The MacKenzie Law Firm where we practice exclusively in the area of U.S. Immigration law

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Deportation Protection

Please be advised that in light of the uncertain policies being implemented by the Trump administration, we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE that ALL non-citizens “without status” carry with them at ALL times, proof of at least two (2) years of continuous physical presence in the United States. Such proof is required to avoid expedited removal by I.C.E. (This means that the non-citizen does not have the right to appear before an immigration judge). Examples of proof include pay stubs, birth certificates for children, etc.
We strongly suggest that before you make travel plans outside of the US to contact our office to verify current policies.

Heather

Deferred Action Recipients

The estimated processing time for Deferred Action applications (New DACA / DACA Renewal / DACA travel document) ranges from a minimum of two (2) to six (6) months. In order to decrease chances of having your legal status lapse, schedule an appointment with our office and file your renewal application five months prior to expiration.

Friendly Reminder
Our office closes for lunch from 12:00pm until 1:00pm. We cannot accept calls at that time.

When contacting our office, the only acceptable means of contact is by office phone and office email. Attempting to reach assistants through their personal social media accounts is unacceptable.

Employment Based Immigration

Employers will need to file a new form “Supplement J to I-485” with USCIS to confirm the existence of a job offer which would allow green card portability. The form is intended to “ensure uniformity in the collection of information and submission of initial evidence.”
For higher education institutions, the definition of “affiliation” has been expanded to eliminate the shared ownership and control requirement for affiliated cap-exempt non-profits.
On April 1, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year (FY) 2018 cap. U.S. businesses use the H-1B program to employ foreign workers in occupations that require highly specialized knowledge in fields such as science, engineering, and computer programming.

Form Updates
After Feb. 21, 2017, USCIS will no longer accept previous editions of their forms. See their complete list of the new fees at uscis.gov/forms/our-fees and make sure you are including the correct amount. You must include the new fee or USCIS will reject and return your filing.

"GIVE US YOUR PASSWORDS"
If border agents demand access to your phone and online accounts, contact your local ACLU affiliate which can be found at http://aclu.org/affiliates.

Update on Travel Ban Executive Order
The Travel Ban Executive Order from January 27 remains on hold after the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit rejected the administration’s request to stay a temporary restraining order issued by US Judge James Robart on February 3. Issuance of non-immigrant and immigrant visas and the admission of foreign nationals at ports of entry should be “business as usual,” yet we strongly recommend that you avoid traveling outside of the country until this is resolved.
Remain vigilant as reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and removal activity have increased significantly in the last few weeks. Carry your documents with you at all times to ensure your continued residency here in the US.

Piedmont Opera presents
Rossini's "The Italian Girl in Algiers
Abducted by pirates, looking – in vain, it seems – for her lover, soon to be forced to become part of a harem, Isabella certainly is someone who has the right to sing the blues, or at least the nineteenth-century Italian equivalent. And so she does – briefly – which is all the time that a Rossini heroine has at her pity party. As a strong women of opera, she reminds us that no man, however powerful, could possiblyout-wit an intelligent woman. Click to purchase your tickets now.

March 17th (8:00 PM), 19th (2:00 PM) and 21st (7:30 PM)

March 2017 Visa Bulletin

The visa bulletin for March 2017 is now issued. Please access it at:
https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/law-and-policy/bulletin/2017/visa-bulletin-for-march-2017.html