Boulder Colorado Immigration And Naturalization Legal Blog

Those who are hoping to immigrate to California from Mexico may be denied a visa if they are deemed to be a potential drain on the United States government. One man was refused a spousal visa because the government believed that he could become a public charge. This was despite the fact that he had a guaranteed job paying him $18 per hour as well as a relative who pledged to provide financial support if necessary.

That relative made $90,000 per year, which was well above the requirement that a sponsor make 125 percent of the poverty level. The denial was the result of a change to the State Department's foreign affairs manual that went into effect in January 2018. According to government officials, these changes are not subject to judicial review. However, critics say it is nothing more than an attempt to change immigration policy without the need to go through a public comment process.

Adapting to life in Colorado can be particularly challenging, especially if you emigrated from a place with a much warmer climate. As an adult, one of your biggest challenges might be finding paid employment. If you're preparing to come to the U.S. on a work-based visa, there are all sorts of forms to fill out and information to know about this specific type of legal status.

Perhaps you recently adjusted your legal status so that you are now able to seek employment. This can be an exciting opportunity but can also be quite stressful. It is helpful to research the job market to learn what type of employment opportunities are most commonly available for immigrants in your area. Questions about resident status sometimes arise, or status-related problems surface in the workplace. It's a good idea to know where to seek immediate legal support.

Companies in California and across the country, especially in the tech sector, are working to adjust to a sudden change announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). On March 19, less than two weeks before the April 1 deadline for H-1B applications, USCIS declared a new procedure for premium processing of some of these applications. The H-1B process involves companies looking to hire highly skilled international workers. In many cases, the workers involved are recent or soon-to-be graduates of U.S. universities with advanced scientific skills and technical training. Successful H-1B visa applicants are chosen under a lottery process that restricts the number of visas available for qualified workers.

The new procedure allows H-1B petitioners to file a second form, I-907, along with Form I-129, in order to receive premium processing. By paying a fee of $1,410, companies can receive a decision on a visa application within 15 days. This can be an important advantage, as typical H-1B processing could take 10 to 13 months for a decision to be received. However, many businesses and law firms are now under pressure to revise their existing, completed applications ready to be filed on April 1.

The U.S. Supreme Court voted along ideological lines on March 19 when it ruled that immigrants in California and around the country who have spent time behind bars can be detained without a bond hearing, even if they are picked up years after being released. In a case brought on behalf of a group of lawful permanent residents, the American Civil Liberties Union argued that an ICE detention without a bond hearing violates constitutional protections unless it takes place immediately after an immigrant is released from custody.

Justice Samuel Alito claimed that the law as written did not support the plaintiff's claim that they should be granted bond hearings. Alito drafted the court opinion, which held that the Executive Branch can detain a noncitizen for days, months or even years after their incarceration ends. Some of the justices questioned the wisdom of allowing individuals deemed dangerous by the government back into society.