General Update as of 02/2011: USCIS I-485, N-400 & I-90
****HELP WANTED--- POSITIONS AVAILABLE--- P/T & F/T -- CALL US***
Great News... for all of you that filed 4th Preference applications for your brothers and sisters and have a Priority Date before April 30th 2001 (245i). You may be able to file your Adjustment of Status now. Just be careful, make sure you qualify under a law called Physical Presence and also, if you have kids over 21, that you understand what the 'Child Protection Act' is. Come in for a free consultation before you file. (With the regression of the Visa Bulletin Priority Date in 4th Pref., you may have to wait a while longer)
New York State Attorney General (now Governor)Andrew Cuomo continues, thru his Civil Rights Bureau, to shut down fraudulent Immigration agencies throughout NYC. Unlike his predecessor Elliot Spitzer, he has shown consistent interest and fruitful prosecutions of agencies that have defrauded citizens and aliens alike for many years. If you have been a victim of Immigration Fraud, you can contact the AG's office at www.ag.ny.gov or call us if you wish to have an intermediary.
The New York district is continuing to maintain waits at a reasonable level for Naturalization & Citizenship- 6 to 8 months to swearing-in for N-400's. There were changes to the Naturalization test beginning in October 2008. (Go to www.uscis.gov for specifics). I-485's (Adjustment of Status) are at record low levels for waits; at 4-6 months for a final adjudication. This is unusually fast and makes this a great time to apply for Permanent Residency in New York.
If you would like help with the processing of these applications, be aware that our office services will include the following:
1) Counseling throughout the life of the application- especially important with cases involving any criminal, medical, tax, Selective Service and Affidavit of Support questions.
2) Computer generated applications and ancillary documents/forms.
3) Certified mailing with return receipt confirmation for all cases.
4) G-28 (Attorney Representative Form) ensures that the primary receipt and all fingerprint and interview appointments will be received at our office as well as your home. An extremely important consideration in view of the fact that USCIS appointment notices are sent through regular mail.
5) The office will call / write you upon receipt of the appointments.
6) Updates on what the USCIS will require at the time of interview and a final counseling prior to the preliminary hearing. For the I-485 interview, we will update & re-do the I-864 and prep you on current law and District procedure.
7) Follow-up correspondence, if necessary, to the USCIS District Office, Vermont Service Center or the National Benefits Center.
**As of 09/2007 there is a proposed rule that will make all Green Cards issued without an expiration date invalid. If you have one of these cards, you should replace it by filling out the I-90 form. Or you may consider becoming a citizen, since holders of these cards have been residents twenty years or more.
Adjustment Consultations- stop in anytime w/o appt. Case preps need appts.
Since Congress has not been able to agree on fundamental Comprehensive Immigration Reform or even on passing the Dream Act, there will probably be no new activity, even with our new president, on the legislative front for a while longer. ****THERE IS NO AMNESTY****
