Great news! In the name of Family Unity, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has just published in the Federal Register a final rule that will expand eligibility for provisional unlawful presence waivers to all individuals who are statutorily eligible for the unlawful presence waiver and who can establish extreme hardship to a U.S. citizen, or lawful permanent resident (LPR) spouse or parent.
“Being deported” is the most frightening thing for any immigrant. I have frequently met with old clients who tell me of bad dreams they still have about being deported, long after they have become United States citizens.
I come from immigrant stock. My great grandparents on both sides of my family fled from Eastern Europe. They moved here on boats with nothing more than rags in their pockets, and made a life. That’s why so many people come here: to live the dream in the US. I have proudly spent the last two decades helping amazing immigrants from all over the world live this same dream by becoming legal residents and citizens of this great country.
The New York Times published a piece a few years ago called “Bisexual: A Label With Layers.” There were no direct references to immigration law, but I immediately thought of our work, especially the recent green card applications we have successfully completed in same sex immigration marriage. As the Immigration Service points out on its very own website, same sex immigration marriage is now to be treated equally with opposite sex immigration marriage.
I never used to get calls or emails from people “shopping around” for immigration lawyers. But things change. The economy has made people consider their budgets. Now about once or twice a month I get a message from someone shopping around for immigration lawyers in New York, or immigration attorneys in New Jersey or Pennsylvania. These are the exact words they use…