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Is the Marriage Bona-fide?

This type of visa will allow you to obtain the Green Card for you, your spouse and your unmarried children under 21 years old. You can get the Immigration Green Card by marriage if the marriage is bona-fide.

If you marry a United States Citizen, you can begin the process immediately to get your Green Card. Depending on your current status and whether you entered the country legally, you can stay in the United States and Adjust your Status to that of a Lawful Permanent Resident. Otherwise, you may have to have the application prepared and sent to the United States Consulate of your home country. Many times the spouse will want to get the foreign national deported because the marriage is not working out and they do not believe it was bona-fide even if kids were born.

If you have been married less than two years, you will get a Conditional Green Card. This means that two years later, you will have to file another petition to remove the Conditional Residency to prove the marriage is real.

Adoption in general

This page explains the process for adopting children from foreign countries. Additionally, it provides information on immigration benefits obtainable through adoptive relationships. These resources are intended for adoptive and prospective adoptive parents of foreign-born children, as well as adoption agencies, and state and local officials involved in adoption proceedings.

Orphan petitions are the most common way of bringing foreign adopted and prospective adoptive children to the United States. The material addressed on this link is comprehensive and meant for readers who want to avoid problems and/or delays with the adoption process. Information is included on some of the difficult issues that can occur in orphan cases.

The Immigration of Adopted and Prospective Adoptive Children materials feature a section on immigration benefits that may be gained from adoptive relationships through procedures other than the orphan petition. There is also some general information on how a foreign-born adopted child can become a U.S. citizen.

Above all, this material alerts prospective adoptive parents about some serious problems that may happen in foreign adoption cases. For example, unscrupulous adoption practices are common in many areas of the world. Moreover, adoption of a foreign-born child does not guarantee the child’s eligibility to immigrate to the United States. The adoptive parent must comply with the U.S. immigration law and legal regulatory procedures. There is no way an orphan can legally immigrate to the United States without Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (INS) processing.

INS regulations require that all foreign adoptions undergo an investigation to guarantee compliance with the laws of both the United States and foreign sending country. When necessary, an overseas investigation is initiated. This investigation can cause delays in adjudicating the case. Prospective adoptive parents are advised to retain a reputable agency with foreign adoption experience or competent legal representation in their efforts to bring foreign-born children to the United States.

INS places a priority on processing adoption petitions. Many BCIS field offices have assigned individual officers and clerks to process orphan petitions applications and respond to inquiries from the petitioners concerning the status of their case. Prospective adoptive parents are encouraged to go through their adoption agencies for guidance and insight on the immigration of orphan and adopted children.

The U.S. Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues coordinates policy and provides information to the public on international adoptions, including country-specific data. Prospective adoptive parents can contact the Office of Children’s Issues at (202) 736-7000.

Adoption information is also available from the U.S. State Department internet website at http://travel.state.gov/family/family_1732.html.

Adoption and immigration

Decree of adoption

Family petitions to immigrate family members adoption 

Find a good Immigration Lawyer

Federal Judicial Review

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996included restrictions on federal judicial review of deportation, exclusion and removal cases. Former INA § 106, passed in 1961 by the United States Congress, had provided the basis for judicial review of immigration matters until its elimination by IIRIRA which replaced it with INA § 242, (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252).

After the passage of IIRIRA, different procedures were created for judicial review of removal orders, including exclusion or deportation orders, and for immigration decisions generally. Decisions regarding judicial review of removal orders are now subject to INA § 242 (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252). Review of immigration decisions outside of removal proceedings are governed by (28U.S.C.A. § 1331) and the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act and occur in the District Courts.

Judicial review of immigration decisions can be divided into three categories depending on the date of commencement of proceedings or issuance of a final order. If a person had a final order of deportation or exclusion entered before October 30, 1996, judicial review was governed by former INA § 106. Deportation or exclusion cases which were commenced on or before October 30, 1996—but where no final deportation or exclusion order had yet been issued—are subject to the transition rules under IIRIRA. Judicial review of post-IIRIRA removal proceedings initiated on or after April 1, 1997 are governed by INA § 242 (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252) which provide limited judicial review of many immigration matters.Except as provided in INA § 242(b) (8U.S.C.A. § 1252(b)). (requirements for review of removal orders), judicial review of a final order of removal is governed by Chapter 158 of Title 28 of the United States Code, except that courts may not order taking of additional evidence under (28 U.S.C.A. § 2347(c). However, there are matters not subject to judicial review as outlined in INA § 242(a)(2) (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252 (a) (2)). Generally, judicial review of an order of removal lies with the circuit courts of appeals.

Under several provisions contained in IIRIRA, the United States Congress sought to simplify and expedite the removal of aliens, including either eliminating or severely limiting judicial review of immigration decisions as follows:

(1) elimination or limitation of judicial review under INA § 242 (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252): this provision contains a variety of court stripping or limiting provisions;
(2) elimination of review regarding discretionary decisions relating to detention, or release, including the grant, revocation or denial of bond or parole;
(3) elimination of review of decisions of the Attorney General or his or her successor regarding voluntary departure;
(4) elimination of challenges against the United States or its agencies or officers under INA § 279 (8 U.S.C.A. § 1329).;
(5) restriction on judicial review of certain legalization claims other than in the context of review of a final order of deportation or removal unless the person filed within the original deadline or was refused (“front-desked”) by the legacy INS at the time and
(6) restriction on review of the denial of the right to seek asylum because the applicant;

(a) could seek protection in a safe third country;
(b) was previously denied asylum;
(c) did not file the application within one year of entry; or
(d) is deemed to be a terrorist.

Despite the restrictions created by IIRIRA precluding judicial review of a broad range of immigration related matters, federal courts still retain jurisdiction to review jurisdictional facts and determine the proper scope, if any, of its own jurisdiction.

Generally, petitioners must exhaust all administrative remedies prior to requesting review of a final order. Additionally, petitioners must comply with general Article III requirements relating to subject matter jurisdiction, standing, ripeness, mootness and the political question doctrine. These and the other bars to judicial review noted above must be addressed prior to reaching the merits of a case

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996included restrictions on federal judicial review of deportation, exclusion and removal cases. Former INA § 106, passed in 1961 by the United States Congress, had provided the basis for judicial review of immigration matters until its elimination by IIRIRA which replaced it with INA § 242, (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252).  

After the passage of IIRIRA, different procedures were created for judicial review of removal orders, including exclusion or deportation orders, and for immigration decisions generally. Decisions regarding judicial review of removal orders are now subject to INA § 242 (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252). Review of immigration decisions outside of removal proceedings are governed by (28U.S.C.A. § 1331) and the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act and occur in the District Courts.

Judicial review of immigration decisions can be divided into three categories depending on the date of commencement of proceedings or issuance of a final order. If a person had a final order of deportation or exclusion entered before October 30, 1996, judicial review was governed by former INA § 106. Deportation or exclusion cases which were commenced on or before October 30, 1996—but where no final deportation or exclusion order had yet been issued—are subject to the transition rules under IIRIRA. Judicial review of post-IIRIRA removal proceedings initiated on or after April 1, 1997 are governed by INA § 242 (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252) which provide limited judicial review of many immigration matters.Except as provided in INA § 242(b) (8U.S.C.A. § 1252(b)). (requirements for review of removal orders), judicial review of a final order of removal is governed by Chapter 158 of Title 28 of the United States Code, except that courts may not order taking of additional evidence under (28 U.S.C.A. § 2347(c). However, there are matters not subject to judicial review as outlined in INA § 242(a)(2) (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252 (a) (2)). Generally, judicial review of an order of removal lies with the circuit courts of appeals.

Under several provisions contained in IIRIRA, the United States Congress sought to simplify and expedite the removal of aliens, including either eliminating or severely limiting judicial review of immigration decisions as follows:

(1) elimination or limitation of judicial review under INA § 242 (8 U.S.C.A. § 1252): this provision contains a variety of court stripping or limiting provisions;
(2) elimination of review regarding discretionary decisions relating to detention, or release, including the grant, revocation or denial of bond or parole;
(3) elimination of review of decisions of the Attorney General or his or her successor regarding voluntary departure;
(4) elimination of challenges against the United States or its agencies or officers under INA § 279 (8 U.S.C.A. § 1329).;
(5) restriction on judicial review of certain legalization claims other than in the context of review of a final order of deportation or removal unless the person filed within the original deadline or was refused (“front-desked”) by the legacy INS at the time and
(6) restriction on review of the denial of the right to seek asylum because the applicant;

(a) could seek protection in a safe third country;
(b) was previously denied asylum;
(c) did not file the application within one year of entry; or
(d) is deemed to be a terrorist.

Despite the restrictions created by IIRIRA precluding judicial review of a broad range of immigration related matters, federal courts still retain jurisdiction to review jurisdictional facts and determine the proper scope, if any, of its own jurisdiction.

Generally, petitioners must exhaust all administrative remedies prior to requesting review of a final order. Additionally, petitioners must comply with general Article III requirements relating to subject matter jurisdiction, standing, ripeness, mootness and the political question doctrine. These and the other bars to judicial review noted above must be addressed prior to reaching the merits of a case.

In absetia removal order

Reinstated removal order

Removal order, is there something to do?

How a deportation Attorney can help you win a cancellation of removal for non permanent residents 

What is Appeals?

Our law firm prepares each and every kind of appeal regarding all types of petitions and applications under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Appeals can be made from the Immigration Court, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of State, the Department of Labor and many more.

Appeals go to many different types of entities. Depending on where the original denial came from, appeals can go to the Board of Immigration Appeals, the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals, the Administrative Appeals Unit, various Federal District Courts, various Federal Appellate Circuit Courts and the United States Supreme Court.

Appeals are extremely time sensitive. This means that if the appeal is sent one day late, you will have probably lost all chances to ever appeal the decision. Our law firm can get the appeal out in an expedited timely manner to ensure that you are protected.

9th circuit court of appeals

Administrative appeals office

Immigration appeals

Losing at the Immigration Court is not the end 

Who is Eligible to Apply?

To be eligible to file a self-petition (an application that you file for yourself for immigration benefits) you must qualify under one of the following categories:

Spouse: You may self-petition if you are a battered spouse married to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. Unmarried children under the age of 21, who have not filed their own self-petition, may be included on your petition as derivative beneficiaries.

Parent: You may self-petition if you are the parent of a child who has been abused by your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse. Your children (under 21 years of age and unmarried), including those who may not have been abused, may be included on your petition as derivative beneficiaries, if they have not filed their own self-petition.

Child: You may self-petition if you are a battered child (under 21 years of age and unmarried) who has been abused by your U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident parent. Your children (under 21 years of age and unmarried), including those who may not have been abused, may be included on your petition as derivative beneficiaries

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

“The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country. It also has a mandate to help stateless people.

In more than five decades, the agency has helped tens of millions of people restart their lives. Today, a staff of some 6,600 people in more than 110 countries continues to help about 34 million persons.”

Taken from the Official UNHCR Web Site.

Bureau of population refugees and migration

Form I-131 for a refugee travel document

Refugee and immigration

New update to be released regarding a refugee placement program from such countries 

Convention Against Torture

Generally, if you will be tortured, imprisoned, or persecuted for various reasons upon returning to your home country, you may qualify for relief under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). You can only apply for this form of relief if you are in Removal or Deportation Proceedings.

The implementation of CAT is from an International Treaty which the United States has agreed to be a country subject to the provisions of this treaty. It is officially known as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 39/46 of 10 December 1984 entry into force 26 June 1987, in accordance with article 27 (1). While it has been around for some time, it was only recently that the United States recently ratified its provisions.

Convention against torture

Convention against torture act meaning 

Find a good immigration lawyer to help you

Convention against torture granted

What is Refugee Processing?

The U.S. Attorney General has statutory discretionary authority to admit any refugee who is not firmly resettled in a third country, who is determined to be of special humanitarian concern, and who is admissible as an immigrant. The Attorney General has delegated this authority to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (INS). In both overseas refugee processing and domestic asylum proceedings, BCIS has the statutory role of being the decision-maker, determining who meets the requirements for refugee status.

Within the BCIS , the Office of International Affairs, Refugee Branch, located in Washington, D.C., is responsible for oversight and management of the entire BCIS overseas U.S. refugee adjudication program. The overseas refugee processing is assigned by geographic location to the three District Offices, which are located in Rome, Mexico City, and Bangkok. The refugee interviews are conducted by BCIS officers, who are stationed in the three overseas district offices and numerous other sub-offices, and by domestic U.S. asylum officers who travel to overseas locations.

Asylum persecution

Bureau of population refugees and migration

Form I-131 for a refugee travel document

Refugees and immigrants

What is a Refugee?

Prior to 1980, departure from communist-dominated or communist-occupied states, or departure from countries in the Middle East, was generally sufficient justification for refugee eligibility. Until this time, U.S. refugee policy was dominated by Cold War geopolitical concerns and strategies. The Refugee Act of 1980 sought to eliminate the prevailing geographic and ideological preferences and to emphasize that persecution, not provenance, was to be the basis for determining refugee eligibility.

The Refugee Act formally incorporated into U.S. law the international definition of refugee contained in the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. A refugee is defined as a person outside of his or her country of nationality who is unable or unwilling to return because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. By Presidential Determination certain refugees may be processed while still in their countries of origin (Cuba, Vietnam, and the former Soviet Union). While in-country processing was designed to be an exceptional remedy to refugees of compelling need, a large percentage of all refugees admitted to the United States have been processed in-country.

Under U.S. law, a person who has committed acts of persecution, or has assisted in the commission of persecution in any way, on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, is not eligible for classification as a refugee.

Refugees and immigration

Refugee and asylee follow to join cases

US refugee program

Information regarding asylum refugee and relative petitions to the US to be offered by the government

Refugee Adjustment

If you have been a refugee or held asylum status for at least one year, you may be eligible to change your status to that of a permanent resident.

There is a large package that must be prepared and sent to BCIS . A copy of the letter granting you derivative asylee status either on the basis of having been included on the principal’s original asylum application or on the basis of having been the beneficiary of a petition filed by the principal.

Evidence of one year’s physical presence in the United States. Please keep physical presence evidence to an absolute minimum. Evidence might include a letter of employment, a lease, school enrollment records, or similar documentation, which would cover broad periods of time.

If you wish to travel outside of the U.S. (and return) while your application is being processed, you may use Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, to apply for a refugee travel document. More information may be found at Emergency Travel, and How Do I Get a Travel Document.

Each of the above named applications must be complete in its own right. All required documentation must be submitted with each concurrent application.

If you apply for work authorization and do not receive the document within 90 days of filing the application, you may obtain an interim work authorization document. After 90 days have passed, simply present the receipt that shows you have filed Form I-765 at your local office.

Bureau of population refugees and migration

Central american refugees

Cuban refugee adjustment act

Information regarding asylum refugee and relative petitions to the US be offered by the government