Joyce & Associates, P.C.

03/04/2010 - Adjustment of Status granted before Immigration Judge - Attorney Megan Kludt`

sgalaitsis — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:00:50 +0000

Marriage-based permanent resident case was challenging due to complications from a prior petition that was client’s basis for 245(i) eligibility (meaning he was grandfathered). But despite the adverse case history, adjustment was granted before the Immigration court.

Obama eyes new push on immigration reform

sgalaitsis — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:53:36 +0000

WASHINGTON, March 5 (UPI) — President Barack Obama has met with two senators in an attempt to revive an overhaul of U.S. immigration laws

, people familiar with the discussions said.

During the meeting earlier this week, Obama and his Domestic Policy Council outlined ways to advance the effort with Sens. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y, and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who have worked jointly for months to craft a bill, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

A person knowledgeable about the meeting said the White House may ask Schumer and Graham to try to develop a blueprint that could become a bill.

Provisions would include a path toward U.S. citizenship for the approximately 10.8 million people living in the country illegally, the White House said. The path would require undocumented workers to register, pay taxes and pay a penalty for violating the law. Failure to comply could lead to deportation.

The lingering debate on healthcare has lead to some wariness on the part of Democrats about tackling another polarizing issue, the Times said.

“Right now we have a little problem with the ‘Chicken Little’ mentality: The sky is falling and consequently we can’t do anything,” Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, D-Ariz., told the newspaper.

Republicans also said they weren’t inclined to cooperate, particularly since Obama signaled this week he would push ahead with passage of a healthcare

bill with or without GOP support, the newspaper said..

“The things you hear from the administration won’t be well received,” Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said.

02/26/2010 - Adjustment of Status approved - William P. Joyce

sgalaitsis — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:20:23 +0000

Adjustment cases are so common that they usually don’t warrant a listing on our victories page, however this case is roughly seven years old. It has been to the Immigration Court twice, and had two separate cases filed with the BIA. However, today, after so many years, adjustment of status was granted at the USCIS interview.

02/24/2010 - Motion to Reopen based on ineffective assistance of counsel - Attorneys Christina Baker and Michele Kane

sgalaitsis — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:38:06 +0000

Client’s motion to reopen was denied three times before our firm became involved in the case. The client was subsequently detained. We began working on the case and filed a motion to reopen with the 6th circuit which was granted, and she was released. Then we pursued the 6th circuit appeal, which was ultimately denied and which directed us to raise further arguments with the BIA. We filed a second MTR with the BIA raising ineffective assistance claims. The BIA reopened the case and remanded to IJ to allow her to pursue asylum.

02/24/2010 - Stay of Removal Granted - Attorney Julie A. Endy

sgalaitsis — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:35:17 +0000

I-246 Application for Stay of Deportation to ICE was granted for a period of one year and also client was given supervised release despite a final order. Application was based on medical and financial hardship to his USC family caused by his detention.

The Startup Visa: Create Jobs, Get A Green Card [Proposal]

sgalaitsis — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:31:04 +0000

Erick Schonfeld

TechCrunch.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2010; 12:24 PM

A bill introduced today in the Senate by Democrat John Kerry and Republican Richard Lugar proposes a new type of visa for immigrants who create startups and jobs in the U.S. A similar proposal is part of an immigration reform bill in the House. The Startup Visa has been controversial and will no doubt draw fire from anti-immigrant forces and xenophobes. But if we are going to be giving away visas, giving them to people who will help build the U.S. economy and create jobs is hard to argue against.The Startup Visa Act of 2010 would create a two year visa for immigrant entrepreneurs who are able to raise a minimum of $250,000, with $100,000 coming from a qualified U.S. angel or venture investor. After two years, if the immigrant entrepreneur is able to create five or more jobs (not including their children or spouse), attract an additional $1 million in investment, or produce $1 million in revenues, he or she will become a legal resident.The bill would carve out a new “EB-6¿ class of visas from the existing “EB-5¿ class of visas which has a higher threshold for becoming a legal resident. So it’s not really that radical. The EB-5 requires immigrants to invest at least $1 million in the U.S. and employ ten people.The Startup Visa sends the right message to prospective immigrants: create jobs, get a green card. A group of 160 venture capitalists and angel investors support the bill, including Paul Graham, Brad Feld, Fred Wilson, Dave McClure, Ron Conway, Mike Maples, Reid Hoffman, Chris Sacca, Jeff Clavier, Bijan Sabet, Josh Kopelman, and Chris Dixon. If you agree that the Startup Visa is a good idea, you can find ways to support it here and here.

02/23/2010 - I-601 and I-485 granted - Attorney Kara Krowlikowski and Attorney Michele Kane

sgalaitsis — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:51:11 +0000

There were several problems raised at the interview, such that we expected to have to respond to a Request for Evidence, but the waiver for unlawful entry was granted despite the problems.

02/22/2010 - Judge grants adjustment of status - Attorney Edward G. Farwell

sgalaitsis — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:01:28 +0000

The case was complicated by past history of applications, but after a remand from the Board of Immigration Appeals, the client’s application for permanent residence was approved before the Immigration Court.

02/22/2010 - Motion to Terminate Granted by BIA - Attorney Christina Baker

sgalaitsis — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:59:04 +0000

The client is Haitian and needed the motion to be granted in order to deal with some issues stemming from the January earthquake. We submitted a Emergency Motion to Expedite the decision, and we recieved an answer six days after it was filed with the BIA.

02/22/2010 - Green card granted in Immigration Court despite criminal issues - Attorney Edward Farwell

sgalaitsis — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:56:50 +0000

The client’s criminal issues complicated his application to adjust status in the United States, however the Immigration Judge ultimately decided to grant him his green card.