In my previous "Immigration Consultation" column in La Opinión, I explained that the U visa is part of a humanitarian program of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and is granted to victims of certain crimes who are willing to cooperate with authorities in the investigation or prosecution of the crimes.... Read more
There is a lot of confusion about the U visa. This visa offers protection to immigrants who are victims of crime. But there are restrictions on who is eligible to receive it. This week in "Consulta Migratoria", my column in La Opinión, I explain how the U visa works, who is eligible and for how long it is granted.
The announcement that the U.S. government would halt "low priority" deportations gave hope to thousands of immigrants whose cases are before the immigration courts. But it also attracted scam artists on the prowl for vulnerable people desperately seeking to stay in the country. The new immigration policy is not an amnesty, ... Read more
Human trafficking or human smuggling is the illegal trade in persons for sexual or labor exploitation through prostitution or forced labor, involuntary servitude or any modern form of slavery. It is a serious problem with millions of victims around the world, thousands of them in the United States. In my column this week ... Read more
Of the nearly 12.5 million permanent residents living in the United States, nearly 8 million are eligible to apply for citizenship. Every eligible person should become a citizen because they will not only gain important benefits, but also political power by acquiring the right to vote. In my column this week in La Opinión, I explain the ... Read more
The U.S. government does not approve most asylum claims. To get an idea, of the nearly 33,000 asylum petitions filed in fiscal year 2010, less than 10,000 were approved. In the case of Mexican asylum seekers, only 49 of the more than 3,200 petitions filed were approved. In my column of ... Read more
In "Consulta Migratoria", my column in La Opinión newspaper, this week I answer questions from my readers. Find out what you can do if you paid a notary and he or she disappears without providing services, how to find a family member detained by immigration, and whether you should pay for the renewal of work permits if you have already been ... Read more
Most immigration procedures require the payment of fees to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) - whether for renewing a permanent resident card, obtaining a work permit, or registering for the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program, among other things, or for the ... Read more
In my most recent "Consulta Migratoria" column for La Opinión I answer questions from readers. Please note that each case is different and that the answers vary depending on each person's immigration history and other factors. In the column I answer general questions from readers. Please consult with an attorney ... Read more
Receiving public assistance may affect an immigrant's ability to obtain U.S. residency or citizenship. This depends on whether the government considers you a "public charge". If so, you may be inadmissible for immigration benefits. In my most recent column for La Opinión I explain which benefits can hurt you and which cannot. You can read it by clicking ... Read more
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