Immigration Archives

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

What is a Biometric Service Appointment?

After you file your application, petition or request, USCIS will run a background check to use in its evaluation of your request. USCIS will schedule you for an appointment at a local Application Support Center (ASC). Your appointment notice (Form...

Immigration

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

Avoid Common Mistakes When Preparing Immigration Forms

Kudos to the Miami Herald for its article published on February 15, 2019, titled Here are some of the worst mistakes immigrants make applying for legal papers. (link). As you may have noticed, we’ve been posting a series of blog...

Immigration

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

What is an RFE (Request For Evidence)?

A Request for Evidence (known as an RFE) is a formal request for more evidence from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Often this is received months after sending your immigration packet. Many of our clients have reported feeling confused,...

Immigration

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

Understanding Automatic Citizenship into the United States

The United States citizenship laws under the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) have changed many times over the years, especially in regards to how or when an individual automatically acquires United States citizenship. The current law has been in effect...

Immigration

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

Automatic Voter Registration and Immigration Consequences

In 2017 then-Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed 10 ILCS 5/1A-16.1 in to law. The law created an Automatic Voter Registration program jointly managed by the Illinois Secretary of State and the Illinois Board of Elections. The program is relatively simple...

Immigration Immigration News

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

What is “Asylum” and Why Has it Been in the News?

Under current immigration law, the U.S. attorney general may, as a matter of discretion, grant asylum to a foreign national who is eligible to apply for asylum and who qualifies as a "refugee." This is typically accomplished by working with...

Immigration Counsel

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

Ineffective Counsel Defense May Not Always Work

If you are an immigrant in this country, we cannot stress enough the importance of having adequate counsel when facing a criminal matter. In 2010, under Padilla v. Kentucky, the United States Supreme Court declared that criminal defense attorneys had...

Immigration Visa

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

Spectacles No Longer Allowed in Visa/Passport Photos

Starting November 1, 2016, Consular Affairs (CA) will no longer accept photos of applicants for visa and passport purposes that are wearing eyeglasses, except in rare, medically-documented circumstances. CA has stated that a soft one-month enforcement period will be implemented...

Immigration

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

Preparing For the “Residential Jackpot” after Texas v. United States

On October 3, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the Obama administration's request to rehear United States v. Texas. The Supreme Court previously affirmed the Fifth Appellate Circuit's decision with a 4-4 vote in June of this year. This decision...

Immigration

Mario Godoy - Owner/Attorney

Chicago Immigration Judges Offer Valuable Bond Hearing Advice

On November 14, 2016 Immigration Judge Vinikoor and the new Chicago Immigration Judges joined the Chicago AILA chapter for our monthly meeting. Judge Rosche, Judge Cole, Judge Peyton and Judge DeAngelis were formally introduced and gave us some valuable insight...

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