Volume 17/ Issue 12: December 2022 | |
Wishing you a happy New Year! | |
Immigration Updates from BOILA | |
|
For further information, please visit our website
or give us a call in the office at 202-331-3074.
Beach-Oswald Immigration Law Associates, PC is a Washington, D.C. boutique firm devoted to immigration law. Practicing law since 1981, we have earned the highest possible rating for legal acumen and ethical standards. We represent all types of immigration cases: employment-based, VAWA and U-visas, citizenship, asylum, deportation and removal proceedings, and appellate work.
We work with clients nationwide. Referrals are welcome from clients, friends and colleagues. Our top-notch lawyers represent professionals, business owners, families, and asylum-seekers from all over the world. We provide the absolute best legal service possible to our clients and aid them in every step of their immigration journey. We prioritize not only assisting clients with their immigration cases educating them about the processes, laws, and requirements their case entails. All of our legal staff at Beach-Oswald have a genuine desire to help those in need. We ensure the highest quality of professionalism and legal expertise.
| |
Our Recently Granted Cases | |
|
On December 9, Ms. W was finally granted asylum after waiting for 15 years. In October 2007, she came to the United States as a visitor. Her case was denied by Judge Gossart in 2010 after he found her to not be credible. In 2011, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) sustained the denial of asylum when the case was appealed. In 2013, BOILA filed a Motion to Reopen the case due to Ms. W's son's continued political activism in Cameroon and the BIA granted a remand. Ms. W had been arrested in 1992 and in 2007 in Cameroon because of her activities with UFOC and CODE organizations, demonstrating for her democratic ideals. Attorney Danielle Beach was able to prove that Ms. W's son had been arrested twice in Cameroon because of his mother's past activism and his continued political activities to support his political beliefs. Her son testified virtually all the was from Iowa. This month, the court reviewed all the past arguments and BOILA's motion to reopen, and Ms. W and her son finally got the happy ending they have been waiting for.
| |
|
Ms. M arrived in the United States on October 31, 2016 from her home country of Cameroon. In Cameroon, she was involved in political organizing with the SCNC due to the marginalization of her anglophone community by the Cameroonian government. Ms. M and her family suffered great persecution, including the death of her fiancé, her brother, and her mother incurring severe beatings at the hands of the police due to her political beliefs. When Ms. M entered the United States, she continued her political activism advocating for anglophone rights in Cameroon. She decided to retain BOILA to assist her asylum application. Attorney Colin Abbott presented detailed evidence and a strong legal argument in support of Ms. M’s case. This resulted in an asylum grant within the first 30 minutes of the hearing – and the government waived any possibility of appealing this fortunate decision. Congratulations, Ms. M!
| |
BOILA has achieved success for U.S. citizen Mr. ZC and his wife Ms. EP of Myanmar. BOILA helped this couple through a lengthy process, in which the U.S. consulate asked USCIS to re-examine the visa application. USCIS re-approved the petition after BOILA responded to their request for more evidence, and in December, 2022, the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon issued the immigrant visa. Many thanks also to Steny Hoyer and his office, Mr. ZC’s U.S. Representative, for assisting to persuade the U.S. Embassy to act quickly. Attorney Killea was the driving force in this case, and through many challenges she finally achieved victory for the happy couple. (Not pictured) | |
Another success in the realm of consular processing: Attorney Killea assisted Ms. ER and her German husband Mr. PR to complete the consular processing in their spousal immigration case so the family could return to the U.S. from Germany. On December 19, they received Mr. PR’s passport with his new immigrant visa. They flew back to the United States on December 22 in time to celebrate the holidays! BOILA was able to get the documents filed correctly and quickly, so delay was minimized. | |
|
More good news...
The Arlington Asylum Office typically approves fewer than 200 expedites a year. This year, over 60 BOILA clients have had their cases expedited. Beach-Oswald goes the extra mile for our clients in filing these expedite requests.
| |
News Updates from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) | |
|
Temporary Protected Status for Yemen
On December 30, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be extended to Yemen for 18 months, from March 4, 2023, through Sept. 3, 2024. This means that Yemeni nationals who have lived in the United States as of December 29, 2022 will be eligible for TPS. This is because of “ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent Yemeni nationals from safely returning to their country”.
| |
|
Filed your N-400? Your Green Card is Extended.
On Dec. 12, 2022, USCIC updated their Policy Manual to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.
This update is expected to help naturalization applicants who are experiencing longer processing times, because their green card will automatically be valid past the initial expiration date. This means they will not have to file the Form I-90 to replace their green card if they have already filed the Form N-400 and thus applied to be a naturalized citizen.
| |
|
Final rule takes effect on
Green Card Application
| |
|
On December 23, the form I-485 “Application for Adjustment of Status”, also known as a green card application, was officially changed. This change includes a new section redefining “public charge” and several addition questions. The new version indicates that a green card applicant is only a public charge risk if they are “primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalization at government expense.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this change in September. The rule no longer punishes immigrants who choose to access government services, as it used to under the Trump Administration.
In November 2020, U.S. District Courts slowly began to roll back the old Public Charge Rule, starting with the Northern District of Illinois. Now, with federal government’s sanction, USCIS is returning to the 1999 policy which was in place before the Trump administration.
Many immigration policies are changed by Presidential memorandum. However, this final rule codifies the policy into the Federal Register. This means that it will not be easily changed by the whims of a future presidential administration.
| | | | |
