New Public Charge Rules for 2026
New Public Charge Rules for 2026: What Couples Need to Know Before Their Visa Interview Public charge requirements are changing, and couples applying for marriage-based green cards and fiancé visas need to understand what this means for their immigration journey. On September 18, 2026, changes to USCIS public charge requirements took effect, giving immigration officers…
Pending Asylum and Married to a U.S. Citizen? Don’t Delay Exploring Your Green Card Options
Do you have a pending asylum application and a U.S. citizen spouse? If you’ve been putting off applying for your marriage-based green card because you already have a pending asylum case, now is a good time to reconsider waiting. Many people wait years for decisions on their asylum applications. During that time, they may get married…
Immigration Vaccines: What’s Required, Missing Records, and Waiver Options
If you’re preparing for your marriage-based green card or fiancé visa, you may have questions about the vaccination requirements for your immigration medical examination. Which vaccines do you need? What happens if you cannot find your vaccination records? Can you request a waiver if you cannot receive certain vaccines? I’ve created a three-part video series to…
Bob and Madinah’s Love Story 💕
It started with one dance in Copenhagen. After five more trips, a tour of Scandinavia, and a visit to meet Madinah’s family in Uganda, Bob and Madinah knew they wanted to build a life together in the U.S. Watch their story to hear how our team prepared them for every interview along the way and…
Immigration Policy and Elections: Why Civic Participation Matters
Every day, I speak with families who are frustrated with the U.S. immigration system. Couples are waiting months, often years, to move forward with their lives together. Families are navigating changes to public charge requirements, visa restrictions, interview cancellations and pauses, and immigration policies that can shift quickly. After more than a decade practicing immigration…
Immigrant Visa Interview Canceled? Here’s What We Know About Rescheduling
Updated September 2026 Were you one of the thousands of people whose immigrant visa interview was suddenly canceled in August or September? You are not alone. Families around the world have been affected by canceled and postponed immigrant visa interviews, and unfortunately, there is still a lot we don’t know about when all of these…
USCIS Can Now Check Your Credit: What Couples Should Know
Can bad credit affect your spouse’s green card application? USCIS recently updated Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support, to include authorization to request information from consumer reporting agencies. This means USCIS can now request credit information about the person signing the form. Naturally, this raises an important question for couples: What happens if you have…
Domestic Air Travel and Immigration: What You Should Know Before You Fly
Recent reports of increased immigration enforcement and ICE detentions at U.S. airports have understandably raised concerns among immigrants who are planning to travel within the United States. Domestic travel has always required additional consideration for people who are undocumented, have fallen out of lawful immigration status, have prior removal orders, or have other immigration complications.…
K-1 and Spouse Visa Interviews Are Being Canceled: What We Know
K-1 fiancé visa and spouse visa applicants worldwide are receiving notices that their upcoming interviews have been canceled, sometimes with very little warning. We have had clients receive cancellation notices the day before their scheduled interview. For couples who have already waited months, or even years, to reach the interview stage, these last-minute cancellations are incredibly…
USCIS Case Taking Too Long? How a Mandamus Lawsuit Can Help
Recently, I represented a client whose Adjustment of Status application had been pending with USCIS for nearly 18 months without a decision. After waiting for USCIS to act, we filed a federal mandamus lawsuit. Approximately 60 days after filing the lawsuit, USCIS approved the client’s green card application. While every case is different and no…
When Cheap Immigration Help Becomes an Expensive Mistake
There is nothing wrong with trying to save money during the immigration process. Immigration is already expensive, and it is understandable that people look for affordable help preparing their applications. But over the course of my career as an immigration attorney, I have seen what can happen when someone chooses immigration help based primarily on…
Public Charge Changes Begin September 18, 2026: What Family-Based Green Card Applicants Need to Know
Beginning September 18, 2026, an important change will affect many people applying for family-based green cards. If you are planning to apply for a marriage-based green card, Adjustment of Status, or are in the United States on a K-1 fiancé(e) visa, you may have heard about changes to the “public charge” rule. While the public charge requirement itself is not…
Federal Judge Rules 75-Country Immigrant Visa Pause Unlawful: What This Means for Families
Last Updated: August 7, 2026 There has been an important—and encouraging—development for families affected by the 75-country immigrant visa pause. A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s 75-country immigrant visa policy is unlawful. The ruling does not end the pause for everyone. But it is an important legal victory and could have implications for other…
How Long Does an I-130 Petition Take?
Waiting for an I-130 petition can be one of the most frustrating parts of the spouse visa process. You filed the petition, received the receipt notice, and now there may be very little to do except wait. As the months pass without a decision, it is natural to wonder whether something is wrong. Couples frequently…
Can You Expedite an I-130 Petition?
Waiting for an I-130 petition to be approved can be one of the most difficult parts of the spouse visa process. Long processing times can keep couples separated and make it difficult to plan their future together. The waiting can become even more stressful when one spouse is dealing with a serious health problem, family…
Notice of Intent to Revoke After a Spouse Visa or Fiancé Visa Interview
Receiving news that a visa case has been returned to USCIS after an embassy interview can be alarming. Many couples believe that once an I-130 petition for a spouse visa or an I-129F petition for a fiancé visa has been approved, the hardest part of the process is behind them. Unfortunately, that is not always…
When a Mandamus Action May Help Move Your Case Forward
Immigration processing times have grown significantly longer recently. Many couples, families, and individuals find themselves waiting months, or even years, for decisions on applications they submitted long ago. Some applicants attend their green card interview or naturalization interview and expect a decision shortly afterward, only to hear nothing for months. Others watch newer cases move…
What Changed Under the May 2026 Policy?
The May 21, 2026 adjustment of status policy change has created fear, confusion, and many important questions for immigrants and families across the United States. Adjustment of status is the process that allows certain people already inside the United States to apply for a green card without leaving the country. This process is often used…
Fiancé Visa vs Spouse Visa
For many international couples, one of the hardest parts of the immigration journey is deciding how to begin. A couple may be deeply in love and ready to build a future together, but choosing between a fiancé visa and a spouse visa can feel confusing and emotional. Some couples want the fastest path to reunite.…
What Can You Do If Your Visa Was Paused After Your Interview?
During a recent live immigration attorney chat, a question came in that reflects what many couples are going through right now. A visa had already reached the interview stage, everything was completed, and then the case was suddenly paused with no answers. This is more than frustrating. It impacts families in a very real way.…
Are Green Cards Harder in 2026?
Many couples are asking whether the marriage green card process has become more difficult in 2026. The short answer is yes. Recent policy changes and shifts in how immigration officers review cases have made the process more strict. Applications are being examined more closely, interviews are more detailed, and the risks of mistakes are higher.…
Is It Safe to Travel While Waiting for a Marriage Green Card?
Immigration officers at airports. Suddenly, something simple feels uncertain. For couples going through the marriage green card process, even domestic travel can raise important questions. Is it safe to travel right now? Could something go wrong? Understanding the risks and knowing your rights can bring clarity during an already emotional journey. When Domestic…
I-864 Affidavit of Support Mistakes to Avoid
The I-864 affidavit of support is one of the most important parts of a marriage green card process. It can seem straightforward at first, but small misunderstandings can lead to long delays. Many couples face setbacks simply because they were not aware of how detailed this form truly is. Understanding the most common mistakes can…
Spouse Visa Processing Time in 2026
The spouse visa process in 2026 is taking longer than many couples expect. While some stages are moving faster than before, the full timeline from start to finish can still average around 24 months depending on the country. Understanding each step of the marriage green card process is important so couples can plan ahead. From…
K-1 Fiancé Visa Wait Time in 2026
They had counted the months on their fingers. First the engagement. Then the paperwork. Then the hope that they would finally be together in the United States. But as the weeks turned into months, the waiting began to feel heavy. Many couples starting the K-1 fiancé visa process expect it to move quickly. In reality,…
I-130 Wait Time in 2026
When a couple decides to start the spouse visa process, there is usually excitement and hope. They imagine finally living together in the United States and building their future side by side. Then they see the I-130 wait time. Seventeen months can feel heavy. It can feel unfair. And it can feel endless. In January…
Is It Still Worth Filing a Marriage or Fiancé Visa During Immigration Pauses?
Immigration rules are changing quickly, and increased scrutiny has made the process harder to navigate. The fear is real, and the uncertainty can feel overwhelming. Many couples are asking the same important question right now: Is it even worth starting an immigration case with all the travel bans, visa pauses, and policy changes? …
What Happens After an Immigration Case Is Filed With USCIS
After an application is submitted, USCIS sends it to a centralized processing location. Online filings are uploaded directly into the system. Paper filings are scanned after arriving in the mailroom. Payments are processed, and the case is entered into the government system. This step happens before any officer reviews the application. Many couples do not…
What Happens When a Fiancé Visa Petition Expires Before the Interview
Waiting for a fiancé visa interview can feel endless. Couples often check the approval notice again and again, only to notice a date that seems too close for comfort. When the four-month validity period approaches with no interview scheduled, fear and confusion can quickly set in. Many couples worry they have done something wrong. In…
ICE Detentions at Marriage Green Card Interviews
In recent months, reports from attorneys and national media have highlighted cases in which applicants were detained despite complying with immigration requirements. These stories spread quickly because they involved people who had filed their applications correctly, paid their fees, and followed every rule. In the past, ICE detentions were usually linked to prior removal orders…