and Z to work legally in the United States while they both await their Asylum interviews. Current wait times for Asylum interview if you live in the New York, NY area is about 2.5 years.

      Our third client, (hereinafter, “V”), is a native and citizen of Mali. V came to the U.S. in 2000 with a B2 Visitor Visa. V applied for asylum and was placed into removal/ deportation proceedings after the asylum officer did not grant his application. In November of 2016, V’s removal proceedings were administratively closed. Although V does not have a future court date, he is still considered “in removal proceedings,” which means that his asylum application is still pending, allowing him to apply for EAD renewals. If V becomes eligible for another form of relief from removal, he can file a motion to recalendar his case. For now, V is happy to be able to remain in the U.S. and legally work.

      Work Permit (EAD) Approval for Applicant for Cancellation of Removal for Non-Lawful Permanent Resident– Last week we also received a work permit approval for our client, (hereinafter “U”), who is a native and citizen of Senegal. U entered the U.S. in 2005 and was paroled into the country. U and her husband applied for asylum after the 1-year deadline passed and were thus placed into removal/ deportation proceedings. U then submitted an application for cancellation of removal for non-lawful permanent residents based on the extreme hardship to her U.S. Citizen children. Last year, the Immigration Judge administratively closed U and her husband’s case. As with asylum applications, U’s cancellation application remains pending, allowing her to renew her work permit as needed.

      I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Work Permit (EAD) Approval for Adjustment Applicant (Parent of U.S. Citizen) – We also received an approval notice for both a work permit for our client, (hereinafter “T”), a native and citizen of Jamaica. T had been a Green Card Holder for over 20 years when he received a notice from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) informing him that his previous attorney was now in jail and that he is no in deportation/ removal proceedings because his Green Card was obtained through fraud of his previous attorney and was thus invalid. T was shell-shocked by the allegations as he had no idea that rather than file an labor visa petition for T over 20 years ago, his attorney just paid of someone who worked form INS. T was not involved at all in the fraud and DHS has not implicated in the crime at all.

      Unfortunately, T’s lack of knowledge or involvement does not eliminate the fact that his Green Card is invalid and that he has actually been here illegally all of this time. Fortunately, however, T has several U.S. Citizen children who were more than happy to file for their father. T can now work legally while he waits for his individual (merits) hearing before the Immigration Judge to adjudicate his Green Card application in 2019.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Work Permit (EAD) Approval for Withholding of Removal Beneficiary – Finally, we received a work permit approval for our client, (hereinafter, Client “S”), who is a native and citizen of Mali. S entered the U.S. in 2000 with a B2 Visitor Visa. After over a decade in Immigration Court, she was granted Withholding of Removal by the Immigration Judge. Withholding of Removal is very similar to Asylum, in fact the same form is used to apply for both, but those granted withholding can never obtain a Green Card. Rather, withholding allows an individual to remain in the U.S. indefinitely and legally work, provided he or she timely renews it every year. Withholding of removal applicants do not have to apply within a year of entering the country.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      We wish all of our recently-approved clients the best of luck!

      **If you need representation in Removal/ Deportation proceedings or with help filing for immigration benefits, contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm today to get started!**

      (*please note that all identification information has been removed in order to protect our clients’ privacy and in order to fully comply with attorney advertising rules and regulations*)

      Case Status Update: Approvals: 10-Year Green Card, Conditions on Permanent Residency Removed, EAD, Travel Documents

      Conditions Removed, 10-Year Green Card (I-751) Approved – We pleased to announce that we received an approval notice to remove the conditions on a Green Card based onmarriage to a U.S. Citizen for our client, (hereinafter “Y”), who is also a native and citizen ofMali. Y and his U.S. Citizen wife got married in 2007 and she subsequently filed amarriage petitionon his behalf. Because the couple was married for less than 2 years at the time of their interview, Y received a2-Year Green Card.

      In the fall of 2009, Y’s wife decided to move to Texas. The couple planned for Y to follow her there once he was able to secure a job with health insurance to support them both. However, Y’s wife began to act differently after she moved. She even changed her phone #, which forced Y to call his wife’s mother in order to get in touch with her. Despite the growing concerns he had with his marriage, Y still planned to move to TX to be with his wife and timely filed to remove the conditions on his residence in January of 2010. Y subsequently learned that a few months later his wife gave birth to another man’s baby. As a result Y filed fordivorcein August of 2012.

      Meanwhile, Y had still not heard back from USCIS regarding his I-751 petition and the online case status still listed his case as under “initial review.” After we sent multiple letters and emails to USCIS and not receive a response, we helped Y obtain an USCIS InfoPass appointment in September of 2013. At the InfoPass appointment, Y for the first time learned that his I-751 petition was denied. At this point, Y was now divorced and out-of-status.

      So, we re-filed his I-751 as a self-petition and requested a waiver to the joint filing requirement based on a marriage that was entered into in good faith, and, during the marriage, he was the subject of extreme cruelty by his U.S. Citizen wife in February of 2014.

      Finally, after waiting over 3 and a half years, we received Y’s Green Card in the mail and we are waiting for him to stop by to pick it up and Congratulate him!

      10-Year Green Card FINALLY Approved for Spouse of U.S. Citizen – We are very happy that after may years and a lot of headaches, we received an approval notice for a 10-Year Green Card for our client, (hereinafter “X”), who is a native and citizen of Mali.

      X’s Green Card is based on his marriage to a U.S. Citizen. X entered the U.S. in 2000 with a B1 Visitor Visa. X and his wife wed in 2006. X was placed into Removal/ Deportation Proceedings based on his visa overstay in 2009. X’s wife filed a marriage petition for X in 2009, but it was denied in 2010.

      In 2011, X was detained by ICE for 9 months in a Texas ICE detention center. X’s wife re-filed for him after he was released at the end of 2011 and X went back to New York where he lived with his wife. X was still in Removal Proceedings, but the TX Immigration Judge (IJ) refused to change venue to NY despite 4 motions requesting such.

      In 2013, after 2 years went by and the marriage petition remained pending, the IJ Administratively Closed X’s case so that he did not have to keep on returning to court while the marriage petition was adjudicated. X and his wife continued to wait for the decision on the marriage petition and despite sending countless letters to USCIS for updates on the case, no progress was being made.

      Finally, in July of 2015, we received a letter from USCIS stating that X’s marriage petition was approved a year earlier and that USCIS lost X’s file for over 3 years! With the marriage petition approval, we were able to file a motion to terminate X’s Removal Proceedings. The Motion to terminate was granted last year and X was then able to file for his Green Card last June.

      Then, almost a year later in this past May, X FINALLY received his approval notice for his Green Card! We are so happy for X and his wife and the fact that they can finally live their lives without a dark cloud hanging over them.

      Form I-797C, I-485 Approval Notice

      Moral of the story? The immigration process is never fun, but sometimes it is a nightmare. But there is hope! With proper legal representation and a ton of patience, you can eventually obtain the immigration benefit that you are entitled to. We never gave up on X or Y’s cases, nor did X or Y, even when the delays seemed like they would never end

      Work Permit (EAD) Approvals for Asylum Applicants – We received work permit approval notices for two of our clients who are asylum applicants. Our first client, (hereinafter “Z”), is a native and citizen of Indonesia. The other client, hereinafter “W”) is a native and citizen of Nigeria. The work permits allow W and Z to work legally in the United States while they both await their Asylum interviews. Current wait times for Asylum interview if you live in the New York, NY area is about 2.5 years.

      Form I-797, I-765 Approval Notice

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Work Permit (EAD) Approval for VAWA Beneficiary awaiting Green Card – Last week we also received a work permit approval for our client, (hereinafter “V”), who is a native and citizen of Senegal. Shortly after entering the U.S. in 2005 with a B2 Visitor Visa, V gave birth to her first child. A few years later, V married her child’s father, a Lawful Permanent Resident. After 10 years of being together, 5 of which were spent in marital bliss, V’s husband already suspect behavior became unbearable when he began physically abusing V. The abuse got so bad that V sought an order of protection in the family court and had to hire a security company to change the locks in her apartment.

      V’s husband never petitioned for her Green Card, as keeping V without legal status was one of the ways that he controlled her. Fortunately, V sought help on her own and we helped her file a VAWA (Violence Against Women’s Act) Petition. After the VAWA petition was approved, V was able to file for her Green Card. The EAD approval allows V to work legally in the U.S. while she waits for her Green Card application to be approved. We expect to receive the approval notice in the next few months.

      I-797, I-765 Approval Notice

      Work Permit (EAD) and Travel Document Approvals for Adjustment Applicant (Spouse of U.S. Citizen) – We also received an approval notice for both a work permit and travel document for our client, (hereinafter “U”), a native of Nigeria and citizen of St. Lucia. U is married to a U.S. Citizen and is waiting for his marriage interview. U and his wife have been married since May of 2015, so U will be eligible for a 10-Year Green Card once his marriage petition and Green Card applications are approved. In the meantime, U can now legally work in the U.S. and travel outside the country while he waits.

      We wish all of our recently-approved clients the best of luck!

      **If you need representation in Removal/ Deportation proceedings or with help filing for immigration benefits, contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm today to get started!**

      (*please note that all identification information has been removed in order to protect our clients’ privacy and in order to fully comply with attorney advertising rules and regulations*)

      Case Status Update: Approvals: I-130s, Green Card, EAD, Travel Documents

      I-130 Petition Approved for unmarried child of U.S. Citizen: Last week, we received an approval notice for a client, (hereinafter, Client “X”), who is a native and citizen of Trinidad and Tobago. X is 14-years-old and entered the U.S. in 2007, when he was just 4-years-old with his mother, as a derivative of her mother’s K-1 Fiancee Visa. X became a Conditional Permanent Resident after his mother wed and adjusted her status. X’s mother then applied to remove conditions on her residency, and on the residency of her 2 sons. Before the I-751 petition was approved, X’s mother passed away.

      X and his older brother where then thrust into Removal Proceedings as they never had the conditions on their residency successfully removed to become a full Permanent Residents. Fortunately for X, his father, a Permanent Resident, also lived in New York City. X went to live with his father and stepmom, but he still was without legal status.

      X faced another hurdle due to the fact that he was born out-of-wedlock and his father was not listed on his birth certificate. So, Attorney Shaffer assisted X’s father in filing a Paternity Petition in Kings County Family Court. In order to have a Paternity Petition heard in Court, you have to prove that you served process on any party that has a right to be notified of the proceeding. In this case, X was required to serve his dead mother, despite the fact that we presented the court with her death certificate. So, X was required to serve his mother’s next-of-kin, who was his mother’s abusive spouse since she was still married to him at the time of her death. The next, next-of-kin was X, but the court would not accept service on him, so we had to serve X’s mother’s mother (or X’s grandmother), which was still an issue since we could not obtain X’s mother’s birth certificate to prove that the person we served was in fact her mother. Eventually we were able to provide acceptable proof of service for the court and the Order of Filiation was entered.

      Once we had that taken care of, X’s stepmom, a US Citizen, was able to file an I-130 petition for him because she married X’s father before X turned 18-years-old.

      Now that X has an approved I-130, we will be filing a motion to terminate his Removal Proceedings. X will then be able to file an immigrant visa petition and then leave the country for his scheduled interview. X cannot get a Green Card in the U.S., even though he is under 18, because he initially entered the country with a K visa and there are no exceptions. X has not accrued any unlawful presence because he is under 18, so he will be able to return to the U.S. right away as a Permanent Resident!

      Form I-797C, I-130 Approval Notice

      Work Permit & Travel Document Approved for Adjustment Applicant (Parent of U.S. Citizen age 21 or older: Last week we also received approvals for a work permit and travel document for our client, (hereinafter, Client “Y”), who is a native and citizen of Mali. Y was in Removal Proceedings and was ordered removed in absentia after her attorney mistakenly wrote the wrong date down in his calendar so Y failed to appear in court on the correct date.

      Thereafter, Y filed a Motion to Reopen based on ineffective assistance of counsel. The motion was denied and the denial was timely appealed to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). The BIA granted Respondent’s motion due to the fact that her former attorney admitted his error with regards to the hearing date in his response to her disciplinary complaint.

      After the BIA remanded the case back to the Immigration Judge (IJ), the IJ agreed to terminate the Y’s case based on her approved I-130 filed by her U.S. Citizen Son. By terminating her removal proceedings, Y was then able to file for adjustment of status. With the approval of the work permit and travel document, Y can legally work and travel outside the country while she waits for her Green Card to be approved.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Form I-797C, I-131 Approval Notice

      Work Permit & Travel Document Approved for Adjustment Applicant (VAWA Self-Petitioner): This week we received approval notices for a work permit and travel document for our client who is also a native and citizen of Mali, (hereinafter, Client “Z”). Z entered the U.S. back in 1998 with a B-2 Visitor Visa. Years later, Z submitted an application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal. Because Z did not file within the 1-Year Filing Deadline, she was placed into Removal Proceedings where she was eventually granted Withholding of Removal, which allowed Z to permanently live and work in the U.S., but does not provide a path to a Green Card.

      Z eventually got married to a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) who began to abuse her. After escaping the relationship, Z submitted a VAWA Self-Petition based on her relationship to a LPR abusive spouse. Once the VAWA petition was approved, we filed a joint motion with DHS to terminate Z’s Removal Proceedings to allow her to adjust status to that of a LPR. Z applied for her Green Card once the joint motion was granted and is now waiting for her Green Card application to be approved. In the meantime, Z can now continue to work legally (Z effectively lost her withholding of removal status when her removal proceedings were terminated, along with her work permit based on that status), and now for the first time since she came to the U.S. almost 20 Years ago, Z can travel outside the country.

      Form I-797, I-765 & I-131 Approval Notice, Page 1

      Form I-797, I-765 & I-131 Approval Notice, Page 2

      Marriage Petition & Green Card Approved for Spouse of U.S. Citizen: Finally, this week we received approval notices for a marriage petition and green card for a client who is a native and citizen of Germany, (hereinafter, Client “W”). W came to the U.S. in January of 2012 on a F-1 student visa and met his future wife at school. W and his wife got married in June 2016 and are now expecting their first child!

      Form I-797C, I-485 Approval Notice

      Form I-797C, I-130 Approval Notice

      We wish all of our recently-approved clients the best of luck!

      **If you need representation in Removal/ Deportation proceedings or with help filing for immigration benefits, contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm today to get started!**

      (*please note that all identification information has been removed in order to protect our clients’ privacy and in order to fully comply with attorney advertising rules and regulations*)

      Case Status Update: Work Permit & Travel Document Approved for Adjustment Applicant; Work Permit Renewal Approved for Withholding of Removal

      Work Permit, Travel DocumentApproved: Last week, we received approval notices for a work permit and travel document for an adjustment of status applicant. Our client, (hereinafter, Client “X”), is a native of Hong Kong and a citizen of Australia. X last entered the U.S. on November 14, 2016, with an E-3 Visa. E-3 Visas are similar to H-1B visas in that they are reserved for high-skilled workers in “speciality occupations,” but E-3 visas are reserved only for Australian Citizens thanks to a treaty between the U.S. and Australia. Last December, X married a U.S. Citizen who filed an I-130 Marriage Petition on her behalf. X concurrently filed for her Green Card along with the work permit and travel document. X and her husband are patiently awaiting their marriage and Green Card interview.

      Form I-797C, I-765 Approval Notice

      Form I-797C, I-131 Approval Notice

      Work Permit Renewal for Client with Withholding of Removal Approved: Last week we also received an approval notice for a work permit renewal for our Client, (hereinafter “Y”), who is a native and citizen of Mali. Y was granted Withholding of Removal in 2015 by the Immigration Judge after her Asylum application was denied because she failed to file within 1 year of entering the United States. Withholding of Removal allows Y to remain the United States indefinitely and legally work (provided she timely renews her EAD every year), but Y will never be able to obtain a Green Card through her status of withholding of removal. Had Y been granted asylum, she would have been able to apply for a Green Card a year after her asylum grant. If Y becomes eligible for a Green Card through another means (for example, through marriage to a U.S. Citizen), then she may be able to file a motion to reopen with the Immigration Court to pursue a Green Card and vacate the order of removal. Whether or not Y is every eligible for a Green Card, the good news is that she does not have to worry about being removed/deported form the country.

      Form I-797C, Notice of Action - I-765 Approval Notice

      **If you need representation in Removal/ Deportation proceedings or with help filing for immigration benefits, contact an experienced immigration attorney at The Shapiro Law Firm today to get started!**

      (*please note that all identification information has been removed in order to protect our clients’ privacy and in order to fully comply with attorney advertising rules and regulations*)