Buffalo: (716) 970-4007 | Toronto: (866) 697-1832
Buffalo: (716) 970-4007 | Toronto: (866) 697-1832
Some foreign exchange visitors with J-1 visas are subject to a two-year foreign residence requirement. This requires those that are subject to the home residence requirement to return home for at least two years after they complete their program. We discuss the foreign requirement and whether or not the physical presence must be continuous here.
As a US lawful permanent residence (LPR) there are situations where you may need to obtain proof from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), that you remain in lawful immigration status. This can be done by obtaining an ADIT stamp from USCIS. We discuss the meaning of an “ADIT” stamp and when it is necessary here.
The processing of your US immigration case can vary greatly depending on the case type, visa availability, the agency processing your case, and the service center handling your case. There are also other factors that can impact case processing such as natural disasters, government shutdowns, pandemics, etc. In general, setting expectations based on a specific immigration processing time is not advised as they fluctuate constantly. The best advice is to file as far in advance as possible. We provide the resources to check the most recent processing time of your immigration case here.
With the exception of E visas and K visas, Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and do not require a visa stamp before entering the United States. In most cases when entering the United States as a visitor, Canadians are admitted with a brief inspection and no record of admission or I-94. This is called a “non-controlled” admission. We discuss going from a visitor as a “non-controlled Canadian” to a green card here.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers expedited processing for certain qualifying immigration cases filed with USCIS Form I-129 and USCIS Form I-140 through the USCIS Form I-907 Premium Processing service. We review USCIS Form I-907 Premium Processing and the categories covered here.
Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and generally do not require a visa stamp before entering the United States. When entering the United States via a land port, Canadians are often admitted without CBP Form I-94, a passport stamp, or any other admission record. We discuss admission to the United States as a “non-controlled Canadian” with no I-94 here.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is charged with investigating immigration violations such as marriage fraud, immigration employment violations, and hundreds of other immigration violations. If you are the victim of an immigration crime or suspect an immigration crime is being committed. You can report it to ICE.
Many sources on the internet and social media provide “immigration advice.” Some of these sources may seem reliable, such as a friend, Facebook Group, Reddit, or a Google search. No matter the internet source, you need to use caution. US immigration is case and fact-specific, and no case is exactly the same. We explain the “5-Steps of Verification” when looking for immigration advice here.
On January 30, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new designs for both green card and employment authorization documents (EAD cards) to improve security. The current card design was introduced in May 2017, and USCIS plans to issue redesigned cards every three to five years as part of its fraud prevention program. Read the details of this announcement here.
A marital relationship is an essential element for the spouse of a foreign national working or living in the United States. Suppose a qualifying marital relationship can be shown. In that case, the spouse of a foreign national on an E2, L1, H1B, TN, or any other non-immigrant visa in the United States can obtain dependent visa status. We discuss the viability of a Canadian common-law marriage for US immigration purposes here.