In a drastic change from the past several years, President-Elect Biden has announced that on Day 1, January 20, 2021, he will propose his immigration reform plan to Congress. According to the Washington Post, “the centerpiece of the plan from Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris is the eight-year pathway, which would put millions… Read more »
Posts Categorized: General Immigration
Why Was My Visa Not Approved ? The Pitfall of Administrative Processing
Have you ever applied for a US visa and been told that your case is “on hold” then waiting weeks or months in the dark? This is very frustrating and unfortunately a very non-transparent area of immigration processing. It is likely that your case is in Administrative Processing. Administrative processing is “code” for delaying adjudication… Read more »
Opposing Immigration Views on Display at Boulder GOP Debate
As Republican presidential hopefuls squared off inside the Coors Event Center on the University of Colorado campus in Boulder late last month, a group of protesters assembled at nearby Farrand Field to push back against what they see as anti-immigrant and anti-Latino rhetoric coming from GOP candidates. The “My Country, My Vote” rally was spearheaded… Read more »
Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration – What is Next and How do I Prepare?
Since the announcement by President Obama on November 20, 2014 of his Executive Action on Immigration, a few updates are warranted as we head into the holidays and new year with hopeful expectations on how these new initiatives will be rolled out. First, BEWARE of attorneys or attorney-like individuals who can promise to do something… Read more »
The Law Office of Catherine Brown, LLC Has Moved to Lafayette CO
Have you recently moved to Lafayette from elsewhere in Colorado, a different part of the U.S. or even from another country? Moving is tough. We can relate because we just moved our main law office from Louisville to Lafayette. But moving is even tougher when your legal status is in limbo. Boulder County immigration attorney… Read more »
I-9 Compliance for Your Colorado Workforce
The federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (“IRCA”) states that every employer is required to verify the identity and work authorization status of every employee of the business. This I-9 compliance regulation is critical for all Colorado employers and those across the US. Failure to comply with IRCA’s I-9 rules can result in significant fines, loss of access… Read more »
Deferred Action Program Now Effective as of August 15, 2012
On June 15, 2012, the Obama administration announced a new immigration program — Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. This program was announced to give young US immigrants without legal documentation, an opportunity to stop the threat of deportation proceedings and apply for a 2-year temporary work permit. Over 1 million individuals across the US could… Read more »
Deferred Action Update from USCIS
At a USCIS Stakeholder Conference on August 3, 2012, Director Mayorkas announced some additional details about the Deferred Action program which was presented on June 15, 2012. He confirmed that applicants will be able to apply as of August 15, 2012 if they meet the following requirements: 1. The person is under the age of… Read more »
Deferred Action Announced for Dream Act Kids: Am I Eligible?
The Obama Administration just announced today that certain undocumented individuals will be eligibile for deferred action. Deferred action is a discretionary agency action to NOT prosecute or deport a particular alien. It cannot be granted by the Immigration Judge – only through an agency District Director. It also permits people granted to obtain a work… Read more »
How To Keep Your Green Card Status in Tact
For some it took a long time, lots of effort and/or money to finally obtain the “green card” or permanent residence. Now that you have a green card, what can happen to your status? Nothing? WRONG. Lots of things that can happen including abandonment of status and deportation if you are not careful about maintaining… Read more »
New Global Entry Program : How Some International Travelers Can Expedite Entry into The U.S.
Travelers entering the United States have generally faced long waits in immigration and customs lines. Thanks to a new Global Entry program administered by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, certain pre-approved travelers can now clear customs quickly. Trusted travelers simply visit self-service kiosks located in major international airports throughout the U.S. and scan… Read more »
Traveling on the Visa Waiver?: The Nuts and Bolts of ESTA
What Is ESTA and How Does it Work? ESTA – the Electronic System for Travel Authorization – is a security enhancement system for those coming from Visa Waiver countries to determine eligibility to enter the United States prior to showing up at the US border. Launched in 2009, it is a more efficient and thorough… Read more »