Adjustment of Status – Work Permit Timing
“I filed my adjustment of status or recently entered on my fiancé visa and I’m getting ready to file my adjustment of status. When can I start working?” Part of that adjustment of status application is a work permit and you would receive that work permit to be able to work. In some states, it’s […]
Why Did Processing Times Increase? I130/I129F
Why do processing times continue to increase specifically for the I-130 and the I-129F visas? There are a lot of applications that are going to immigration and they don’t have the people power to review the applications. The applications are going to certain service centers that handle the spouse visa I-130 petitions. There are other […]
Spouse Visa Wait Times – Mexico
Wait times for spouse visas in Mexico are very long. The US consulate in Ciudad Juarez in Mexico is the one that handles all visas. Fiancé visas are handled in Mexico City but the US consulate in Ciudad Juarez has one of the longest wait times in the world. Mexico has the highest volume of […]
Prioritization of Visas for Ukraine – Processing Time Impact
How does the prioritization of visas for Ukraine citizens impact processing times for other cases? Immigration shifts cases around from different countries to different US embassies and consulates on a more regular basis than you would think. Things happen all the time; natural disasters, politics, and things that occur that make it such that visas […]
Spouse Visa Received – Green Card Timing
Once you’re approved for your spouse visa, what happens next? When do you get your green card? Once you have that visa, you need to make sure you enter the United States before the expiration date. Typically, they give you six months. Once you enter the United States, immigration will put a stamp on your […]
K1 Visa Wait Times – Should I Just Get Married?
Processing times are a year or more right now just to receive a decision on that first step. It’s disheartening but we want to caution all of you about taking extreme measures out of desperation. There have been a lot of individuals who have gotten married, thinking that it would be faster. You’re already in […]
Immigration Options for Ukrainians
Here at Immigration for Couples, we are heartbroken and horrified by the recent invasion of Ukraine. There are a few options for couples who are going through the process and one of them happens to be a citizen of Ukraine. For those who are outside of the United States, if you have already started a […]
Can K2 Enter US After K1?
Can a K2 enter the United States after the K1? The K1 visa is the fiancé visa and part of the fiancé visa process is that you can bring your children as well as long as they are under 21 years of age. These children would receive a visa called a K2 visa. Do they […]
Police Clearance Requirements – Immigration for Couples
Hi, everyone. I am Attorney Megan Pastrana of Immigration for Couples and I’m here for our weekly live immigration attorney chat. We’ve been seeing an uptick in interviews being scheduled and so, a lot of individuals are asking about the police clearance certificate requirements. There are also people in our Facebook group who are just being […]
Fiancé Visa: Is Religious Ceremony Risky?
“Is it okay for my fiancé and I to have a religious ceremony?” We encourage all of our clients when we’re talking about this topic to think about the risks of doing a religious ceremony. The first risk is that in some countries, the religious ceremony is a legally binding ceremony that would make you […]
Does the US Allow Dual Citizenship?
Do we allow dual citizenship in the United States? That question usually comes up when an individual is thinking about filing for naturalization to become a United States citizen. The interesting thing about the United States is that the US law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality over […]
221(g) Visa Refusal
A 221(g) is a visa refusal under 221(g) of the Immigration Nationality Act which means that the applicant didn’t establish that they were eligible for the visa. The Immigration and Nationality Act is the list of immigration laws and 221(g) is part of the immigration laws and says that a consular officer cannot give a […]