U.S. immigration law, rather complex for decades, has become ever more so under the current administration, and with political debate over immigration policy raging in the headlines daily.
It is no secret that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency of the Department of Homeland Security, and the lead agency charged with implementing the immigration laws, has created dizzying change recently. In this uncertain climate, it is now more important than ever for families, businesses, and individuals to consult with experienced immigration attorneys.
USCIS policy has dramatically altered in several key aspects, even in the past one year alone. Many people are confused about the changes.
Congressional oversight cannot adequately govern USCIS policy on a day-to-day basis, nor can the federal courts — or the U.S. Supreme Court — always respond timely to every constitutional challenge to USCIS actions that might arise. In the individual case — your case, or your loved one’s, or your new recruit’s — it is to your frontline attorney whom you must first look for pragmatic, timely, reliable advice.
Whom can I sponsor for a Green Card? Are there new requirements to attain the Green Card? Is it more difficult than before? How can I work legally in the United States? Is it true that asylum cases are being handled differently now? Will my relative have a hard time getting a visa at the US consulate in her country? What if am out of status and get thrown into removal (deportation) proceedings — can anything be done to keep me with my family?
The answers to these questions are different in every situation. While USCIS itself provides a wealth of information on its voluminous webpages it is best for you to seek out your own immigration attorney for guidance particularly suited to your circumstances and goals.
– Attorney Thomas Rome, Of Counsel
