The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has recently published a delayed update of the poverty guidelines for the remainder of 2010.  The poverty guidelines are usually published every year in late January or early February. The reason for the delayed update of this year’s poverty guidelines was due to legislation enacted in late 2009 and [...]

The House of Representatives earlier this week passed the International Adoption Harmonization Act of 2010 (H.R. 5532).  The bill would amend the immigration law regarding the eligibility of foreign born adopted children to obtain permanent residence (green cards).   The bill if signed into law, will allow an adopted child to immigrate to the U.S. as long as the adoption is completed and the application for [...]

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services  (USCIS) reported today that as part of their overall transition to the use of lockbox facilities instead of service centers, that beginning February 25, 2010, Form I-485 (Application to Adjust Status) are to be submitted to the Dallas or Phoenix Lockbox Facilities depending on where the applicant resides. The I-485 is a form [...]

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reported recently that it is temporarily holding the processing of applications for permanent residence (green cards) in abeyance in due to the fact that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) removed herpes zoster (Zoster) and human papillomavirus (HPV) from the list of required vaccinations for immigration purposes.  The new rule is effective December 14, 2009. [...]

The Orlando Sentinel reported that starting December 14, 2009, immigrant females will no longer be required to have been vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV).  Therefore, HPV will no longer be on the list of immunizations female immigrants 11 to 26 years of age must receive before becoming permanent residents (green card holders). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) made the change last week Friday.  However, the [...]

The Miami Herald reported today that supporters of the DREAM Act are uniting to lobby the government to focus its attention on this legislation. For example, 25-year old Lizbeth Mateo, a native of Mexico and an undocumented immigrant who has lived in the U.S. for over ten years, earned a bachelor’s degree last year from California State University.  Now that [...]

The US Immigration & Customs Enforcement  (USICE) reported that a Los Angeles doctor was arrested earlier this week for signing the results of medical and lab tests that he claimed to have performed on foreign nationals applying for permanent residence (green cards). Foreign nationals applying for green cards must have a medical exam done to ensure that they do not have any medical conditions that would make them inadmissible to [...]

The U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services  (USCIS) has recently published a Public Charge Fact Sheet  to inform the general public what is meant by a public charge and the types of benefits that non-U.S. citizens can apply for without jeopardizing their lawful permanent resident (green card) status and/or their eligibility to pursue it. Both the immigration and welfare laws have created [...]

The US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has just announced that there is an eight week delay in the production of permanent resident cards (I-551 green cards) due to an upgrade in their card production equipment. Anyone who has had their applications for permanent residence (green card) approved that also needs to travel abroad before receiving [...]