Immigration Lawyers: Paid vs. Free Consultations

The word “free” makes everyone’s ears perk up. However, the truth is that you often get what you pay for. And this adage certainly rings true when it comes to consultation fees when meeting with an immigration attorney. Your Typical “Free” Consultation Some immigration law offices may offer a “free” consultation, but may only allow you five minutes of their …

Visa Bulletin Changes & What They Mean

The Visa Bulletin is a monthly publication by the Bureau of Consular Affairs, which is a part of the Department of State. The Visa Bulletin is the ONLY document that can be used to determine when a visa number is available for a person to immigrate to, or adjust status in, the United States. What Changed on the Visa Bulletin?  In October 2015, …

BREAKING: USCIS to Allow Additional Provisional Waiver Applicants

USCIS just made the following important announcement today: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-allow-additional-applicants-provisional-waiver-process USCIS to Allow Additional Applicants for Provisional Waiver Process Release Date: July 29, 2016   Rule to Extend Process to All Individuals Who Are Statutorily Eligible for the Waiver WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a final rule expanding the existing provisional waiver process to allow certain individuals who are …

Important Updates on Form N-400, Application for Naturalization

In recent months, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a new version of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. What has changed on the new N-400 form? While your N-400 checklist is still mostly the same, there are some very important changes to note on this newly updated form. One of the most important revisions is that preparers …

What Happens If The I-751 Is Denied?

What Happens if the I-751 is Denied? What should I do if my I-751 was denied? I am married to a US Citizen and 90 days before my conditional residence expired I filed my I-751 (jointly) with all supporting documents. The extension letter for one year was received and the fingerprints were taken. Those 2 papers were the only ones ...

USCIS Returns Unselected Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions for FY2017

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced recently that it has now returned all fiscal year 2017 H-1B cap-subject petitions which were not previously selected in the lottery. (Petitions selected in the random selection process were previously announced as completed on May 2, 2016.) What does this mean? This latest news means that anyone who submitted the petition …

When to file Form I-751

What is an I-751? Form I-75I is a Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.  “Conditional” lawful permanent status is given to an individual who is married to his or her spouse for less than two years at the time the lawful permanent resident status is granted.  The Form I-751 is required to be filed in order for the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and …

Shane & Shane Attorneys Named Among State’s Best by Two Top Publications

Best Lawyers  Shane & Shane and all three of its partners have all been recognized in the “Best Lawyers 2016” list as the top-rated immigration law firm in Fort Lauderdale. The oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, Best Lawyers’ listings are compiled through confidential surveys of tens of thousands of lawyers evaluating their peers. Making the …

The L-1 Visa: How to Apply

What is an L-1 Visa? An L-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa used to enter the United States for the purpose of employment. It is typically issued for one year if it is a new company, or up to three years, depending on the situation, with a maximum of seven years in all. In some instances, permanent residency may be …

Michael Shane Appears on WIOD to Discuss Supreme Court Immigration Ruling

Following the Supreme Court decision on immigration last week, Shane & Shane partner Michael Shane was featured on Miami’s WIOD News Radio 610AM last Friday. Shane provided insights and analysis about the split decision and what it means for South Florida immigrant families and the future of immigration policy. An online version of the WIOD segment can be seen here: …