Lawyer Blogs

What is Asylum? Asylum is the legal protection afforded by the United States government to a person who can demonstrate a “well-founded fear of persecution” based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. There is no singular definition of persecution.  The Ninth Circuit has defined “persecution” as “infliction of suffering or harm upon those who differ . . . in a way regarded as offensive” and “oppression which is inflicted on groups or individuals because of a difference that the persecutor will not tolerate.” Who Is Eligible to Apply for Asylum? A. You may apply for asylum if you are at a port of entry or in the United States. You may apply for asylum regardless of your immigration status and within one year of your arrival to the United States.You will not be eligible to apply for asylum if you Filed your application after...

According to the U.S. State Department, more than 6 million U.S. citizens reside in another country. There are a variety of reasons involved – warmer climate, work assignments, cheaper cost of living, superior medical care, and so on. Nevertheless, irrespective of the reasons for purchasing a one-way ticket and becoming an expatriate, there are many important choices that must be made upon arrival. If you too are intent on joining the masses, here is a list of things you should consider: 1. Where to go? There are so many factors that come into play when deciding on a new home country. Some of those factors include: political stability, climate, low crime rates, close proximity to the U.S., low cost of living, and more. Among the favorite countries for U.S. expatriates are Costa Rica, Ecuador, Panama, Belize, and the Philippines. 2. Making an Income Although many expats go abroad to retire, there...

U.S. immigration law is undoubtedly a complex scenario, and causes a lot of confusion for those who are intent on utilizing its resources. Thus it makes sense, wherever possible, to seek the help of an experienced immigration lawyer. The Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA), which governs immigration policy, has a set annual limitation of 675,000 immigrants, albeit with a few exceptions to the general rules. The President and Congress determine refugee admissions which are regarded as separate. U.S. immigration follows these particular principles: -        The admission of immigrants whereby their skills are of value to the U.S. economy -        Family reunification -        The promotion of diversity within society -        The protection of refugees Immigration for Employment Temporary Visas The U.S. offers a variety of ways for immigrants who possess valuable skills to stay either temporarily or permanently. Usually, those who gain a temporary work visa are sponsored by an employer or...

Every year, the President of the United States will send a proposal to the Congress for the maximum number of refugees that can be admitted into the US for the upcoming fiscal year, as specified under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This number is also known as the "refugee ceiling". Every year refugee advocates seek to raise the number whereas anti-immigration groups want to reduce it. Whatever their claims may be, once proposed, the refugee ceiling is normally accepted without substantial Congressional debate.After the September 11, 2001 attacks, there was a substantial disruption to the processing of resettlement claims with admissions falling to about 26,000 in the year 2002. All refugee claims were double checked for any suspicious activity and strict procedures were put in place to detect any possible terrorist infiltration to the country. Given the ease with which foreigners can otherwise legally enter the US, entry as a...