En Español On February 22, 2018, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was directed to re-write its mission statement. Per the new policy, part of the change included removing the phrase “a nation of immigrants.” The following day I had the honor of attending a Naturalization Ceremony for one of our beloved paralegals. […]
Read MoreBlog
The Immigration Consequences of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
En Español In addition to public safety considerations, driving while under the influence (DUI) of alcohol is a crime in every state in the U.S. A DUI conviction may cause serious immigration problems for a foreign national. For people without lawful status in the U.S., an arrest for a DUI in Jacksonville will result in […]
Read More
Obtaining Permanent Residence through Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
If you are married to a U.S. citizen, you may be able to apply for permanent residency based on that marriage. The pathway to becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. can be achieved in two ways, depending on how the foreign national entered the U.S. If the foreign national was lawfully admitted to […]
Read More
Bringing Your Fiancé to the U.S.
With the ever increasing popularity of social media and on-line dating sites, more people are meeting that special someone via the internet. If your perfect partner happens to live abroad, there may be immigration options available for you to be together in the U.S. The fiancé visa, a K-1 visa, allows a foreign national to […]
Read More
Applying for U.S. Citizenship
A Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) can apply to become a U.S. citizen though a process called naturalization. While many permanent residents must maintain their resident status for at least five years before applying for citizenship, persons who are married to U.S. citizens, including certain applicants who obtained their residence following approval of a self-petition under […]
Read More
Duval County’s 287g program
As of the writing of this entry, there are only a few counties in Florida counties with a 287g agreement (can be seen here). These agreements between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and local law enforcement agencies are expected to increase significantly throughout Florida under the Trump administration. While pitched to localities as enhancing community […]
Read More
Choosing an Immigration Attorney
Four things to consider when choosing your immigration attorney. Immigration law is complex and is constantly changing. Find an immigration lawyer who practices only immigration law. Someone who dabbles in immigration, or does an immigration case here or there is probably not an experienced immigration attorney. Find an attorney with experience in your particular type […]
Read More
Getting a Florida Drivers License
Many foreign nationals may qualify for a Florida Drivers License or Florida Identification card if they are able to provide specific documents to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For example, persons with pending U-visa applications, applications for adjustment of status, persons with valid tourist visas, and even people who have an upcoming hearing, can […]
Read More
USCIS Increasing Application Fees Beginning December 23, 2016
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be raising the fees associated with immigration applications beginning on December 23, 2016. Any applications mailed on or after December 23, 2016 will need to include the higher fee. On average, there will be a 21% increase in fees! But who pays the fee? Find out more here. […]
Read More