Immigration Law

The TN Visa, also known as a NAFTA Professional Visa, offers citizens of Mexico and Canada a straightforward path to live and work temporarily in the United States. It is one of the fastest nonimmigrant visas available, as expedited processing takes just 15 days. Spouses and children under 21 who wish to accompany a TN…

When you’re a green card holder, you can’t just leave the United States whenever you want and come back whenever you want. At least, you can’t if you intend to keep your green card. You’ve got to take some preliminary steps, or the United States government will assume you’re abandoning your hard0won status. If that…

If your visa or adjustment of status isn’t immediately approved, you could get one of two documents. One of those documents is a Request for Evidence (RFE) document, and one is a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID).  These documents have similarities, but it’s important to understand their differences. USCIS tells you very different things…

On September 13, 2023, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas decided that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Final Rule is unlawful.  The court expanded a July 16, 2021, injunction but ordered a partial stay of the order for all DACA recipients who received their initial DACA status before…

On August 1, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security issued new guidance to assist stateless noncitizens in the United States. If you are one such individual, you may now apply for immigration benefits. If you know one such individual, you can help them by directing them to Hykel Law.   A stateless person has no formal…

Prepping for your marriage green card interview can be stressful. While it would be nice to think the normal course of married life could prepare you, the truth is that USCIS often asks questions that married couples don’t think about. It’s possible to make major mistakes at green card interviews. While sometimes it’s okay to…

USCIS is a backlogged organization drowning in paperwork. Unsurprisingly, some immigrants get told that their paperwork has disappeared.  Sometimes, someone is just dragging their feet. Sometimes, the backlog is the problem.  It’s important not to panic if USCIS has lost your application.  Preventing Lost Applications First, let’s talk about how to prevent your application from…

Green cards last ten years at most, so eventually, you’ll have to renew yours.  To renew your green card, complete Form I-90, the Application to Replace a Permanent Resident Card.  Here’s what you need to know.  What happens if your green card expires? You’ll lack proof that you can live and work lawfully in the…

There are roughly 63,000 asylum applicants yearly and nearly 1.6 million asylum applications. The United States admits roughly 11,000 refugees annually and gives asylum to roughly 31,000.  Gaining residency under either status is not easy.  It’s important to know the difference between these two statuses to increase your chances. Refugee Status You can be classified…

In just one two-year period, one survey found as many as 3,000 known or suspected cases of forced marriage in the United States. Not all of these marriages had an immigration component; many happen to citizens of the United States. Nevertheless, the State Department recognizes that forced marriages sometimes cross international lines and offers several…