Working Together to Reduce U.S. Crime – The U Visa & How it Works

On behalf of ScottVassell & LeeCC Law Firm posted in Visas on Friday, July 15, 2016.

 

This brief blog article is a quick reference to help explain the U visa. Often our clients overlook crimes which qualify for U visa consideration. Both mental and physical harm suffered by a victim of crime is serious, and grounds for U visa eligibility. The goal of the U visa is for victims of crime to assist or cooperate in the investigation or prosecution of crimes in the United States.

If you or someone you know has experienced any of the below crimes while residing in the United States it is important to contact qualified legal authorities through U.S. immigration legal counsel:

Abduction
Abusive Sexual Contact
Blackmail
Domestic Violence
Extortion
False Imprisonment
Female Genital Mutilation
Felonious Assault
Fraud in Foreign Labor Contracting

Hostage
Incest
Involuntary Servitude
Kidnapping
Manslaughter
Murder
Obstruction of Justice
Peonage
Perjury
Prostitution
Rape

Sexual Assault
Sexual Exploitation
Slave Trade
Stalking
Torture
Trafficking
Witness Tampering
Unlawful Criminal Restraint
Other Related Crimes*†
*Includes any similar activity where the elements of the crime are substantially similar.
†Also includes attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit any of the above and other related crimes.

 

Our attorneys are members of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (“AILA”), and have 20 years of experience in U.S. Immigration matters. We are standing by to answer questions on behalf of you and your family. We serve clients through the United States and abroad.

Our offices are located in Washington D.C, Virginia and Maryland. You may email info@vasselllaw.com or visit www.vasselllaw.com. (Phone and Video Consultations Available upon Request).

Emergency Travel Abroad for Non-Permanent Residents Who Entered Illegally Without Inspection

I entered the country without inspection, and I have an emergency back home – Is there any way I can travel?

The answer is, it depends. If you are currently in TPS status or have received DACA authorization, emergency travel is possible.

Frequently, emergency travel situations arise for our non-U.S. resident clients who have Temporary Protection Status (“TPS”) or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”). If you or your family member have an emergency back home, it is important to know that travel is indeed possible.

An experienced U.S. Immigration attorney can arrange for emergency travel at the local U.S. Citizenship & Immigration office (“USCIS”). USCIS requires that one’s biometrics be current. Attorneys who are members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (“AILA”) in your area have the ability to make direct contact with USCIS Officers to speed the process along. A travel permit called ‘advanced parole’ is then issued and approved for travel.

Our attorneys are members of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (“AILA”) with 20 years of experience in U.S. Immigration matters. We are standing by to answer questions on behalf of you and your family. We serve clients throughout the United States and abroad.

Our offices are located in Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland. You may email info@vasselllaw.com or go to www.vasselllaw.com. (Phone and Video Consultations Available upon Request if you or family member is overseas.)

Business and Employment Immigration Corner: Visitor Visas

cropped-immigration-law.jpg  In response to our clients concerns regarding whether a B-2 visitor visa is appropriate to travel for business or employment opportunities, we provide a brief explanation below.

The B-1/B-2 visa category is often confusing.  Foreign nationals falsely believe they automatically have been granted permission to conduct business and employment activities on a B-1/B-2. However, failing to disclose this specific purpose to the U.S. Consulate or U.S. Customs Border & Patrol may disqualify individuals from future immigration benefits.  Despite the category of B-1/B-2 visa being denoted on a visa, the B-1 visa is distinguished from the B-2. A B-1 visa is a business visitor visa which grants U.S. visitors the ability to conduct short term business activities such as setting up a business or seeking employment. In contrast, a B-2visa is limited to vacation and visiting family and friends.

The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) and the Department of State (“DOS”) screens and questions intent before granting anyone a visa.  Therefore, it is important to use a B-2 visa for its intended purpose only and not for any business or employment purposes.

When a business owner is ready to work fulltime in the United

States, they may apply for a long term work visa such as the L-1 (Intra Company Transfer visa) or an E (Investor visa) without a challenge or denial by U.S. Immigration.

 Our attorneys are members of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (“AILA”), and have 20 years of experience in U.S. Immigration matters. We serve clients all of the United States and at U.S. Consulates around the world.  We are based in the Washington D.C. area, Fairfax, Virginia and Rockville Maryland. We are standing by to answer questions on behalf of your business and your family. We serve clients through the United States and abroad.

Our offices are located in Washington D.C, Virginia and Maryland. You may email info@vasselllaw.com or visit www.vasselllaw.com. (Phone and Video Consultations Available upon Request).

ScottVassell & LeeCC Law Firm

Well Deserved! Department of State & Department of Homeland Security Continue to Simplify Family Life for Armed Force Service Members Abroad

On behalf of ScottVassell & LeeCC Law Firm posted in Immigration & Naturalization on Monday, May 16, 2016.

 

Our U.S. Armed Force, who serve abroad in active duty, have unique hardships surrounding their home and family life not faced by the general civil population. The good news is that the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”)-USCIS has been trending over the past few years towards simplifying and updating the Federal Regulation laws to eliminate unnecessary hardship for U.S. Military service members and their family.

The latest update now allows the Department of State (“DOS”) to adjudicate I-130 Immediate family petitions at the consulates abroad without a DHS presence. A show of hardship will no longer be required. Essentially, this means no more expensive and inconvenient plane flights back to the United States and delays in processing due to DHS and the National Visa Center (“NVC”) when Service Members are deployed abroad.

In order for Military Service Members to be eligible and qualify for “one step” processing abroad, the following criteria needs to be met:

-The family member’s case would need to be ‘clearly approvable’;

-The Immigrant Visa would need to be processed at designated U.S. Consulate;

– Only an Immediate Relative can benefit (i.e. child, spouse etc.)

-The Military Service Member would need to be deployed on a ‘qualified’ assignment.

If you are retired or active Army, Navy, Marine or Air Force you may contact our law office to schedule a 50% discounted consultation. Our attorneys are members of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (“AILA”) with 20 years of experience in U.S. Immigration matters. We are standing by to answer questions on behalf of you and your family. We serve clients throughout the United States and abroad.

Our offices are located in Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland. You may email info@vasselllaw.com or go to www.vasselllaw.com. And thank you for your service! (Phone and Video Consultations Available upon Request if you or family member is overseas.)