E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is Implemented for Israeli Nationals

Beginning May 1st of 2019, the E-2 Treaty Investor will be made available to qualifying citizens of Israel.

Ekaterina PowellApril 18, 2019Employment-Based Visas, Employment Immigration Attorney, E-2, E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, Investor Visas, Israel, Israeli Citizens, Immigration Law, Immigration Lawyer, Immigration Attorney, California, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los AngelesComment

New CBP Directive on Search of Electronic Devices and How to Ensure Ethical Responsibility Over Confidential Information

Details concerning CBP’s recently announced directive on its practice of searching electronic devices at U.S. ports of entry, and how attorneys can best ensure they are protecting their clientele’s privileged information.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 26, 2019San Francisco, San Diego, Customs and Border Protection, CBP, Immigration Law, Immigration Attorney, Silicon Valley, California, Los AngelesComment

USCIS Validity Rule Change for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record

An outline of what has been modified in evaluating a Form I-693 medical examination report’s validity and how forms submitted before and after the policy change are affected.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 4, 2019Immigration Lawyer, Immigration Attorney, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Immigration Law, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Form I-485, Form I-693, Medical Examination and Vaccination RecordComment

TN Visa for Mexican and American Citizens - A Technical Writer's Success Story

A success story from our firm elucidating how an initially rejected petition for the TN Visa for Mexican and Canadian Citizens was triumphantly revised after a technical publications writer sought our help.

Ekaterina PowellJanuary 17, 2019Immigration Law, Immigration Attorney, Employment-Based Visas, TN Visa for Mexican and Canadian Citizens, CBP, Customs and Border Protection, California, Los Angeles, Immigration Lawyer, Employment Immigration Attorney, Technical Publications Writer, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San DiegoComment

USCIS's Changes to Unlawful Presence for Exchange Visitors and Students

Some considerations and tips for avoiding lasting consequences due to changes in the accrual of unlawful presence for F and M students and J exchange visitors.

A More In-Depth Look at USCIS's New NTA Policy Memorandum

Here we take a look at some of the more minute details and effects of USCIS’s Notice to Appear (NTA) policy memorandum, as well as how it may work out in certain situations.

New USCIS Policy on Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs)

A new USCIS memo has gone into effect modifying its policy pertaining to the issuance of Notices to Appear before an immigration judge, or NTAs, in response to certain applications and circumstances.

USCIS Extends Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Visa Petitions

USCIS will extend its suspension of premium processing services for H-1B petitions into next year.

Ekaterina PowellAugust 30, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Employment-Based Visas, entrepreneur immigration, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Diego, San FranciscoComment

USCIS Gives Answers on New Security Measures for Document Delivery

With concern to its new policies on the secure delivery of important documents, USCIS has provided some clarification as to what these changes will demand of those affected by them.

Ekaterina PowellJune 13, 2018USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Green Card, Visas, Immigration Attorney, Immigration Lawyer, Business Immigration Attorney, California, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San FranciscoComment

USCIS Update: Power of Attorney Signatures No Longer Accepted

Signatures must now be provided solely by valid applicants and petitioners on all USCIS forms.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 16, 2018Immigration Law, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Attorney, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Guidance, Signatures, updateComment

10 Tips for a Successful L-1A New Office Extension

Ten tips for attaining a successful L-1A new office visa extension.

Ekaterina PowellFebruary 8, 2018L-1B, L-1A New Office Petition, Visa Extensions, Immigration Attorney, Managers and Executives, Business Immigration Attorney, San Francisco, San Diego, California, Silicon Valley, Los AngelesComment

USCIS Rescinds Deference to Prior Approvals in Deciding Visa Extensions

As of a new policy memorandum, USCIS will no longer simply defer to prior petition approvals when adjudicating subsequent requests for nonimmigrant visa extensions. This has already resulted in numerous complications, and all nonimmigrants interested in filing an extension of status should prepare themselves.

Ekaterina PowellJanuary 4, 2018Deference, Nonimmigrant Visas, Nonimmigrant Petitions, Nonimmigrant Extension of Status, L-1B, Policy Memorandum, Immigration Attorney, Business Immigration Attorney, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon ValleyComment

California: The Golden State Becomes a "Sanctuary State"

Of the emergent issues since the presidential campaign of 2016, the status of so-called sanctuary cities are among some of the most politically volatile. With the coming of 2018, California has taken the next incendiary step of becoming the country's first sanctuary state.

Ekaterina PowellJanuary 2, 2018Sanctuary Cities, Sanctuary State, California, Governor Jerry Brown, immigration, Undocumented Immigrants, Trump Administration, DACA, ICE, Immigration Attorney, Business Immigration Attorney, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon ValleyComment

Know Your Rights: Dealing with ICE

"Felons, not families," were words once used to describe America's platform confronting undocumented immigrants. Now it seems that just about anyone may be targeted. That is why, if you are a vulnerable immigrant within this nation, it is absolutely essential that you know your rights should you ever find yourself in a fateful encounter with ICE.

Ekaterina PowellDecember 28, 2017Trump Administration, ICE, Immigration, Immigration Attorney, Rights, Undocumented Immigrants, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San DiegoComment

The Pitfalls of Changing Status to the F-1 Student Visa

There are often cases in which a nonimmigrant in the U.S. decides that he or she wishes to attend school or enroll in an educational program and therefore change status from one nonimmigrant category to an F-1 student visa. If the person is qualified, obtaining such a change of status should be simple enough. So why isn't it?

Ekaterina PowellDecember 26, 2017Change of Status, F-1 Student Visa, B-1, B-2, USCIS, Extension of Status, Immigration Law, Immigration Attorney, Education, Form I-539, Form I-20, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon ValleyComment

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