Category: Q&A

1. EAD I-140 Compelling Circumstances

I am on H-1B with I-140 approved (2014- EB2- India). My wife is facing medical issues and if I qualify, my intent is to apply for I-140 EAD Compelling circumstances. My wife had multiple miscarriages and last year she was hospitalized for 15 days for emergency. This year she had a minor surgery and again put on 100% bed rest by the doctor. Currently I travel 1-1/2 hr each way to my job. We cannot move as she has doctor visits every week. EAD will allow me to find a flexible job near to my house and take care of my wife in this difficult times. Question: 1. Do I qualify for EAD I140 Compelling circumstances. I wish to apply for EAD. I am looking for a competent attorney. 2. My h1b expires August 2019. What is my status on EAD if I have to travel abroad? What about stamping? 3. On EAD I may get any job which allows me to be flexible and close to my house to take care of my wife. What if after 1 year, I do not get an H-1B?

Mr. Lee answers:
Whether you qualify for an EAD based upon compelling circumstances will depend upon the view of U.S.C.I.S. As this is new relief without much of a track record, I could not inform you whether your situation would be seen as compelling circumstances although I suspect that it will be. An individual on the EAD who works for another employer is no longer in valid nonimmigrant status. It does not give travel privileges.  For that, you would have to make an application for advance parole, and such could be approved based on urgent humanitarian circumstances or where it would provide a significant public benefit.  If you must renew your H-1B after the year of employment authorization under the EAD, you would have to go abroad for non-immigrant visa processing. If you are denied an H-1B petition and are still in the States, you can request an extension of the EAD where there is still compelling need and the visa availability date is far away, or the visa availability date is reachable within one year before or after the visa bulletin final action date. However, if the H-1B petition is approved by U.S.C.I.S. and you are denied a visa when you try to go for visa stamping abroad, you would essentially be stuck overseas unless you are able to overcome the ground(s) of denial.

 2. How to Change Tourist Visa to Work Visa?

I am in tourist visa. I came in USA to take care of my son who is a Troy student and extremely injured from car accident in December 15.

I have to stay here for injured victim of car accident. I probably should quit the job in Nepal. I like to apply work visa.  Is it possible?

Mr. Lee answers:
Generally speaking, US immigration law does not allow employment authorization for humanitarian situations where there is no other basis for its allowance. If you are eligible for other types of application such as nonimmigrant or immigrant visas that allow an employment authorization or for political asylum, you may be able to obtain an EAD (employment authorization document).

3. Extension of B1/B2 visa

I need more time before I can submit an E2 visa application. My B2 visa will end in early March, I’m looking to extend.

Mr. Lee answers:
It may be possible for you to obtain a B-1 extension or B-1 change of status for the purpose of completing the arrangements for making an investment in the US which would make you eligible for E-2 Treaty investor status. You would generally have to inform U.S.C.I.S. of the progress of your investment and when you can be expected to perfect the investment. In addition, you would have to show evidence of intent to leave the country once your arrangements are concluded. 

1. How to Get My Girlfriend to Come to the U.S.?

I have met a Dominican Republic lady and I would like to know how to get her to come to the United States.

Mr. Lee answers:
I will assume for purposes of your question that you are either a US citizen or permanent resident. If a US citizen, you generally have the choice of petitioning for her as a fiancée under K-1 visa or marrying her and petitioning for her to obtain an immigrant visa through form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative and later consular processing. If a green card holder, you could marry her and petition for her in the same manner. K-1 visa processing usually takes between nine months to a year; and I-130 processing/consular processing by US citizen one year and by a permanent resident two+ years. In addition, if your Dominican Republic lady has good reason to come to the US temporarily, she may be able to obtain the appropriate nonimmigrant visa at the American consulate or embassy.

2. Should I Apply for Citizenship?

I have been a Permanent resident since 1998. In 2009 and 2013 I spent more than 12 months outside the USA. Upon re-entering the USA I omitted this to the immigration officer and said I had been away for 3 months. Since 2016 I have lived in the USA permanently only making short trips abroad. I would like to apply for naturalization but wonder if it’s too risky to do so. What do you suggest?

Mr. Lee answers:
For preserving a residence in the US for naturalization purposes, a six-month absence has a rebuttable presumption that you have lost the residence. Absences of 12 months and more are almost conclusive evidence that the residence for purposes of naturalization is lost. That occurs even if the individual has obtained a reentry permit. I would suggest that you not apply for naturalization at this time as an application would be risky.

3. Can C-1D Visa Holder Apply For an Asylum?

I came to USA in March 2016 in C-1D Visa (cruise line job) from India, it’s been almost 3 years now am staying in US. My questions are Can I apply for an Asylum ? If I can, will marriage help me to adjust my status/ if yes how long it will take normally? If I go back to India before the decision of Asylum case, how it will affect my re-entry?

Mr. Lee answers:
Unless there are special circumstances, you are not eligible to apply for asylum as the application must be done within one year of the individual’s entry into the United States. You are eligible to apply for withholding of removal if you believe that you would be persecuted in your home country, but the burden of proof against you is higher and it does not lead to a green card. Marriage would not help you to adjust your status even if you have special circumstances that would qualify you for asylum since a C-1/D visa holder is generally not allowed to adjust status to permanent residence. If you go back to India after you have submitted an asylum case and before its decision, you would technically be barred from returning to the US because of your unlawful presence for over one year in this country.

1. Can I Attend H-1B Visa Interview With Employer A When H-1 Transfer to Employer B Is In Process?

I am currently working as sub contractor with employer A and employer B has filed my h1 transfer I got RFE for this and employer B is working on resolving the RFE. Can I go to visa interview with my current employer while my H1 decision is still pending? Or if gets approved or rejected will it impact my visa interview?

Mr. Lee answers:
This situation could present problems and so is not recommended. A consular officer upon your notice that you actually wish to work for employer number two would likely tell you that you should wait until the H-1B for the second employer is approved before requesting the H-1B visa to be put in the passport. On the other hand, if you do not inform the consular officer of your plans and are given the visa and do not work for the first employer when you return to the States, you could be subject to a later charge of misrepresentation. You may wish to have a resolution one way or another before leaving the US for a visa interview. Premium processing is expected to return in February 2019 with U.S.C.I.S. for the fee of $1,410 under which the agency promises to reach your case for adjudication within 15 days or give you back the fee.

2. Will I Be Issued a Visa After DNA Results Are Positive?

Mr. Lee answers:
Whether you are issued a visa after DNA results are positive depends upon whether there are other inadmissibility bars to your immigrating to the US. I assume that this is a family based case as DNA results would otherwise not be relevant. Another question is whether the DNA test was requested by the US Consulate or Embassy or USCIS or whether you and your related party took an independent test. In the latter case, the result may not be given full validity by a consular officer.

3. Out of Student Status

I came to the US on a F1 student visa. During my time in the University I have dropped two semesters (at the end of the semester) after I found out that I would not make a GPA that will allow me to continue in the University. I was not aware that I could not do that. And on the third semester I was flagged and an advisor told me that I couldn’t do that. Once I met with an officer he told me to get a letter from my advisor stating that I am enrolled and I took classes each semester and I will be fine. I got the letter and for the next interview I gave it to a different officer which told me that it is useless now because I am in the removal process and I should wait until I heard back from them about a court date. I have been waiting for almost two years now and I did not get a court date. My question are : What are my chances of getting my status fixed?  Do I have a high chance of getting deported? And what I could do to prepare for the hearing.

Mr. Lee answers:
It is highly unusual that an individual would be in removal proceedings and not receive a notice to appear (NTA) within almost 2 years. It is entirely possible that U.S.C.I.S. has not moved in that direction. If you moved, it is also possible that you never received an NTA because of that. It does not appear from your question that you are still in school or in status if you are still in school, and if that is so, I would assume that you have been out of status for at least five months, the top limit for asking for student reinstatement. You appear to not be aware of your present status which would be essential for determining what are your options. You may decide to do an infopass with the local field office of U.S.C.I.S. to ascertain your status. You may also alternatively request a copy of all your information from U.S.C.I.S. under the Freedom of Information Act.

1. Can open LLC on EAD(GC) on EB3?

I have an EAD, awaiting adjustment of status on EB3, India. I would like to start an LLC and become self employed. I will be either sub contracting and getting a 1099. Am I allowed to start an LLC and be its only employee?

Mr. Lee answers:
Having such an EAD, you may be allowed to do such since the card allows open market employment. In addition, you may be able to use the EAD position as a basis of your green card if you are in the last phase of your immigration to the US, and have already had your I-140 petition approved and the I-485 adjustment of status filed. Under the rules of porting, you are allowed to move to a same or similar occupation and keep your case if the I-140 petition is approved and the I 485 has been pending for 180 days. U.S.C.I.S. has said that porting can be to self-employment so long as it qualifies under same or similar occupation. Please note, however, this may lead to a number of questions on your immigration interview.

2. Employment immigration after living in the United and only have 7 months on a different visa. If applying for PERM employment with a sponsor waiting period could be how long?

Mr. Lee answers:
It is difficult to answer your question as you do not state what country you are from, and quota restrictions on certain countries can increase the period of time of waiting. Generally speaking, however, employment immigration of natives of countries other than India, China, and the Philippines will generally take a couple of years taking into account time required to process labor certification, I-140 petition, and either adjustment of status or consular processing. If you do not require a labor certification application, the process may be much shorter. In the event that you do require one, your seven months of remaining stay will not allow you to obtain a labor certification, as that process takes approximately 10 months between recruitment and Department of Labor processing. However, it should be noted that the immigration law allows employment based applicants up to 180 days of illegal stay and still maintain eligibility for adjustment of status. Once an individual has the labor certification and assuming that there is visa availability and the individual is in status, both I-140 and I-485 adjustment of status applications can be filed concurrently, and such filing would allow an individual to remain with authorization in the US during the time of the processing.

 3. I have B1/B2 Visa and Work Experience 13 Years. Can I Convert to H1-B?

I’m not a cap exempt neither the company that provides work for me in USA but I have B1-B2 visa and work experience 13 years .Can I convert to H-1B?

Mr. Lee answers:
My personal feeling is that even with the amount of experience that you have, lacking any type of post secondary education, a U.S.C.I.S. officer would be hard-pressed to approve an H-1B application for you. In addition, of course, the position that is being offered must be one that normally requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field of specialization. Finally if your question is whether you can obtain an H-1B status in the US without leaving assuming that the H-1B petition can be approved, that might be problematical in terms of timing. The H-1B lottery season begins on April 1, but selection and approval only make the beneficiary eligible to begin work on October 1 at the earliest. You must be able to show U.S.C.I.S. that you are entitled to stay under some type of legal visa status until September 30 to successfully change status in the US. Whether you will be able to extend your present status or change to another status is a question that you may wish to explore.

 

1. I Was Denied the Right to Become a U.S. Citizen Because I Voted, I Have Proof to Show I Was Tricked into Doing So.

I have 30 days to make an appeal.  What to do?

Mr. Lee Answers:
You can make an administrative appeal to U.S.C.I.S. on form N-336 Request for Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings. U.S.C.I.S. policy on illegal voting depends upon the election law. If the election law penalizes the actual act of voting, the fact that a person has actually voted is sufficient to establish that he or she has voted unlawfully. However, if the election law penalizes the act of voting only upon an additional finding that the individual acted “knowingly” or “willfully,”, U.S.C.I.S. states that adjudicating officers cannot conclude that an applicant voted unlawfully until they assess the circumstances surrounding the voting, the applicant’s credibility, and the documentary evidence.

2. What Happens if I Don’t File Form I-751, and Go Back to My Home Country Before the 90-days Period For Good?

Do I still have to come to a court hearing? We are not yet divorced, but separated.

Mr. Lee answers:
Although not a guaranteed solution to avoiding court, if you intend to go back to your home country for good, you may wish to write a letter to the Texas Service Center since you live in Florida and you would be filing an I-751 application to that service center as it has jurisdiction over Florida. You can explain your circumstances, that you will not be remaining in the US, and perhaps give some proof such as an air ticket of your intent to depart. Upon your departure, you can also inform the Center that you have departed and give them proof of such, e.g. copy of passport showing entry into your home country.  The address of the Texas Service Center for I-751’s is:   

U.S.C.I.S. Texas Service Center
PO Box 851488
Mesquite, TX 75185-1488

3. Can I Stay in the U.S. for Leisure From June – Oct 1st Under B2 Visa Until H-1B Takes Effect?

I’m currently dating a US citizen, I am a Canadian citizen. I’m graduating from my M.Sc in Canada in June. I’ve read that once the H-1B is approved and your visa is stamped (hoping all goes well), that you can only enter the US 10 days prior to employment start (Sept 20th for Oct 1st start for H-1B) Could I apply for a B2 visa to stay with my boyfriend until my H-1B takes effect? Something like June – Oct 1st? I’m aware I have to do my interview and visa stamping in Canada, I can take a trip for that. But is it possible to just take trips and re-enter under B2 visa? And once everything is stamped, does the H-1B visa stamp replace B2? Or is there a conversion involved. 

Mr. Lee answers:
As you are a Canadian, you do not require a visa to enter the United States for visiting purposes. If you have a valid reason for being in the US for visiting purposes such as visiting with your boyfriend, you can explain that to the inspecting officer upon your entry with a Canadian passport. Similarly Canadians are not required to have H-1B visas put into their passports. At the appropriate time, you can approach the port of entry with your I-797 H-1B approval and request admission into the US to take up your H-1B position. You may of course have to explain what you were doing in the United States from June-October 1. 

Married One Month After Coming to U. S. and Want to File for Her Immigration (I am USC) – Did We Marry Too Soon?

I am a U. S. citizen and invited my girlfriend from Hong Kong to come to the U. S., and she entered under a B-2 visiting visa 2 months ago. We got married last month and were about to put in papers for her immigration and someone told me that we might be in trouble because we married too quickly after she came in. Is that true? What can we do?

Mr. Lee Answers,
Current policy guidelines are that persons coming to the U. S. who take an action within 90 days of entry inconsistent with their stated purpose for coming to the U. S. are presumed to have made a misrepresentation of intent at the time of entry. In your case, you can solve your situation by filing the I-130 petition for alien relative for your wife and having her leave the U. S. and undergo consular processing once the I-130 petition is approved by U.S.C.I.S. The other route of filing for adjustment of status without leaving could bring on the consequence of U.S.C.I.S. questioning her intent at the time of coming into the country when you are both interviewed. I note that there is a recognized immigration decision that a preconceived intent should not count in an immediate relative case (immediate relatives are the spouses, parents, and children under the age of 21 and unmarried of U. S. citizens), but the question is whether an immigration officer at the time of your wife’s interview would be aware of the decision or believe that all the facts apply to your wife’s case. In the event that your wife is deemed to have committed fraud or misrepresentation, she could file an I-601 application to waive the ground of inadmissibility and the standard would be whether you would suffer extreme hardship if the waiver is not approved.

2. Laid Off on H-1B, Do I Have to Leave Now? Do I Have Any Time to Find Another Job?

I received my H-1B in October and had been working with my employer until the end of October at which time I was laid off. It has now been 33 days since I was let go. I have been trying to find other jobs, but it is not easy, especially around the end of the year. Can you tell me how much time I can stay here to find another H-1B job without leaving the country or trying to change my status?

Mr. Lee Answers,
You are allowed to remain 60 days after the last day of employment with your employer. During that time, you are considered in legal status for all purposes except for work and leaving the country. Please note that once you find a new position, your new employer will need approximately 2 weeks to file for an H-1B transfer petition (with a good legal representative) as it must first go through a labor condition application (LCA) with the Department of Labor prior to submitting your new H-1B to U.S.C.I.S. Good luck!

3. On H-1B, I-140 Just Approved, Priority Date Far Away, Want to Change Employers, Currently Applying For Extension

I am being sponsored by my present company and my I-140 petition was just approved 8 months after my labor certification was issued. I am from China and have a priority date in February 2017 under the EB-3 category. My 6 years of H-1B status will end in March, and we just filed for an extension. I am thinking of changing jobs to another company with better conditions, but wonder what risks I have and how much trouble this will be.

Mr. Lee Answers,
Unless there is fraud or misrepresentation, revocation or invalidation of the labor certification, or mistake on the part of U.S.C.I.S. in the I-140 adjudication, you will be allowed to keep the priority date. If the business does not fail or the employer revoke the petition within 180 days, the I-140 will stand for purposes of allowing you to extend your H-1B status until your priority date is current. Your new employer in that case would still have to file for a new labor certification and I-140. In changing over to a new employer, you and your new company will have to decide whether to put you on board during the time of the pendency of the transfer or have you remain with your original employer until the H-1B adjudication is done. Unfortunately at this time, there is still a suspension on premium processing for your type of anticipated filing, which is expected to last until February 2019. There is a risk that if you move over to the new employer without a new approval, a denial would place you out of status, and you might be forced to seek consular processing of any further approved petition. You should also be aware that remaining in the U. S. for over 180 days after receiving a denial from U.S.C.I.S. would subject you to a 3 year bar on returning to the U. S. if you had to leave.

4. Friend Who Filed Political Asylum Based on Persecution Under China Family-Planning Policy Just Denied – Why If He Has a Good Case?

I have a friend who has applied for political asylum and was just denied. Could you tell me why because he will not tell me and I am very concerned. He is a good man. In China, he was a doctor who was very conscientious. He worked in a clinic where he did abortions, but he tried to be as kind to the women as he could be, and in 2 instances even managed to help the women escape who did not want the abortions. In fact, he got into trouble in China because it was found out that he helped one escape for which he was dismissed. He has much evidence and documentation of the above that he gave to U.S.C.I.S.

Mr. Lee Answers,
Unfortunately it sounds as if your friend was labeled a persecutor by the U. S. government if he told his story in the way that you have just described. The family planning policy in China has consisted of coerced abortions and sterilizations, and people who prove that they have been the victims of such have a legitimate ground for political asylum. At the same time, those who assisted in the implementation of the coercive population control policy are considered persecutors who are ineligible for asylum and subject to removal from the United States. The fact that your friend helped out in 2 instances would not excuse his participation in a program of persecution in the eyes of the U. S.

1. DACA Question

My dad is a US citizen and I am an 19 year old immigrant with DACA . Will he be able to help me fix my paper work or am I too late to get any help?

Mr. Lee answers:
If you entered the country legally, your father can probably assist you in adjusting status to permanent residence in the US without leaving. If not, you may still be able to obtain your residence status through the I-601A program under which your father would petition for you as his relative on form I-130, and when that is approved, you would be able to submit an I-601A request for a waiver of the 10 year bar for being here in the US unlawfully for a year or more. The I-601A adjudication would be based upon your establishing extreme hardship to your father if you could not return to the US. Assuming that the waiver is approved, you would complete your case by having it consular processed through the National Visa Center in the States and the US consulate or embassy in your home country. Kindly note that the I-601A program has a good rate of success, but also that its future may depend upon how vigorously Mr. Trump wishes to go after programs benefiting the undocumented.

2. I am on H-1B and My Prevailing Wage Request is Submitted.

If prevailing wage is more than what i get currently, can the employer increase before perm and will my GC process go fine or should employer maintain the same salary starting of prevailing wage request

Mr. Lee answers:
PERM labor certification applications require a prevailing wage determination of the offered position for the case to be filed with the Department of Labor (DOL). The prevailing wage must be paid at the latest at the time that the permanent residence application is approved. Whether the employer pays the prevailing wage prior to that time to the alien is not a primary concern of DOL, which is the protection of US workers. That means that DOL will want to be assured that the employer is offering that wage to the US workers who apply for the position, and that the employer is not rejecting US workers because the alien is willing to work at a lower rate.

3. I Have a Temporary Residency for 2 Years But He is Asking for Divorce.

I am from Venezuela and have been married over a year with an US citizen. How can I do so the divorce does not affect my residency?

Mr. Lee answers:
The best action is to gather together and keep in a safe place all evidence that you and he have had a bona fide marriage. When the divorce is finalized, you can submit the I-751 Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence with all the proof of your marital relationship. If U.S.C.I.S. is convinced through the documentary evidence and/or interview with you that the marriage was bona fide, you would be allowed to have your conditions removed on the green card.

 

1.Green Card Holder Applying for Unmarried 28 Year Old Child

How long it usually lasts to bring over an unmarried 28 years old, biological daughter to the USA if I am a Green Card holder since 2014. Will my Citizenship (in two years) speed up her case? What is the fee for?

Mr. Lee answers:
A good guesstimate is 7-8 years. In this case, citizenship usually does not help as, believe it or not, a guesstimate for that situation is at approximately 8-9 years now for most people in the world. The current I-130 petition fee with U.S.C.I.S. is $535.  Insofar as our legal fee is concerned, we do not publicly quote but it is reasonable.

2.Can I Have My Marriage Annul?

I married an illegal alien in 1991 who was supposed to be deported but fled to another country before they caught him. I need to know if we’re married. I’m trying to get married and I haven’t seen or spoken to him since 1991. I hoping that everything was just annulled. I’m trying to get married now and want that part of my life over. Also, we were married in Orleans parish by a Justice of the peace, but I do not remember what his name is.

Mr. Lee answers:
You cannot marry another without having your former marriage terminated. In every state, there is a record of marriage. In Louisiana, the office of the state registrar compiles and issues vital records for Louisiana citizens including for marriage. You can access the website at new.dhh.louisiana.gov. You can also check the records to see whether there has been a divorce filed by your marriage partner. If not, you can begin a divorce action on your own.

3.My Fiancé Is On Immigration Hold And Is Being Held In A Local Jail Facility

A month ago my Fiancé was getting out of court for a case he has for an Assault and Battery . Immigration was waiting for him outside and took him. He’s been held and ICE obviously does not give me any information if he has a bond or not. I’m 4 months pregnant with his child and I’m a high risk pregnancy and he’s my only provider for now. We have an apartment together but since he’s not working due to being in jail I had to give up my apartment and now I’m staying with a family member for now. Is there any way he will be able to get out on bond or with an ankle bracelet because I need him more then ever to help me with my pregnancy and living situation. He was my only help and now that he’s been gone so long I’m having so many problems emotionally and financially. He worked 24/7 and the assault and battery charge was for a fight we had and I’m fixing that in court because there were a lot of lies in the police report. What can I do to help him out?

Mr. Lee answers:
Hopefully the charge can be dismissed or changed as a conviction for domestic violence against a fiancé is a permanent bar to immigration. With a dismissal or change in character of the charge, and if you are a US citizen or permanent resident and marry and petition for him, ICE may give him a bond or release him on his own recognizance or with ankle hold assuming that he has not had prior criminal incidents or a bad immigration history.

 

1.How Can I Show That I Have Permanent and Legal Custody of My Child, In Order To Meet the Requirements Under the Child Citizenship Act?

We are family with 3. We all are permanent residents through DV lottery. I’m interested about Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements for Naturalization for permanent resident children. I know that we have to live here at least 30 month from last 5 years, and to be abroad less than 6 month, if we want to maintain continuous residence and apply for citizenship. Are this rules same for children, or they can get citizenship even if they will not have continuous residency, I mean, if they are abroad more than six month, but less than one year, and parent(s) becomes citizen through naturalization. Will kids become citizens automatically if they are under 18?

Mr. Lee answers:
A requirement for children to obtain derivative citizenship through a parent is that they live with the parent. If they are living significant periods of time apart from you and your spouse, there could be problems proving this component of the requirements. Items that U.S.C.I.S. has asked for in the past include tax records of the parents, schooling records, and any other proof of the children living together with the parents. 

2.How to File H-1B Application for a Gas Station Job?

I already applied for the student visa. I need to understand what documents needed for the H-1B visa. I have a job offer for the gas station. How much will be the attorney fees and documentations needed. How long it will take to process the H-1B case?

Mr. Lee answers:
From your fact situation, it does not appear that you know the rudimentary requirements of an H1B visa. U.S.C.I.S. generally does not give H-1B visas for individuals to work at a gas station. I suggest that you make an appointment with an immigration lawyer who can go over your entire situation and discuss your possibilities.

3.I Have 2 Removal Proceedings

First one cancelled. What’s the chance for me to be deported this time?

Mr. Lee answers:
It is difficult to know where you stand with so few facts. I suggest that you have a formal consultation with an immigration lawyer who will be able to go over all the facts of your case and give you an informed opinion.

 

 

1. Will My Application be Affected?

My fiancée is a citizen and she is to file for my permanent residence. This necessitate is to require a marriage sponsor. However, our intended sponsor does not have the last three years tax returns as he didn’t work all through last year. He only has tax returns for 2015 and 2016 but not for 2017. Will his lack of 2017 tax returns affect our application?

Mr. Lee answers:
To many officials, the last year of tax returns is very important, especially as it gives a better picture of the sponsor’s current ability to support. I suggest that you have your intended sponsor file an amended tax return for 2017 and also provide evidence of income for 2018 in the form of job letter and payslips showing how much he has been making for the year.

2. I-864 (Joint Sponsor) Income Requirement

I am young and married to the best thing that has ever happened to me. My joint sponsor made $18,000ish last year and had it reported on her taxes. She is now making more money putting her annual income at $24,000. Based on her taxes she doesn’t meet the requirements, but based on her current salary she does. Will she be able to be our sponsor? Is it based on current income or last year? Also, can I use an asset of mine to cover my joint sponsor’s difference if needed?

Mr. Lee answers:
U.S.C.I.S. officers in our experience are not uniform in asking for a number of years that a joint sponsor must make an amount that passes the poverty guidelines for support purposes. Some will ask for one year, others may ask for more. Just going with a joint sponsor’s current income and no tax returns meeting the guidelines would not be suggested. You may be able to use your own assets to add to your joint sponsor’s affidavit of support, and such would be counted at 1/5 value to actual income. Please note that some officers may wish to see that the amount that you are listing of your own assets to assist with the joint sponsor’s affidavit of support has been in your account for some time. 

3. I Want to Sue My Immigration Attorney

In November 2017 an attorney was hired to assist in my case. In March of 2018 he needed to submit immigration petitions on my behalf. Since June 2018 I have requested the attorney to provide with immigration receipts. Since then I have called, texted and email him requesting this information. I feel he hasn’t submitted anything to immigration and that he has taken advantage of my situation. Also my family has gone to his office requesting them. I would like to sue him. I needed this petitions to be submitted since then for me to legally return to the country.

Mr. Lee answers:
If you are dissatisfied with your attorney’s services, you can complain against him or her to the disciplinary committee of the State Bar. You can also complain to local agencies such as Consumer Affairs or the Better Business Bureau. The disciplinary committee has more bite as it can act to suspend or terminate a lawyer’s ability to practice law in the particular state. There may also be other resources available in your state, such as in New York where the immigrant affairs unit of the New York County District Attorney’s Office which attempts to resolve situations for victims of immigration fraud in New York.