Policy Alert: Effective Date of Lawful Permanent Residence for Purposes of Citizenship and Naturalization

Purpose U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the effective date of lawful permanent residence for purposes of citizenship and naturalization. Background In general, an applicant for naturalization must be at least 18 years old and must establish that he or she has been lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence at the time of filing the naturalization application.1 In addition, a child born abroad may become a U.S. citizen when all conditions have been met including admission as a lawful permanent resident…Read More Breaking News

Possible Class Action by famous Attorney Ira Kurzban for UNNJ students.

  • Posted on July 28, 2016
  • /Under UNNJ
This is an announcement from a group of volunteers from UNNJ regarding all those affected by the University of Northern New Jersey (UNNJ) tragic situation. We are UNNJ student volunteer group founded by 15 former UNNJ students. In the past 2 months, we were actively seeking opportunities of a class action to fight against the fraud charge and regain our lawful status. Up to this moment, we have made significant progress. The legend of American Immigration Law, Mr. Ira Kurzban, who is a past-national President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and has…Read More Breaking News

Successful Change of Status case from H1 to F1 case – Testimonial

One of most trusted lawyer and well-wisher I had ever seen in my life. 1. Prompt response of every question through email without hurting to client. 2. Good guidance. 3. Very Honest, Well experienced and highly professional. 4. Talked always Law point of view. ** Got approval after a long awaited 260 days with one RFE ** I was on H4 & my wife was on H1B My case (H1B to F2 & H4 to F1) was very sensitive and it was very short time to put up my request any attorney at…Read More Breaking News

August 2016 Visa Bulletin is out and bad news for every EB categories!

The August 2016 Visa Bulletin is probably one of the biggest horror stories in years, not only we are not seeing a movement for India, we are seeing retrogression on EB1 for China and India. There is a retrogression on EB2 for all countries of the world . They have also added El-Salvador and Honduras which is also retrogressed. We will prepare our prediction for September 2016 in the coming weeks and unfortunately, it seems we are not going to see good things happening. Let us wait and see!Read More Breaking News

Consulting companies can place STEM OPT students but cannot sign the form I-983

After a clarification from DHS that placement companies also known as consulting companies can actually place students on 24 Months STEM OPT, there is still the question on who or which organization is allowed to sign on form I-983 to obtain the form I-20 OPT and ultimately get a work authorization. This article from the website of "Study in the States" partly clarifies who can actually sign on the form I-983 in such cases.  The DHS is mentioning who should sign he form I-983  when candidates are placed at a third party organization.…Read More Breaking News

H1B in house projects problems!

July 6th 2016 - Lately we have been receiving a number of calls regarding H1B in house projects which were initially approved but now being revoked because after investigation the "in house projects" used to obtain the H1B approvals was defective. We have made this video to alert people on this issue.Read More Breaking News

President Obama has signed into law the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016.

The FOIA, Freedom of Information Act, is often a powerful tool used by immigration practitioners and applicant to actually get the 'files' or documents in custody of the government. FOIA requests which can be obtained by filing the form G-639 from the USCIS website is instrumental especially in cases which have been long pending with the government. By signing the FOIA Improvement Act 2016, President Obama makes it a little easier for applicants and immigrants to have access to their cases. We applaud this new rule of transparency. June 30, 2016 Today, as…Read More Breaking News

Shah Peerally Law Show June 30th 2016

This law shows covers H4 visa and H4 EADs most frequently asked questions including changing jobs while and spouse on H4 EAD, revocation of I-140 impact on H4 and H4 EAD.  Attorney Shah Peerally also covers issues relating to students new rules on I-983.  Listen to the recorded podcast on ITunes, Google play and Podomatics.Read More Breaking News

US v. Texas – even split from US Supreme Court – DAPA blocked!

June 23 2016- U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked in a 4 to 4 split in the long-awaited case, United States v. Texas, effectively upholding the lower court’s injunction halting the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the creation of a new program known as Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA).The original DACA program remains in place. Watch AILA.org and AILA8 for more information.Read More Breaking News

Latest Asylum Policy Manual

  • Posted on June 23, 2016
  • /Under Asylum
On May 16 2016, USCIS issued its latest asylum policy manual in order to guide its adjudicators on the policy. This manual provides information on how to process an affirmative asylum application within an Asylum Office. Unless specifically indicated, an Asylum Office Director determines which personnel (e.g., Asylum Officer, Asylum Clerk) perform certain procedures outlined in this manual. Manual Structure The manual is divided into five (5) sections. Section I, “Background Information,” lists references with which all asylum personnel should be familiar in order to process an asylum application. Section II, "The Affirmative…Read More Breaking News

Using the EB1c and L1A as an investor visa and reduce the waiting on EB category for India and China

  • Posted on June 22, 2016
  • /Under EB1
Many are wondering how they can open a branch or subsidiary in the United States and ultimately travel to the United States. The L1A is good option which can turn into a permanent residence under EB1c. It is also provides alternatives to those individuals and company employees from India and China who have been waiting for years under the EB2 and EB3 categories. Indeed EB1 category is current for both India and China as well as other countries of the world. This podcast and video by attorney Sharif Silmi from the Shah Peerally…Read More Breaking News

USCIS updates forms

USCIS posted updated editions to the following forms: • Form I-910, Application for Civil Surgeon Designation. Edition dated 05/10/16. Starting 08/05/2016, USCIS will only accept the 05/10/16 edition. Until then, you can use the 10/22/13 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the Form and Instructions. • Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative. Edition dated 05/05/16. We will also accept the 03/04/15 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the Form and Instructions…Read More Breaking News

Congratulations to The Shah Peerally Law Team for another great VAWA win!

VAWA are for those who had a bona marriage to a US citizen or greencard holder and who have been abused.  Today, we won a difficult VAWA case, the Shah Peerally law group including Shabana, Shah Peerally and attorney Sharif Silmi argued the case and we won. Here is what Sharif has to say about VAWA and U Visa. We have placed this both on podcast and youtube. Please share.Read More Breaking News