San Antonio Immigration Law Blog

When the effects of the coronavirus pandemic hit, millions of people suddenly found themselves without jobs. While unemployment benefits are available for most, many immigrants wonder whether their status will be affected by applying.

NPR recently heard from several legal immigrant workers who have been working and paying taxes in the United States but fear that filing for unemployment could put their cases in jeopardy. Some of them were waiting for their first green card, while others were close to being citizens or having their residencies extended.

You probably rank marrying your partner as one of your life’s most meaningful events, and getting a visa could hit the same highs. U.S. law makes it possible to have both, but an even playing field on paper doesn’t always translate to real life.

The U.S. sees same-sex marriage as a protected right. That includes when one of the tens of thousands of binational same-sex couples applies for a marriage visa. But laws drafted with opposite-sex marriage in mind can lead to difficulties for same-sex petitioners.

Perhaps you are one of many U.S. citizens in Texas who recently gave birth to a child while living abroad. While you may have been in another country throughout your pregnancy or only just arrived a couple weeks or months before you went into labor, you may have felt a bit nervous and anxious to be so far away from home during labor and delivery.

You may have been in contact with your regular doctor and medical team in the United States. You hopefully had a loved one or, at least, a trusted friend with you to provide support as you navigated new surroundings and medical systems. An important U.S. immigration law issue you might not have considered when giving birth to a baby overseas is citizenship.

Last year’s policy changes for investment visas aimed for better submissions by raising the effort and money you need to commit. Now, the U.S. government is looking to repay you by reducing the other big cost – time.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) continues to change its approach to EB-5 visas. The previous improvements didn’t help the slow application process, but a new way of handling petitions could put you ahead of those who might be stuck waiting for years.