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IS THERE A RISE IN IMMIGRATION FRAUD IN THE U.S? HERE’S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.

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Some immigration law firms in the United States have been facing a similar occurrence where scammers are using different points of contact like emails, websites, and calls.
In a certain case, a client had received a phone call from a person claiming to be an immigration officer. The caller ID showed that she was a representative of a government agency and her assertions were firm and convincing enough to fool any certified and experienced professional.
The client was threatened with an issuance of a warrant. Additionally, the client was threatened to stay on the call claiming the call was “being recorded” and therefore not hung up. If the call was to end, the police would be unable to assist. If money was paid instantly via online gift cards, the issue could be solved.
Upon revealing the incident on social media, several other scam alerts resembling the said case came up and it has been understood that the scammers are going around using three major plots to establish their genuineness and petrifying the client.
As an immigration law firm in Queens with 50+ years of combined experience
They are :

● That the client is in grave trouble with local, state, or federal law
● The solution to the problem is the payment of money but not in form of checks
● Not to terminate the call.

Here are some of the points one must remember to check in official emails from the USCIS about visa processing.

● Emails from the government mandatorily end in the domain“.gov;”
● Under no circumstance, the USCIS will send an email specifying an individual and indicating approval for any kind of visa or any other type of immigration benefit; and
● Under no circumstance will the USCIS ask for a money transfer from an individual through any means of contact ( Payments by Phone or Email).
● No government organization will ever threaten any individual over the phone, especially for financial gain.
● No government organization mandates that you keep your employees connected.
● The use of unconventional payment methods such as gift cards, Western Union, Moneygram, etc. is not required by any government agency.
● Caller IDs, emails, and webpages may all be easily made to look authentic.
● Callers like this should be ignored, and you should file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. https://reportfraud.ftc.gov. Our social role is to raise awareness, and knowledge is our best weapon.
● Many educational institutions provide specific cautions on their web pages for international students. If you are a student, you should also report any similar instances to the administrators at your school.

The US State Department has issued a warning statement :
” The Department of State, Office of Visa Services, advises the public of a notable increase in fraudulent emails and letters sent to Diversity Visa (DV) program (Visa Lottery) applicants. The scammers behind these fraudulent emails and letters are posing as the U.S. government in an attempt to extract payment from DV applicants. All applicants should be familiar with information about DV scams provided by the Federal Trade Commission. Applicants are encouraged to review the rules and procedures for the DV program so that they know what to expect when to expect it, and from whom. ”

The government websites which are important to follow in order to stay aware are :

● US State Department: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fraud.html
● Federal Trade Commission:
– https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/scams-against-immigrants
– https://consumer.gov/scams-identity-theft/scams-against-immigrants
● US Citizenship and Immigration Services: https://www.uscis.gov/scams-fraud-and-misconduct/avoid-scams/common-scams

For more information, contact some of the remarkable Immigration attorneys of New York at Gehi and Associates who will thoroughly guide you through the procedures.

regulation issued by DHS to protect daca how

Regulation issued by DHS to protect DACA. How?

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In a recent announcement by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas , a final rule to fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) , a policy for specific non-eligible individuals who arrived in the United States as children, deferring their removal and allowing them an opportunity to access a renewable, two-year work permit, has been issued.

Since 2012, nearly 800,000 young people have found a home in the United States with their families, and they have grown up to serve the country’s society in a variety of noble ways.

 

“Today, we are taking another step to do everything in our power to preserve and fortify DACA, an extraordinary programme that has transformed the lives of so many Dreamers,” said Alejandro N. Mayorkas.”Thanks to DACA, we have been enriched by young people who contribute so much to our communities and our country. “However, we need Congress to pass legislation that provides a long-term solution for the young dreamers who have known no other country as their home than the United States.”

 

As based on the perennial USCIS practise and as declared in the 2012 Napolitano Memorandum ,the rule illustrates that there should be consistent judgement from the Department and to be maintained by the same three presidential administrations, and it zeroes in on the fact that DACA recipients should not be prioritised for removal.

The final rule after certain developments and replacements in the DACA policy guidance is:

 

Upholding the existing threshold criteria for DACA
Retaining the procedure for DACA requesters to seek work authorization
affirms the long-standing, prevailing policy of DACA not being a form of lawful status but that DACA recipients are to be considered “lawfully present” for certain purposes like other deferred action recipients.

 

The final rule is to be effective from October 31, 2022.

powerful legal documentary films every budding lawyer should watch

POWERFUL LEGAL DOCUMENTARY FILMS EVERY BUDDING LAWYER SHOULD WATCH

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It is an undeniable fact that aspiring lawyers should establish and strengthen their legal foundation through law books, case laws, and organizational experience. But, sometimes there are legal stories that go unnoticed or forgotten amidst all the long case laws and daily cases to be worked on, which, in our opinion, should be known to the upcoming lawyers too. It can help to refresh their knowledge and perception, and it may even give rise to newer ideas that can help them find new paths.

Here is a list of some of the best legal documentaries discussing alarming legal issues. Let us know in the comment section if you have any other suggestions as well.

 

Making a Murderer

Based on the real-life story of Steven Avery, rape and murder convict who had served a 32-year sentence before being exonerated on account of DNA evidence, this documentary is enthralling and highlights the effects of wrongful conviction and evidence tampering. In short, this documentary is one that can hit you right where it should with its portrayals and storytelling.

 

Cleanflix

This documentary is for those inclined towards copyright laws. Based on the story of a movie-editing company, it deals with the rift of morality that has occurred within the company and between Cleanflix and Hollywood filmmakers for 6 years.

 

Capturing the Friedmans

A normal family was pushed into the darkness of molestation charges followed by an exacting legal battle. Sounds engaging? Capturing the Friedmans tells the story of Arnold Friedman, who had faced charges of child molestation, sodomy, and sexual abuse, how his trial ensued, and ultimately how he breathed his last in prison. The winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, it was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and this movie screams volumes about the importance of speculating allegations and subtly throws light on how far the American legal system has come from the 1980s to now.

 

Hot Coffee, aka The Famous McDonald’s Lawsuit

Do you remember the infamous case of Liebeck v. McDonald’s? Well, this documentary definitely paints a striking picture of the lawsuit. This documentary is based on the 78-year-old Stella Liebeck, who won a $2.7 million verdict from a globally recognized fast food chain after it had sold her scorching hot coffee, resulting in second and third-degree burns on her body. Having been recognized with stellar reviews in the Washington Post and New York Times, it is not to say that Hot Coffee is not without its fair share of criticism. Nevertheless, it is an interesting watch (special mention: Susan Saladoff, the director, is a trial lawyer herself) for everyone wishing to understand the nuances of tort reform and how there are different shades of grey.

 

Indivisible

Delving into the other, darker side of illegal immigration, Indivisible talks about families parting due to anti-immigration laws, more specifically about the Dreamers, and showcases the complexities of immigration from both the legal and humanitarian perspectives.

These are just a portion of the long list of the best legal documentaries out there which should be watched by everyone associated with the legal profession in the United States. They are certainly made with the intention of providing entertainment but with hidden messages and, in some cases, the truth of the incident concerned.

On a factual note, films and documentaries can surely give you ideas from a recreational perspective, but for genuine legal information and queries, it is best to contact attorneys and law practitioners.

At the law offices of Gehi and Associates, our attorneys are equipped to deal with legal issues with substantial experience, thereby having the ability to provide you with high-quality legal services as per your requirements.

For more information, you can directly call our law office or send an email to the addresses given below.

For more details visit our website
💻www.gehilaw.com
📧email us at info@gehilaw.com

For FREE CONSULTATION
☎ Call us at +1 718-263-599
📱WhatsApp us at +1 917-781-0791

immigration attorney in queens

Republican and Democrats sponsor the Afghan Adjustment Act

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From a humane perspective, dealing with uncertainty in terms of legal residency and future is believably the most traumatizing thing to happen. And that is precisely what the Afghan refugees on humanitarian parole had been subjected to for almost a year after
the Talibans wreaked havoc in Afghanistan.

But on Tuesday, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has introduced the Afghan Adjustment Act which opens a door for the newly arrived Afghans with temporary status in the U.S. It allows them to undergo additional vetting to apply for legal residency, and end a period of the tormenting uncertainty concerning their citizenship status.

It is expected that it will enhance the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) procedure, broadening the SIV eligibility by including groups that worked with the American forces such as the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command and the Female Tactical Teams of Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command, the Afghan Air Force, and the Special Mission Wing of Afghanistan. With an establishment of a task force to implement a plan to support the Afghans residing outside the States but has the eligibility for the SIV status and requires the State Department to respond to congressional inquiries about SIV applications. The task force will be led by the US Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defence, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the director of national intelligence, and the FBI as reported by the Hill State.

What particularly raises hope in this regard is that three minority Republicans, including Senator Lindsey Graham, have joined hands with three majority Democrats in introducing an identical version of the Afghanistan Adjustment Act in the thinly divided Senate, therefore, elevating its chances of passage in Congress and garnering 60 votes in the Senate.

Murkowski said “This month, we mark the one-year anniversary of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the end of America’s longest war at nearly 20 years. During the withdrawal, and the weeks that followed, I worked diligently with my staff, and alongside our military and our federal agency partners, to urgently evacuate American citizens, vulnerable Afghans, and our Afghan allies; brave individuals who risked their lives supporting our troops and mission in Afghanistan. More than 76,000 Afghan evacuees were brought to the United States, and many of them were given humanitarian parole – a temporary immigration status typically granted for one to two-year periods. Alaska has welcomed over 100 Afghan evacuees who are now settling in as valuable members of our communities across the state,”.

“I never supported indefinite American troops’ presence in Afghanistan, but I shared the concerns about the lasting negative impact that complete withdrawal would have. Those concerns have become reality as the Taliban wreaks havoc on Afghanistan, condemning millions to live under oppression, and sentencing our allies who were unable to evacuate to death. It is unlikely that Afghans brought to the United States on temporary status will be able to return to their homes in the near, mid, or even long-term future. At the same time, there are allies and vulnerable Afghans who are desperately trying to leave their crumbling nation, and who live under great risk. The United States must ensure that we keep our promises to our Afghan allies, and provide certainty for those who fled to the United States and have no place to return. I am proud to join my Senate colleagues in legislation to give innocent Afghans hope for a safer, brighter future.”

Immigration Attorney Bronx

USCIS Extends COVID-19-related Flexibilities.

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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is extending some flexibilities regarding COVID-19 through October 23, 2022, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors. Under these flexibilities, the USCIS takes consideration of a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date ascribed in the following requests or notices before taking any action, if the request or notice was issued between March 1, 2020, and Oct. 23, 2022, inclusive:

Requests for Evidence;
– Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
– Notices of Intent to Deny;
– Notices of Intent to Revoke;
– Notices of Intent to Rescind;
– Notices of Intent to Terminate regional centers;
– Notices of Intent to Withdraw – Temporary Protected Status; and
Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant.

Additionally, the USCIS will consider a Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, or a Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA), if:

The form was filed up to 90 calendar days from the issuance of a decision; USCIS laid down that decision between Nov. 1, 2021, and October 23, 2022, inclusive.
In an effort to take the lessons learned from the pandemic posture, USCIS has been evaluating which flexibilities can and should be extended permanently. As a result of this evaluation, the reproduced signature flexibility announced in March 2020, will become permanent policy on July 25, 2022.

 

For more details refer USCIS website.

Immigration Attorney Long Island

The U.S. had announced an extension of 1.5 years for certain expiring work permits. What will it mean for the immigrants?

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The government administration of the United States of America had established an extension of the expiration validity of the work permits. 

It had been decided that many of the Immigrants would have the allowance to use their expired work visas for the next 18 months i.e. a year and a half and the announcement was made on May 3rd, 2022, and had been put to effect from May 4th, 2022. 

 

The precise rules of the USCIS are that :

  • Immigrants with a 180-day extension and a work permit that is expired will gain an extension period for the authorization of Employment and the validity of their Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
  • Non-citizens still under the prior extension period of 180 days will be provided an extra sum of 360 days totaling up to 540 extended days will gain an extension for EAD validity.
  • Applicants with a valid EAD who applied for a renewal of the EAD will receive a 540-day extension period in case the renewal fails to process before the expiration of EAD.

 

For the immigrants, this is a boon, especially for the working Indian Immigrants looking for refuge in the country without any legal hindrance in their period of inhabitance and employment. Along with running their households and supporting their families sans any chances of instability. 

It will acknowledge the unprecedented immigrant applications submitted to the Legal Immigration agency of the country which will result in a lower shortage of labor and more work opportunities for the people. 

Therefore this visa program is most beneficial and alluring to the Indian and Chinese populations wishing to make their way in the United States. 

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Films to watch to learn about American Immigration

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The United States of America has historically harbored a rich history of Immigration since the old days. Inevitably, therefore, it has had various phases in the history of Immigration with spectacular stories in it or inspired by it. 

 

We agree that Gehi and Associates is a law firm specializing in Immigration and we share impeccably informative articles for you on a regular basis but even we lawyers believe we can make learning interesting for each of us once in a while! 

So here is a short list of some of the best, old films based on Immigration to paint a big screen representation of the extensive history of this nation and how Immigration has evolved over the years. 

 

  • I Remember Mama (1948) 

Based on a story close to an American’s heart, this movie is based on the tale of a family of immigrants, with dreams of a land of milk and honey instead, find a lean existence in their new country in the turn of a new century.  

 

  • Avalon (1990)

From a global perspective, this film was inspired by the director’s own background as the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants. Therefore there is a subtle picture of the culture clash between elders and the second generation; a whiff of the Holocaust, American Holiday celebrations and family unions. Sounds like quite a treat, we believe. 

 

  • Moscow On The Hudson (1984) 

Life is nothing but unforgiving in this stellar. Set in rural America, this immigrant story delineates a brutal picture of the hard lives of the people away from the big cities dealing with Immigration and migration. 

 

  • The Godfather Part II (1974)

A classic now that is, isn’t it? 

” I believe in America “, well this film in our opinion does not solely talk about the trail of establishing the business in the heart of this bustling country but how it was not money that had built his belief in this country but the very search for a home and the promise of nothing but one chance to its immigrants. 

 

  • An American Tail (1986)

” A young Russian mouse gets separated from his family during their migration trip to America. Being completely new to the country he lands in, will he be able to trace his family? “

And you thought we lawyers will exclusively stick to movies that trace the journey of Immigration of only humans? Animated movies are often not regarded with enough seriousness as much as it deserves to be. And we believe that it is the essence and not just the elements of the tales that matter to portray the message of a film. So this one is a must-watch for a better understanding but with its sweet share of innocence and entertainment. 

 

If you like this list, let us know and we will update more such lists to make learning more fun and Immigration more known to you all! 

 

Immigration Lawyer NYC

New development to improve the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Programme

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The Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security of the U.S. have announced a development in the SIV Program aimed to streamline the application process for Afghan applicants.

From this week onwards, the new applicants can
– File only one form, a revised form DS-157, as their petition instead of filing the Form I-360, Petition for Special Immigrant Status, with DHS’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

In order to make the program more efficient, it is expected that this change will eradicate the hindrances for applicants and reduce the time required for the application processing. This change does not diminish any of the robust security vetting processes required before the benefit is processed and granted.

We believe it is one of the many steps the U.S. administration has taken to ameliorate the SIV process while protecting national security. Since the beginning of the processing, resources have thoroughly surged for this noteworthy program and every stage has been statutorily reviewed to process it swiftly wherever and however possible.

Immigration Lawyer Queens

Time Frame Extended for Uniting for Ukraine Parolees to Comply with Medical Screening and Attestation After Arrival to the United States

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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the time and the beneficiaries are paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine and it is necessary to attest to their compliance with the medical screening for tuberculosis and additional vaccinations, only in cases of requirement. The beneficiaries paroled into the United States under Uniting for Ukraine must complete their medical attestation within 90 days of arrival in the United States thereby it will be put into effect immediately.

Under Uniting for Ukraine, it was required for the beneficiaries previously paroled into the United States to complete the medical screening and attestation within 14 days of arrival to the country and it is mandatory to complete in the beneficiary’s USCIS online account. It is the beneficiaries who are responsible for arranging their vaccinations and medical screening for tuberculosis, including an Interferon-Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test.

It is of utmost importance for the Beneficiaries who test positive for tuberculosis to take the appropriate measures along with additional screening, such as a chest radiograph, isolation, and treatment.

And it is necessary for the beneficiaries to complete the tuberculosis screening attestation for their minor children within 90 days of arrival to the States, even though the child is below the age of 2 years old and qualifies for an exception to the tuberculosis test screening.

Uniting for Ukraine was announced on April 21, 2022, to provide a pathway for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members who are situated outside the United States to come to the United States and stay temporarily for a two-year period of parole. Individuals participating in Uniting for Ukraine must mandatorily have a supporter in the United States who agrees to provide them with financial support for the duration of their stay in the United States.

For more information, one can check the USCIS and DHS Uniting for Ukraine web pages.

 

 

USCIS Restores Pathway to a Green Card for TPS Holders

USCIS Restores Pathway to a Green Card for TPS Holders

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On July 1, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a new policy memorandum that has eradicated hindrances for several Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients and restored a pathway

– For obtaining a green card
– Provides beneficiaries with a process for traveling outside of the country and returning in TPS status, if still eligible.

The new memo has abrogated the Matter of Z-R-Z-C- a policy of August 2020 adopting the decision which had targeted the recipients with Temporary Protected Status who had entered the country through the border sans inspection.

These changes will apply post-grant to TPS recipients who had traveled with advance parole between the time frame of August 20, 2020, and July 1, 2022, if their cases are applicable within the jurisdiction of the federal court of appeals for the Fifth Circuit. For the recipients having cases in other parts of the state, USCIS will make a case-by-case determination. For instance, the agency will consider factors of reliance on USCIS by the recipient before their interpretation, if they are to be harmed or aided if their previous entry is now to be considered as admission.

In conclusion, providing the TPS recipients with a pathway for a green card can reassure them after residing in the United States in a precarious and unpredictable state of being for years with the fear of danger in their home countries.

 

Reference: https://immigrationimpact.com/2022/07/11/uscis-restores-green-card-tps-holders/