If your family-based petition was approved months ago and you are still waiting to hear from the National Visa Center, you are not imagining things — and you are not alone. National Visa Center processing time is one of the most common sources of frustration for families going through consular processing, largely because the wait
If you have experienced abuse from a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse, parent, or child, you may be wondering whether you have any options that do not depend on your abuser’s cooperation. This is one of the most common fears I hear in consultations: “My status is tied to my spouse. If I
VAWA Self-Petition: What Immigration Relief Services Are Available to Survivors Read More »
A woman calls a domestic violence hotline at eleven at night. She has just found the courage to leave. She is exhausted, scared, and has heard that because her immigration status was tied to her husband, leaving might mean losing everything. Someone on the other end of the line tells her about VAWA. She has
How To Find An Immigration Attorney Specializing In VAWA Petitions Read More »
If you’ve been the victim of a qualifying crime and are considering applying for a U Visa, you’ve probably discovered that finding trustworthy legal information isn’t always easy. Between government websites, social media discussions, online forums, and advice from friends or family members, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Every case is different, and information that
There is a form of relief in immigration court that survivors of abuse keep missing because nobody tells them it exists. It is not the VAWA self-petition that gets all the attention. It is the version designed specifically for people who are already in removal proceedings, sitting in front of an immigration judge, with deportation
On June 5, 2026, after 185 days of silence on tens of thousands of pending applications filed by people from 39 countries, a federal judge in Rhode Island did what U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services had refused to do. He told the agency to start adjudicating immigration benefits again. The ruling came in Dorcas International
USCIS Pause Lifted: What the Dorcas Ruling Means for Your Case Right Now Read More »
Here is the news Nigerian families have been waiting six months to hear. Fiance visa processing in Nigeria is working. K visa applicants are being scheduled, interviewed, and approved at the U.S. consulate in Lagos despite the partial ban that has frozen so much else. One of my own clients was approved at her visa
A woman came to my office last fall with a manila folder in her lap and her hand shaking as she opened it. Inside were three years of text messages, two hospital records, a copy of her marriage certificate, and a single photograph she did not want to look at. Her husband, a U.S citizen,
How Can Victims of Domestic Abuse Navigate the VAWA Self-Petition Process Successfully? Read More »
On May 21, 2026, USCIS issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199 addressing adjustment of status applications and the agency’s use of discretion in deciding Green Card cases filed inside the United States. Since this memorandum came out, I have had a lot of worried people reach out to me. Many immigrants and families have understandably become concerned
USCIS Issues New Adjustment of Status Policy Guidance: What Immigrants Need to Know Read More »
