Articles Posted in News

by

Green card holders returning to the U.S. are facing increased scrutiny in 2025. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is detaining more travelers with past legal issues or extended absences, and there’s a growing expectation to carry proof of ties to the U.S., like tax returns or lease agreements. New biometric systems track travel more closely, and frequent or long trips raise red flags about abandoning residency.

Green card holders are required to maintain continuous residence in the U.S. and extended or frequent trips abroad—especially those lasting over 180 days—can trigger a presumption of abandonment of permanent resident status.

Here are four key trends green card holders should be aware of when returning to the United States after temporary foreign travel.

Trend #1: Have Proof of Ties to the United States

Green card holders may be questioned by CBP about their ties and continuous residency in the United States. To help prevent complications—especially for those who have been outside the United States for 180 days or more—it may be wise for such individuals to present strong evidence of continued residence in the U.S., such as recent tax returns, employment verification, valid driver’s license, mortgage or lease agreements, and utility bills, to demonstrate that you have not abandoned your residency.

Even trips as short as three months can raise questions about your ties to the U.S.

Trend #2: CBP Officers Are Tracking Travel History

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are closely reviewing the travel history of green card holders, with a close eye toward frequent or extended trips abroad. Long absences from the United States (6 months or longer) can lead to questioning or increased scrutiny at the border.

CBP officers have questioned travelers wanting to know the purpose for their trip abroad, the length of their absence, and whether their primary residence is in the U.S. or another country.

Be prepared to clearly explain your answers to these questions.

Continue reading

by

For many immigrants, attending a green card interview is a long-awaited step toward permanent residency in the United States. But in recent months, an increasing number of applicants have faced a troubling outcome—detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials at the green card interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

In this blog post, we share why this is happening, who is most at risk, and what immigrants should know before walking into their interview.

Immigration Enforcement on the Rise

Immigration enforcement has been on the rise nationwide, with federal authorities ramping up arrests, detentions, and deportations under increasingly aggressive policies. This uptick includes broader cooperation between local law enforcement and immigration agents, expanded use of surveillance technologies, and a growing number of workplace and home raids across multiple states.

These tactics have created a climate of fear, discouraging immigrants from accessing schools, places of work, and even hospitals. In Los Angeles, for example, a wave of coordinated ICE raids last month led to hundreds of arrests and heightened tensions.

ICE officers have also been arresting individuals immediately after their cases are dismissed in immigration court. These arrests have been reported nationwide and are discouraging immigrants from attending their scheduled court hearings.

Continue reading

by

On June 9, 2025, President Trump’s new travel ban took effect, blocking or limiting entry of nationals from 19 countries with limited exceptions. Framed as a national security measure, the order expands on his earlier bans, targeting nationals from countries with high visa overstay rates or those with limited cooperation with U.S. immigration enforcement.

Who is Impacted?

Full Suspension on 12 Country Nationals

Effective June 9th the travel ban suspends the entry of both immigrants and non-immigrants from 12 designated countries who are outside the United States and do not have a valid visa on the effective date of the proclamation, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.

However, several key exceptions apply for lawful permanent residents (LPRs), immediate family members of U.S. citizens, dual nationals, athletes and teams competing in major international sporting events such as the World Cup and the Olympics, and others (a full list of exceptions is provided below).

Partial Suspension on 7 Country Nationals

A separate provision of Trump’s travel ban also imposes heightened visa restrictions on nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who are outside of the United States and don’t hold a valid visa.

For individuals from these countries, entry into the U.S. is suspended for both immigrant and nonimmigrant travelers holding B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, or J visas. Consular officers are directed to limit the validity of any other nonimmigrant visas issued to these nationals to the extent permitted by law.

Continue reading

by

If you have a petition pending with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), you may be wondering why the agency is taking so long to process immigration and naturalization applications.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick discusses the main factors contributing to slow processing times and highlights the anticipated rise in wait times in 2025.

Overview

Several key factors have contributed to the slow processing times at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) during the Trump administration.

Below are some of the most significant reasons, based on insider information shared by a former USCIS officer.

Reduction in Staff and Budgetary Constraints

Employee layoffs and budgetary constraints have led to understaffed USCIS offices, reducing the agency’s ability to process applications efficiently. Trump’s return to the White House has increased staffing reductions, making it difficult for the agency to balance its workload.

Sub-Optimal Staffing and Capacity

USCIS operates with insufficient personnel to handle rising application volumes, and many offices (such as those processing green card applications) face staffing shortages or lack adequate training, reducing overall processing efficiency.

Continue reading

by

In a sharp escalation of his hardline immigration policies, President Trump has recently turned his attention toward lawful permanent residents, sparking alarm among green card holders with the right to live and work in the United States permanently.

While Trump’s immigration policies during his first term in office primarily targeted undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers, this time his administration is taking a more aggressive approach, aimed at even those who have followed legal pathways to U.S. permanent residency. By now you have seen the headlines in the news detailing heightened scrutiny and enforcement measures against green card holders by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Understanding why Trump is now targeting green card holders requires taking a closer look at his administration’s policies and what this means for the future of immigration under President Trump.

Overview

Under President Trump’s current administration, green card holders are being treated like guests, with the privilege of having the ability to live and work in the United States. But that privilege can be placed under scrutiny if lawful permanent residents violate their legal status.

This is because of the administration’s new “Catch and Revoke” policy, introduced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, establishing a stringent “one-strike” rule targeting non-citizens, including green card holders, visa recipients, and parolees.

Under this new policy, any legal violation by non-citizens—ranging from minor infractions to more serious offenses—can lead to the immediate revocation of immigration status and potential deportation.

Continue reading

by

Over the past month, a new wave of visa revocations has caused panic among F-1 international students at college campuses nationwide.

In this video you will learn about what is happening, which students are being impacted, and how you can protect your immigration status moving forward.

Here’s What We Know

Without any prior notification, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been revoking visas and terminating SEVIS records for the following individuals:

  • Students who have had encounters with law enforcement
  • Students with criminal charges that have been dismissed
  • Students with very old misdemeanors pre-dating their most recent visa issuance
  • Students who have engaged in pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses and
  • Where the government learns that a student is working without lawful authorization

School officials first became aware of terminated F-1 student records after conducting routine checks of the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Still others became aware of their SEVIS termination after receiving an email directly from the State Department.

Why it’s Important

A student’s visa is the key that allows students to enter the United States, but their SEVIS record (known as Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status) is what determines their ability to remain inside the country. Students are allowed to remain until their “Admit Until Date” or D/S Duration of Status. This means a student can remain in the U.S. for as long as they comply with the terms of their F-1 visa.

Once an F-1 student’s SEVIS record is terminated, they automatically lose lawful status and are subject to removal from the United States if they do not leave the U.S. immediately. Under the Trump administration, F-1 visa holders admitted for “duration of status” begin accruing unlawful presence the day after their status ends.

Continue reading

by

You have just learned that your work visa petition has been approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Now you are ready to attend your Consular visa interview bringing you one step closer to achieving your dream of working in the United States.

Unfortunately, receiving a USCIS approval notice does not guarantee the successful issuance of a visa by the U.S. Consulate. In fact, for some unlucky few that fail to pass their visa interview, the U.S. government can still revoke or cancel a petition that was previously approved by USCIS.

What can you do in this situation? Is this the end of the road? Learn everything you need to know about this important subject in this video.

Overview

Can the State Department revoke a work visa petition that was previously approved by USCIS?

Unfortunately, yes. After receiving an approval notice from USCIS, work visa applicants must still attend an in-person Consular interview to demonstrate their eligibility for the visa classification they are seeking. A Consular officer will question the applicant further to ensure they qualify for the visa and may request further evidence.

When a Consular visa interview goes south, not only can the visa application be denied, but the Consulate can also direct USCIS to revoke the underlying petition that was previously approved by the agency.

The petition revocation process begins when the State Department returns the application to USCIS along with the results of any investigation they have conducted.

Once USCIS has received the returned petition and the results of the investigation, they will issue a Notice of Intent to Revoke (NOIR) to the petitioner of the previously approved petition. The NOIR will include details about USCIS’ plans to revoke the underlying petition, as well as the discovery of new, derogatory information leading to the visa denial. A statement of facts underlying the revocation will be provided along with any evidence supporting the revocation.

Continue reading

by

If you are planning to apply for a U.S. visa in 2025, you’ll want to pay close attention to new visa changes that may impact your travel plans.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick discusses new rules for nonimmigrant visa applicants starting in April and explains how you can prepare for these changes ahead of time.

The new rules are part of the Trump administration’s new policies to increase vetting and enhance the security screening of noncitizens seeking visas to travel to the United States.

To learn more about these new changes please keep on watching this video.

Overview

Since taking office, the Trump administration has been aggressively working to reduce U.S. legal immigration to the United States. New changes in the visa application process will hinder entry for those who are unprepared.

Beginning April 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will implement stricter regulations for nonimmigrant visa applicants, including a crucial requirement: your DS-160 barcode number must precisely match the one used to schedule your appointment. Even small errors could require you to complete a new DS-160 application.

This blog post summarizes the upcoming changes to help you avoid delays.

Continue reading

by

The Trump administration is reportedly considering issuing a new travel ban by executive order that is expected to be released in the coming days.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick discusses what we know about the President’s new travel ban including which countries may be subject to a partial or full suspension on entry and how you may be impacted.

For more information, please continue watching this video.

Overview

A New York Times articles has revealed the countries that are being considered for a partial or full suspension on entry to the United States. Anonymous sources speaking on condition of anonymity have revealed that the affected countries have been divided into three tiers: red, orange, and yellow.

Each of these tiers is subject to certain restrictions on entry to the United States.

Continue reading

by

Are you applying for an immigrant visa and want to know when your priority date will become current? Then you won’t want to miss our analysis of the April 2025 Visa Bulletin.

In this video, attorney Jacob Sapochnick explains what you can expect to see in terms of the movement of the family-sponsored and employment-based visa categories in the month of April.

USCIS Adjustment of Status

For employment-based preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use the Final Action Dates chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of April.

For family-sponsored preference categories, USCIS will also continue to use the Dates for Filing chart to determine filing eligibility for adjustment of status to permanent residence in the month of April.

Please click here for more information.

Highlights of the April 2025 Visa Bulletin

At a Glance

What can we expect to see in the month of April?

Employment-Based Categories

Dates for Filing Advancements

EB-2 Members of the Professions and Aliens of Exceptional Ability

  • EB-2 India will advance by 1 month to February 1, 2013
  • EB-2 China will advance by 1 month to November 1, 2020

EB-3 Other Workers

  • EB-3 Worldwide, Mexico, and the Philippines will advance by 1 month to June 22, 2021

Final Action Advancements & Retrogressions

EB-1 Aliens of extraordinary ability, Outstanding Professors and Researchers, and Certain Multinational Managers or Executives

  • EB-1 India will advance by 2 weeks to February 15, 2022

Continue reading