Immigration
The United States Supreme Court will hear President Obama’s Executive Action Case on Immigration
In November 2014, President Obama announced executive actions on immigration, which were quickly blocked by a lawsuit that was filed by the state of Texas along with 25 other states (including Tennessee). These executive actions intended to allow millions of undocumented immigrants to become eligible to apply for work authorization programs. There are about 4.3…
Read MoreDepartment of Homeland Security Proposes Amendments to Regulations that Help Employment-Based Immigrants and U.S. Employers
On December 31, 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a request for public comments on a proposed rule change to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations related to some of its employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant visa programs. The intention is to better enable employers in the United States to hire and retain…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Impact Do Immigrants Have on Our Country?
A new report released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine reveals how immigrants are having a positive impact on American Society. The Integration of Immigrants Into American Society takes data compiled over 20 years to study how immigrants and their descendants have found ways to adapt to U.S. culture in areas such…
Read MoreUSCIS and DOS Announce Changes to the Permanent Resident Application Process
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will be working with the Department of State (DOS) to revise the procedures for determining when you may file an application for adjustment of status, which is the implementation of one aspect of President Obama’s November 2014 executive action on immigration. The revised process…
Read MoreWhy “Illegals” Needs to Go
The New York Times Magazine recently ran an article on the subject of language in regards to immigration and immigrants. The point they were exploring, that the ugly term “illegals” is now back in everyday use, may not seem like a terribly important one, given the state of our immigration policies. But as an immigration…
Read MoreYou Have Married a U.S. Citizen: What Are Your Next Steps Toward Permanent Resident Status?
Congratulations on your new marriage! There are few events more beautiful than a summer wedding here in Tennessee. Now that you and your partner have become one, however, you have a few important steps to take to ensure that you and your new spouse can live happily ever after. After you marry a U.S.…
Read MoreCertain Spouses of H-1B Visa Holders in H-4 Status May Apply Now for Employment Authorization
In February, the USCIS under the Department of Homeland Security announced that certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B non-immigrants can now apply for employment authorization as long as the holder of the H-1B nonimmigrant has begun the process of seeking employment-based, legal permanent resident status. Spouses of H-1B visa holders in the following categories may…
Read MoreWhat You Should Know About Your Immigration Status and Taxes
If you are living in the U.S. and you earn income over a certain amount, you are required to file state and federal income tax returns that detail the income you earned that year and pay any taxes that are due. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the federal agency in charge of collecting federal…
Read MoreWhy the “Deportation Bill” Does Not Reflect America’s Feelings
Legislation made its way through the House of Representatives that seeks to undo President Obama’s immigration policies. The Senate is unlikely to pass the legislation – and the President has already said he would veto it if it crossed his desk – but the implications from the Republican Party seem clear: do not allow undocumented…
Read More