Navigating the stormy waters of the Immigration and Nationality Act can be a hazardous proposition for even the most experience immigration lawyers. But for immigrants not familiar with the American immigration system, it can be downright treacherous. Take for example the distinction between removability and inadmissibility. Admissibility relates to the…
One of the more controversial laws on the books in both federal jurisdictions and many state jurisdictions is the crime of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. Under Federal law and here in the State of Florida, it is a felony for a convicted felon to possess ammunition. It…
Here is the visa bulletin for November 2013. This bulletin is published by the Department of State and it summarizes the availability of visas as of November. The availability changes monthly and lets you know when your visa number becomes available. It also gives you an idea of the length…
The Federal Government’s inability to create a budget has led to a streamlined Federal system during the past two weeks that includes dramatic reductions in the productivity of the Immigration Courts. The Immigration Court in Orlando is currently working with a skeleton crew. Only one Immigration Judge is currently hearing…
I often get calls from people who are not U.S. citizens, and who have pled guilty or no contest to a criminal charge. Unfortunately, for many of these people, it is too late to do anything about the immigration consequences of the criminal conviction. In the State of Florida, there…
So, your loved one has been arrested and for a criminal charge and ICE has placed a detainer on him. What happens now? Well, the immigration case will not start until the criminal case is over. ICE simply places a detainer on the individual, which means that once the criminal…
One of the common mistakes I see lawful permanent residents make is applying for naturalization when they have a criminal conviction without consulting with an immigration attorney. If that prior conviction is a deportable offense, USCIS can, and often will, issue a Notice To Appear to the applicant and place…
As expected, an extremely comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed in the Senate has gained little steam in the House of Representatives. Speaker of the House, John Boehner, has gone on record stating that the immigration bill is not a top priority. Boehner’s statements seem out of touch with millions…
The landmark immigration bill resting in the Senate has been withstanding the brunt of proposed amendments which would essentially water down the legislation and negatively effect countless people living in the United States. Republican senators have made an effort to further tie undocumented individuals ability to obtain registered status to…
The Legislature has still been unable to pass an immigration reform bill despite an extensive bipartisan proposal. House Speaker John Boehner voiced his concerns about the lack of progress in enacting an immigration reform bill. The proposed bill in the Senate would have both positive and negative implications for immigrants.…