Posted on November 13, 2019 in Immigration

No one can say definitively what future visa bulletins will look like, but Charlie Oppenheim, the U.S. Department of State’s Chief of Visa Control and Reporting Division, occasionally provides some insight into visa number trends and we are sharing them with you.

Family-Based Preference Categories

We have been happy to see the F2A (spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old of legal permanent resident) category across the board staying current recently, and the trend continues. Charlie reports that demand in this category remains low and there is no indication that a limiting date will be imposed in the near future. This is encouraging news!

As we have seen, all the Mexico categories, with the exception of the F2A category, have seen little forward progress and because demand remains high, it is expected that dates for Mexico will remain stagnant and not move forward significantly.

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 Posted on November 06, 2019 in Immigration

If you are the beneficiary of a family-based or employment-based visa petition that is subject to the preference categories (mostly everyone who is not an immediate relative—spouse, parent, or unmarried child under the age of 21 of a U.S. citizen), then you should know that Charlie Oppenheim is the Department of State’s Chief of Visa Control and Reporting Division. He is responsible for issuing the monthly Visa Bulletin. The monthly Visa Bulletin indicates visa availability for any given month.

Understanding Visa Availability

In the immigration process, visa availability is important because you cannot receive an immigrant visa (outside the United States) or get your green card (inside the United States) unless a visa number is available to you. When your petitioner files the I-130 or Labor Certification for you, the date the government receives the filing becomes your Priority Date—your place in line for a visa. The Visa Bulletin indicates visa availability by Priority Date.

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 Posted on October 29, 2019 in Immigration

On October 4, 2019, President Trump issued the following Presidential Proclamation called the Presidential Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry of Immigration Who Will Financially Burden the United States Healthcare System. The basic requirement of the Proclamation is that those seeking an immigrant visa to enter the United States must have health insurance within 30 days of entry to the United States. This Proclamation looks daunting, so we will break it down by applicability and then impact on your relative’s immigration to the United States.

When does this Proclamation go into effect?

The new healthcare requirement is scheduled to go into effect on November 3, 2019, but it may be delayed by potential lawsuits challenging its implementation. Our firm, Unzueta Law Group, P.C., monitors changes in immigration law and procedure closely and we will publish updates regarding the implementation dates for this Proclamation.

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 Posted on September 16, 2019 in Immigration

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the governmental agency tasked with governing customs, border control, and immigration. The two primary components of ICE are Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations. In July 2019, President Trump announced that ICE will conduct “sweeps” or “raids” to find and arrest undocumented immigrant families. These raids could occur in public spaces, workplaces, and immigrant communities. Read on to learn about what happens during and ICE raid and what to do if you need legal assistance from a deportation and immigration lawyer.

ICE Raid of an Undocumented Immigrant’s Home

It is critically important for undocumented immigrants to know and understand their rights. ICE cannot enter into an individual’s private residence without a warrant. If ICE agents have a valid search warrant or arrest warrant, they have the authority to enter your home. ICE agents may also wait outside of your home until you leave and arrest you outside of your home.

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