On January 12, 2017, former President Barack Obama reversed the wet foot, dry foot policy. The policy dates from 1995, when the Cuban Adjustment Act of 1966 was revised. Under wet foot, dry foot, individuals who flee Cuba for the United States are permitted to apply for U.S. residency a year after arriving in the United States. Before 1995, Cuban …
When you submit petitions and applications for immigration benefits, you also need to submit fees for immigration forms. Forms are not processed without these fees being paid in full. From time to time, these fees will increase. USCIS has announced a fee increase in 2016 and more may follow in 2017. Often, these increases in costs are due to increasing …
Guide to Naturalization in Florida Jump to: When Can You Apply | How Can You Apply | Process | Legal Help | Reasons for Denial | Cost | USCIS Office Info Immigrants from all over the world are welcomed into the United States and have been over the course of history. During the last 10 years, there were over six …
Immigration worries are abounding in response to recent executive orders from President Trump. People across the country, including Dreamers and many others, are living in fear of deportation. Here is some information on what we know so far and how these orders may affect you and your family. Who Can You Trust? The first thing we need to stress …
Knowing what questions to ask when hiring an immigration lawyer is one of the most important parts of the selection process. Asking these questions will not only help ensure that you are completely confident in your choice, it will also address your most pressing concerns. Write your questions down if necessary so that you can be as well prepared as …
When seeking a free immigration consultation, be forewarned that you usually get what you pay for… Some of our recent posts have highlighted the critical differences between paid and free consultations and why our consultation fee is well worth it, as well as the dangers of attempted “Do It Yourself” immigration law. But today, we are focusing on warning signs …
An article in the South Florida Sun Sentinel entitled Prosperous But Undocumented provides interesting insights into the world of undocumented immigrants in the Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Palm Beach areas. The story’s subhead summarizes it well: “Many unauthorized immigrants break the stereotype and live comfortably and successfully. Good jobs. Nice cars. Fashionable homes. How do they do it?” The article …
Do-It-Yourself Immigration – Penny Wise, Pound Foolish At Shane & Shane, we often help distraught clients who first tried to tackle the complex world of immigration law on their own. Novices in this complicated area, the average person may understandably make costly and even irreversible errors. Many people do individual research and file something on their own. After it is …
If you received a visa denial under section 214(b), don’t panic. We have answers and you still have options. What Does a 214(b) Visa Denial Mean? If you are refused a visa under this category, it means one of two things. Either: Your application and interview did not sufficiently demonstrate to the consular officer that you qualify for the non-immigrant …
What Is Form I-485? Form I-485 is an Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This form is utilized by people in the United States to apply to USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to adjust their status to a lawful permanent resident. In most cases, I-485 eligibility is based on an underlying visa petition, typically an …