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I have been a green card holder for five years, obtained through marriage, and we have been married for six years. We have reliably filed joint tax returns each year. When applying for citizenship, will previous years’ tax forms be reviewed, or do they just check that joint returns were filed?

answered on Mar 28, 2025
The citizenship application asks if you owe any overdue taxes, and you may be asked about tax filing history, as part of the good moral character determination. Depending on the officer you may also be asked to provide copies of your taxes/tax transcripts for the past 5 years and the officer may... View More
I am the petitioner for a family member's immigration process and am providing an Affidavit of Support. If the beneficiary is earning above the federal poverty level, am I still required to provide financial support?

answered on Feb 26, 2025
The petitioner always has to file an affidavit of support 864 form even if you don’t make the minimum income necessary to be their sponsor. The beneficiaries income can also count if they have legal permission to work and that income can be reflected on the 864 form. If you do not make the... View More
Credit card maxed out by doing balance transfer amount is 4000$
I was using the same credit card for 3 years in the past
I have moved out of USA as wife lost job
Warrant in debt filed after 3 years I left the country
Hearing happened the same year but I was not in... View More

answered on Oct 15, 2024
From the facts that you give, it is likely that the statute of limitations has expired and that the creditor can no longer collect on any debt. However, if the creditor got a judgment against you, because you didn't appear, then the judgment may still be valid and collectible if and when they... View More
My sibling applied for N400. She's currently out-of-states for a break. She got a notice few days ago that the biometrics appointment is scheduled for mid-July. However, she will not be able to attend that appointment, as she plans to head back to the states in late August. She tried to... View More

answered on Jul 2, 2024
I understand you were trying to help your sibling. Here are some suggestions for how to handle this situation:
1. Your sibling should contact USCIS directly as soon as possible to explain the situation honestly. They can call USCIS or use the online tools to reschedule the appointment... View More
Do I have to wait for new decision or is it better to apply again for citizenship without waiting the result.

answered on Apr 11, 2024
Based on the information provided, it seems you have filed Form N-336, which is a Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings. After submitting the form with evidence, you are currently waiting for a decision letter regarding your case. Here's my advice:
1.... View More
Hi .Good Afternoon. My H1B is approved recently and my grace period is started on 1st of March 2024 . Based on the 60 days rule my grace period ends on April 30 ,2024 .I am still finding job and project to keep my H1b status active . I was on “F2 visa” status before so in case if I have to... View More

answered on Apr 3, 2024
In this situation, you may not need to leave the country to change your status from H1B to F2. You can file for a change of status (COS) within the U.S. before your 60-day grace period ends on April 30, 2024. Here are some important points to consider:
1. File Form I-539: To change your... View More

answered on Mar 13, 2024
If you are a U.S. permanent resident applicant with a pending I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), your spouse may be eligible to join you in the United States. However, the process and timeline depend on various factors:
1. If your spouse was included as a... View More
I am seeking clarification on a specific aspect of Form I-485, Part 8, Item Number 18, which reads as “Are you presently or have you EVER been in removal, exclusion, rescission, or deportation proceedings.” Following a referral by USCIS, I had an asylum case before the EOIR immigration court,... View More

answered on Jan 26, 2024
Yes, if you were granted asylum by an immigration judge with the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), then you were previously in removal proceedings.
The immigration court system within EOIR oversees removal proceedings - these are administrative proceedings to determine... View More
I'm an administrator in a university and in my last period of OPT of my F-1 visa. My employer would like to sponsor me but apparently there is some federal law that stops them from that since my job could be done by a U.S citizen. Is that true and is there a way to still build a solid case... View More

answered on Jan 23, 2024
The H-1B visa is not limited to STEM fields; it can be granted to professionals in various sectors, including communications and public relations, provided the job requires specialized knowledge typically obtained through a bachelor's degree or higher in a specific field. The key is that the... View More
I lived in the UK before doing a masters and OPT in the US and I want to work for my old job there remotely whilst being in the US as I need some more income. I intend on declaring any foreign income on my US taxes. Does my OPT allow it? I can’t find any restriction in the language

answered on Jan 3, 2024
Under the regulations governing Optional Practical Training (OPT) in the United States, the primary requirement is that your employment must be directly related to your major area of study. OPT typically allows you to work for a U.S. employer in a job that's directly related to your academic... View More
I am a international student in US, I plan to transfer to another school next year.

answered on Dec 17, 2023
Yes, you can still transfer to another school even if your F-1 visa has expired, as long as you maintain your F-1 status by remaining enrolled and following all other F-1 regulations.
The key things to note:
- An F-1 visa is required to enter the U.S., but once you are already in... View More
My Nephew is here on a visitor visa (almost 30 days now). He would like to start his masters in usa. We know the steps of this process. We would like to know if any legal agency deals with such a process or can take care of submitting documents to USCIS once we have I-20. As we wanna make sure... View More

answered on Nov 29, 2023
For your nephew's F1 visa application process, it is indeed possible to engage a legal agency or an attorney to assist with submitting documents to USCIS. Many law firms and legal professionals offer services related to immigration and visa applications. They can ensure that all necessary... View More
My cousin applied for VAwA application for adjustments of status after being here for more than 13 years.What would you recommend to be done to help after his wide abuse him and threatens to report him to
Immigration

answered on Nov 28, 2023
To assist your cousin with their VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) application status, especially in the context of abuse and threats related to immigration status, there are several steps and considerations to keep in mind:
Legal Assistance: It's crucial to get legal advice from an... View More
My cousin applied for VAwA application for adjustments of status after being here for more than 13 years.What would you recommend to be done to help after his wide abuse him and threatens to report him to
Immigration

answered on Dec 12, 2023
Once your cousin's marriage was in good faith, any threats of "reporting" or hurting a non-citizens immigration status is taken very serious by Domestic Relations Courts in Virginia and serious consequences for the U.S. spouse. There are laws that specifically address this issue. It... View More
I called the police on my dad due to a domestic assault incident where he hit my sister with a frying pan. We are living in Virginia, pending asylum, and worried about our immigration status. My dad was taken by the police for a few hours and then released with a court date on March 28th. He... View More

answered on Mar 20, 2025
This situation is serious, and it’s understandable to be concerned about how it could impact your asylum case. If your dad is formally charged with domestic assault, it could have immigration consequences, including the risk of deportation. Certain criminal convictions, especially those involving... View More
I am on an H1B visa, and my employer has recently allowed me to work remotely. My official residence address in Michigan differs from the new address mentioned in my LCA, but it is still just 40 miles from my company’s work site, which remains the same. I've been spending most of my time at... View More

answered on Mar 9, 2025
Your current arrangement may present compliance risks under H1B address regulations. Although your official residence and the LCA-listed location in Michigan remain close to your primary worksite, regularly residing at your relative's home in Virginia could be viewed as a material change.... View More
I am a small one-person LLC online startup retail business owner. I started the business in July 2024, and my sales have been growing since then. I plan to file taxes for the first time for FY 2024, and I have never previously filed any H1B petition. I'm interested in hiring an H1B-sponsored... View More

answered on Mar 3, 2025
This is not an area that I am familiar with, but I wanted you to have some general information about this.
An H-1B employee is a foreign professional who works in the United States on a temporary visa in a specialty occupation. The H-1B is a nonimmigrant visa category.
Eligibility:... View More
I received a notice about an extra remitted payment concerning my work permit renewal, which is based on my Form I-485 application. I'm not sure why I received this notice, and I need guidance on what steps to take next.

answered on Feb 25, 2025
Receiving a notice about an extra remitted payment for your work permit renewal linked to your Form I-485 application can be confusing. This notice typically indicates that USCIS requires additional funds to process your application, possibly due to a fee increase that occurred after your initial... View More
I am undocumented and living in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I'm concerned about whether I can obtain a driver's license, as I need it to commute to school. What are my options or the process involved in obtaining a driver's license given my circumstances?

answered on Feb 19, 2025
Yes, you can obtain a driver's license in Virginia regardless of your immigration status, thanks to the Driver Privilege Card (DPC) program that began on January 1, 2021. This program allows undocumented residents to legally drive in Virginia after meeting specific requirements.
To... View More
I'm a Nicaraguan parolee who has been in the US for less than 2 years, I arrived on July 18, 2023, and I'm worried about how the new executive orders could affect me.
The memorandum for USCIS for January 23, 2025 (attached) says:
"Parole shall not be regarded as an... View More

answered on Jan 27, 2025
If your asylum application was received after the one-year filing deadline, it could complicate your case, but it doesn’t automatically mean you’re ineligible for protection. U.S. immigration laws allow exceptions to the one-year rule for “extraordinary circumstances” or if you can show... View More
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