Trump Suspends Entry for Immigrants Burdening US Healthcare System
President Trump has issued a proclamation suspending entry of immigrants who "will financially burden the U.S. healthcare system."
What does the proclamation say? The proclamation states that with some exceptions, immigrants applying for a "green card" from outside the U.S. must prove at the time of their consular interview that they will be covered by approved (unsubsidized) health insurance within 30 days of entry into the United States, or that they possess the financial resources to pay for reasonably foreseeable medical costs.
When will the proclamation become effective? The new policy will go into effect on November 3, 2019.
Who does the proclamation affect? Anyone who is issued an immigrant visa on or after November 3, 2019, the effective date, will be subject to the new policy. The new policy does NOT affect those issued a temporary visa, including H-1B visa holders, L-1 intracompany transferees, and international students and scholars. It also does not affect refugees.
For more information and assistance with your immigrant visa, please contact us at theteam@huwelaw.com or 415-413-8760.
Cheaper Than a Headhunter: Hire an Immigration Lawyer
According to this recent Time Magazine article, more and more tech companies are choosing to grow their businesses in Canada rather than in the U.S.: https://bit.ly/2k5AzRO
Why is that?
U.S. businesses are having a hard time remaining competitive and hiring the best talent. Employment-based immigration to the U.S. is complex and restrictive, and requires a deep understanding of U.S. law and policy. Employers often feel forced to undertake costly and time-consuming searches for potential employees who are already U.S. citizens or permanent residents because they do not feel competent to navigate our immigration system.
A good immigration lawyer is necessary to recruit the very best employees, wherever in the world they may happen to be.
Hurtubise Weber Law can help. We offer a complimentary call for employers looking to explore their options. Contact us today at 415-496-9040 or theteam@huwelaw.com to learn more.
Military Parole-in-Place as a Path to a Green Card: What You Need to Know
Do you meet the following criteria? (1) You are an immigrant who entered the U.S. without a visa, (2) you are the spouse, parent, or child under 21 of a U.S. citizen, and (3) you have a close relative who is a member or former member of the U.S. Military? If so, you may be eligible for a green card via a special immigration benefit called “Parole-in-Place.”
In general, a “lawful admission” to the U.S. is required for the spouse, child, or parent of a U.S. citizen to be eligible for a green card. Parole-in-Place is a program that was created in year 2013 to help certain immigrants who do not have a “lawful admission” to obtain one without leaving the country.
What are the eligibility requirements for Parole-in-Place?
• You are physically present in the United States, but were not lawfully admitted
• You are the spouse, parent, or son or daughter (of any age) of an active duty member of the U.S. Armed, the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve, or former member of the U.S. Armed Forces or Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve (including individuals who served in the military but are now deceased)
• You have no prior criminal convictions or other serious adverse factors
Even if you are eligible for Parole-in-Place, you must have a U.S. citizen spouse, parent, or child over the age of 21 who can serve as your sponsor for a green card.
If you believe you may be eligible for this amazing benefit, please contact us at theteam@huwelaw.com, or 415-496-9040 to learn more.
From TPS to a Green Card: One Man’s Journey
As an immigration lawyer in today’s changing world, I am frequently approached by prospective clients whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been scheduled to terminate. They are often scared and bewildered, wondering what, if any, option they have?
As an immigration lawyer in today’s changing world, I am frequently approached by prospective clients whose Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been scheduled to terminate. They are often scared and bewildered, wondering what, if any, option they have?
Luckily, with some legal maneuvering it is often possible for someone in this situation to obtain a green card sponsored by an immediate relative. Below is our client Jose’s story.
Jose arrived in the U.S. in year 2001 from El Salvador. He crossed the border without a visa, fleeing a brutal civil war that was raging there at the time. He entered the U.S. frightened and with little money, hoping to start a new life here.
Our government granted Jose Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, due to the unsafe conditions in El Salvador. As the years passed and those conditions continued, Jose was allowed to renew his grant of TPS every 18 months. He resided and worked in the U.S. as an upstanding member of society for nearly a decade. The U.S. had become his home.
In year 2010, Jose met Clara, a U.S. citizen by birth. He and Clara started dating, fell in love, and decided to get married in year 2012. Jose’s immigration status remained that of TPS. Because Jose had entered the country illegally, he believed that he was not eligible for a green card through Clara.
Years later, our government announced that they would be terminating TPS for El Salvador. Jose suffered anxiety every day, not knowing how he would be able to remain in the U.S. with his life partner Clara. Then Jose met me.
I explained to Jose that he did have options. And one of those options was to obtain a lawful entry to the U.S. by applying for permission to travel outside of the country and reenter under TPS. While the timing would be tight because we knew at that point that Jose’s TPS would be terminated in less than a year, I reassured him that this was doable. Once Jose obtained the lawful entry, Clara would be able to sponsor him for his green card. Once we submitted the green card application, he would have permission to remain in the U.S. while it was pending.
Jose got his permission to travel and left and reentered the U.S., we applied for his green card, and he is now a permanent resident of the United States. He no longer fears deportation and separation from his wife of 7 years.
Jose’s story is not unique. Our immigration laws and policies are complex, and too many immigrants do not know their options. We offer a thorough initial legal evaluation to review your history in detail, explain all possible paths, and create a plan moving forward. Contact us today to learn more: 415-496-9040 or theteam@huwelaw.com.
Why Legal Immigration to the U.S. Has Decreased, and How it Affects You
Legal immigration to the U.S. was significantly down in 2018:
In 2018, approvals of all types of visas and green cards were down. For example, approvals of green cards for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (such as spouses) were down 7%, and fiance visa approvals were down a whopping 29%.
Legal immigration to the U.S. was significantly down in 2018:
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/10/701987091/why-u-s-visa-numbers-are-down
In 2018, approvals of all types of visas and green cards were down. For example, approvals of green cards for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens (such as spouses) were down 7%, and fiance visa approvals were down a whopping 29%.
Why is this occurring?
A wide range of incremental changes inside our government bureaucracy are primarily to blame. These changes are often unknown to, or misunderstood by, the public. They are not changes to the law and do not always require a formal legal procedure.
How does the decrease in legal immigration affect you as a prospective immigrant?
-It is more challenging to get any visa or green card application approved
-Green card applications are being denied due to minor errors, without the government providing an opportunity to correct the issues
-It is more likely that someone currently or previously in F-1 student visa or J-1 exchange visitor visa status will be prohibited from obtaining a green card due to a previous minor (and often unknown to the immigrant) noncompliance issue
-If a visa or green card application is denied, there is a greater risk of being placed into deportation proceedings.
How can we help?
We keep current on government policy changes. We know which questions to ask you, what documentation to provide to the government, and what to expect moving forward.
Contact us today at TheTeam@huwelaw.com or 415-496-9040 for help with your employment visa or family-based green card. We are here to help!
Apply for citizenship online and pay your fee by credit card
Did you know that a naturalization (citizenship) application can now be submitted online?
USCIS has made it possible for a citizenship application, including all supporting documents, to be submitted online. We like this relatively new option because it makes it possible for your citizenship application to be processed a bit more quickly, and monitored through the USCIS website.
Did you know that a naturalization (citizenship) application can now be submitted online?
USCIS has made it possible for a citizenship application, including all supporting documents, to be submitted online. We like this relatively new option because it makes it possible for your citizenship application to be processed a bit more quickly, and monitored through the USCIS website.
https://www.uscis.gov/n-400
Not only that, but the application fee can now be paid by credit card. This is true for citizenship applications, as well as many others, including applications for permanent residency (a “green card”) as well as permission to work and travel abroad. Learn more at:
https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-expands-credit-card-payment-option-fees
For help with your citizenship or green card application, please contact us at theteam@huwelaw.com, or 415-496-9040.
Make it your 2019 resolution to become a U.S. citizen!
If you are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), now is the time to take that next step to become a U.S. citizen.
Our government is targeting immigrants in the U.S., even lawful permanent residents. It has become challenging for permanent residents to reenter the U.S. after foreign travel - many of our clients tell us that they have been interrogated for hours at the airport in “secondary inspection” and their phones taken and searched. Others are concerned about being (wrongfully) placed into deportation proceedings due to a minor criminal conviction in their past.
If you are a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), now is the time to take that next step to become a U.S. citizen.
Our government is targeting immigrants in the U.S., even lawful permanent residents. It has become challenging for permanent residents to reenter the U.S. after foreign travel - many of our clients tell us that they have been interrogated for hours at the airport in “secondary inspection” and their phones taken and searched. Others are concerned about being (wrongfully) placed into deportation proceedings due to a minor criminal conviction in their past.
The current average processing time for a naturalization application in the San Francisco Bay Area is 15 months, and it is only expected to increase.
We can help ensure that your application is done right, and filed as soon as possible to give you your best chance of voting in the 2020 election.
Contact us today at 415-496-9040 or TheTeam@HuWeLaw.com to get started!
