Articles

Many people think that once they obtain U.S. citizenship through naturalization, their status as a U.S. citizen can never be lost.  It will come as a surprise to some to learn that U.S. citizenship can in fact be taken away or revoked by the government under certain circumstances. And the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services…

Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced a so-called “zero tolerance” policy on illegal entry into the United States, requiring the criminal prosecution of all individuals who enter the United States without authorization.  The results of this draconian policy were cruel and severe.  Thousands of children were forcibly separated from parents with no thought given…

In August 2014, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued a decision that allowed a woman to seek asylum based on the years of extreme domestic violence she suffered. That violence rose to the level of persecution, and it was on account of her membership in a particular social group of married Guatemalan women who were…

Lorena (not her real name) was distressed when she first came to our office.  She just received a decision from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) denying her application for permanent residence.  Lorena had applied for permanent residence based on a visa petition filed by her mother, who is a lawful permanent resident of…

Until recently, the majority of H-4 visa holders (derivative spouses of H-1B professional visa holders) were dependent on their H-1B spouses for income and for many, their survival.  Since 2015, H-4 visa holders have been permitted to work in the United States if they meet one of two very limited criteria.  However, most H-4 visa holders…