News

On Sunday, September 24, 2017, President Trump issued a presidential proclamation ("proclamation") whereby he sets forth specific travel restrictions for individuals from the following seven countries: Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. These restrictions start October 18, 2017. President Trump indicates that these restrictions arise out of a consideration of whether the government of these countries is cooperating with the U.S. and whether the information sharing and identity-management protocols of each country allow for effective screening and vetting protocols and procedures of the United States. The U.S. government has just completed a review of the practices of...

As of yesterday, the White House announced that it would be rescinding the DACA program. We are sure that you have come across a lot of information in the news and on the internet. Let us try to answer some of the more common questions raised. What were the previous guidelines for granting DACA? DACA was a program instituted by President Obama via Executive Order in June 2012. Individuals who met the following criteria were eligible for DACA, which essentially meant that, while the government had the legal basis for deporting individuals who had no valid permission to remain in...

As the summer season draws to a close, undoubtedly many of you may have taken family to various tourist attractions across the United States and undoubtedly you may have run across young people serving as theme park ride attendants, lifeguards, tour guides, and the like. Alternatively, you may have sent your children off to summer camp, where many young camp counselors lead them in both active and educational opportunities that kept them occupied for days on end. Many of these young people were here in the United States as cultural exchange students in the J-1 program. According to some sources...

USCIS Expands In-Person Interview Requirement for Certain Green Card Applications In seeking legal permanent residence, i.e., a green card, an individual who is in the United States usually submits a Form I-485, Application to Adjust or Register Status as a Permanent Resident. One can file a Form I-485 based on marriage, employment, accomplishment, and investment. Relatives of asylees/refugees who are in the United States may also file petitions (Form I-730) to join their asylee/refugee family members. To date, in-person interviews have been limited to marriage-based cases. For other types of cases, once the government has reviewed all of the necessary...

Vince Lau serves as discussion leader at AILA PERM/H-2B Practice Conference in Seattle today and speaks on practice tips and strategies to get the prevailing wage determination correct and timely in connection with an employment-based green card process.

Clark Lau LLC attorneys serve as editors of the latest edition of the Immigration Practice Manual published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education. This manual covers a wide range of immigration practice areas and provides the latest in legal theory and practical tips. Check out the latest edition: https://www.mcle.org/product/catalog/code/2050236B00