Brathwaite v. Helm
The following Summons and Complaint are being made available for service on our website per…
CLE materials – American Immigration Lawyers Association, New England Chapter (Oct. 25, 2024)
Below are written materials for my presentation on October 25, 2024 (six articles total). Suing…
What are the consequences of signing the Form I-864?
The I-864 is a binding legal contract between you and the United States government. Too…
5 reasons to sue an I-864 sponsor who “doesn’t have any money”
Today, I wanted to talk about something that comes up pretty often in my consultations:…
What goes into an I-864 Affidavit of Support lawsuit complaint?
I've been representing clients in lawsuits to enforce the USCIS Form I-864, Affidavit of Support…
No, Uniting for Ukraine sponsors cannot be sued under the I-134 Affidavit of Support
Under the recently-announced Uniting for Ukraine program, U.S.-based individuals and businesses can sponsor Ukrainian refugees…
What is a joint sponsor’s liability under the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?
A joint sponsor (also called co-sponsor) has the same liability under an Affidavit of Support…
Can you enforce the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support in a divorce case?
Yes - in most states the USCIS Form I-864, Affidavit of Support can be enforced…
USCIS Form I-864 enforcement in divorce court – another cautionary tale (Marriage of Bychina)
It is a theme that I have written about many times on this blog and…
How do you calculate damages under the I-864, Affidavit of Support
In an important ruling for one of our I-864 enforcement clients, a Court ruled today…
How do you settle a claim under the USCIS Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?
As I explain elsewhere on this blog, almost all claims under the USCIS Form I-864,…
Can you enforce the Form I-864 Affidavit of Support with a preliminary injunction?
Non-citizens needing to enforce the USCIS Form I-864, Affidavit of Support are usually in serious…
What affirmative defenses are available to Form I-864 sponsors? None.
The Eleventh Circuit has held that the common law defenses of unclean hands, anticipatory breach,…
The federal right to immigration “alimony” under the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
A version of this article first appeared in the Side Bar journal for the Litigation…
How long does the I-864 support last?
A sponsor's obligation under the Form I-864 lasts indefinitely. It terminates only upon one of five Terminating Events, including when the green card holder has 40 quarters of work or becomes a U.S. citizen. It *does not* terminate automatically after ten years, even though lawyers mistakenly
Can a nuptial (prenup) agreement waive rights under the Form I-864?
No, federal courts have squarely held that a pre- or post-nuptial agreement cannot waive rights…
Video: Financial Liability Under the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
This post contains the material for today's talk given to the family law section of…
Video: The Form I-864 & the right to indefinite spousal support
Family law attorneys need to understand that certain immigrants are entitled to financial support far…
Who qualifies for financial support under the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?
Certain green card holders are legally entitled to receive financial support from their immigration sponsors…
DHS Proposes New Adjudication Standards for Forms I-864 and I-864A
A version of this article will appear in Bender's Immigration Bulletin. © Greg McLawsen (2020)…
In Florida, can you bring an I-864 lawsuit in federal court?
The form I-864, Affidavit of Support is created by federal law. Indeed, the form has…
How does settlement work in I-864 cases?
Most civil lawsuits end in settlement long before they go to trial. Lawsuits to enforce…
Another I-864 claim lost in divorce court – Mullonkal v. Kodiyamplakkil
It is that I have unfortunately observed before. Yet another I-864 beneficiary has lost out…
Beringer v. Beringer – another example of bad I-864 results in state court
Another case, this one in Texas, illustrates the dangers of trying to enforce the Form…
U.S. immigration policy and COVID-19
(Updated June 20, 2020). Yesterday I was asked to do a podcast interview about the…
The Supreme Court’s DACA Decision – what this means for you and FAQs
Today the Supreme Court made its ruling in DHS v. University of California, addressing the…
Another federal court holds that nuptial agreements cannot waive I-864 support rights
In Golipour v. Moghaddam, yet another federal court has directly held that an I-864 beneficiary…
Get a free copy of your immigration file with our new (free) FOIA generator
We've created a new (free) tool that allows you to request an official copy of…
COVID-19 Travel Ban – What you need to know
Late in the evening of April 20, 2020, President Trump announced by Tweet that he…
Does the Covid stimulus check or unemployment insurance create a public charge issue?
As we head together into this time of global crisis, the technicalities of U.S. immigration…
Anderson v. Anderson – more I-864 enforcement messiness
In Anderson v. Anderson, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 193910 (W.D. Wash., Nov. 4, 2019), following…
Plaintiff win on I-864 abstention and income calculation – Al-Aromah v. Tomaszewicz
In Al-Aromah v. Tomaszewicz, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 154638 (W.D. Va. Sep. 10, 2019), the…
More res judicata fights – Levin v. Barone & Greiner v. De Capri
Courts continue to grapple with when a prior family law (divorce) case may pose a…
I-864 defendant cannot avoid liability by claiming marriage fraud, holds Ninth Circuit
In a recent ruling, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has held that an I-864…
54% of I-864 plaintiffs lack legal representation
A review of all I-864 enforcement cases filed in the federal court system shows that…
What is the Form I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency?
The Form I-944, Declaration of Self-Sufficiency is a new USCIS form that will be required…
What are public charge bonds?
The Trump administration recently announced changes to "public charge" inadmissibility. One of the major changes…
DHS Public Charge Rule – Analysis of Final Rule
Today the Department of Homeland Security announced the publication of its new rule on Public…
Raising I-864 in alimony order presents an unfair pickle
A recent case shows the risk when immigrants raise the Form I-864 in the context…
Belevich v. Thomas – Prejudgment interest and other good I-864 holdings
On June 20, 2019 a judge for the Northern District of Alabama handed down a…
Anderson v. USA – Another Court rules that “fraud” is not a defense in I-864 case.
Another U.S. federal court has ruled that Form I-864 sponsors cannot avoid liability by alleging…
USCIS to roll back self-scheduled “InfoPass” appointments
USCIS Announced today that it will end the availability of self scheduled appointments at its…
USCIS updates policy on medical exams (Form I-639)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced yesterday that it is changing its rules on…
USCIS proposes new public charge rules: changes impact public benefits and the Form I-864 for adjustment applicants
A version of this article will appear in Bender's Immigration Bulletin and is republished here…
Will the immigration officer know what I said to CBP – or – the case of the sandwich smuggler
I have a confession. Long before I was an immigration lawyer, before I was a…
I am waiting for my adjustment of status to be approved but my temporary EAD is expiring – what should I do?
A lot of our clients are finding themselves in a frustrating situation. They filed an…
Changes to USCIS “public charge” determinations and use of the Form I-864
*This article is now outdated* After this article was published, USCIS formally announced new rules…
Step 3 – Adjustment of Status
Quick points: You need to get married and file your adjustment of status paperwork within…
Step 2 – The consulate
Once your I-129F petition is approved by USCIS your case is heading off to the…
Step 1 – The I-129F petition
Congratulations! You’ve carefully assessed every eligibility requirements and grounds of inadmissibility and decided that you…
Other grounds of inadmissibility
The grounds of inadmissibility discussed in the previous sections account for the majority of problems…
False claim to U.S. citizenship ground of inadmissibility
INA §212(a)(6)(C)(ii), 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(6)(C)(ii) A person who has falsely claimed to be a United…
Fraud and material misrepresentation
INA §212(a)(6)(C)(i), 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(6)(C)(i) One of the top priorities for all immigration agencies is…
How to use this resource
It’s not going to be much fun to sit down and read through this entire…
How is this resource different?
There are a plenty of guides to the marriage and fiancee immigration process. Why would…
Illegal entry to the U.S. after unlawful presence or deportation
INA §§212(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) & (II), 8 U.S.C. §§1182(a)(9)(C)(i)(I) & (II) This ground of inadmissibility is a…
Deportation within the past 10 years – ground of inadmissibility
INA §212(a)(9)(A)(ii), 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(9)(A)(ii) Once a person is ordered removed from the United States,…
3- and 10-year bars for unlawful presence
INA §212(a)(9)(B), 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(9)(B) Immigration law imposes harsh consequences on people who have stayed…
Polygamy (multiple spouses) ground of inadmissibility
INA §212(a)(10)(A), 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(10)(A) Polygamy occurs when an individual is simultaneously married to more…
Crimes involving moral turpitude
INA §212(a)(2)(A)(i)(I), 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(2)(A)(i)(I) Extremely minor crimes can make a foreign national inadmissible even…
Prostitution ground of inadmissibility
INA §§212(a)(2)(D)(i)–(ii), 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(2)(D)(i)–(ii) A person who has engaged – or tried to engage…
Health-related grounds
INA §212(a)(1), 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(1) U.S. immigration law has always been concerned about allowing people…
Economic grounds of inadmissibility
INA §212(a)(4), 8 U.S.C. §1182(a)(4). This ground of inadmissibility may be the one that creates…
Introduction to the grounds of inadmissibility
The critical component of United States immigration law is the so-called grounds of inadmissibility. This…
Passport-style photos
Both the Form I-130 and Form I-129F petitions require that you file passport-style photographs of…
Police certificates for marriage-based and fiancee visa applications
Key points: Criminal background documents - “police certificates” - are required in marriage-based and fiancee…
Filling out the Form I-129F Petition
This section goes line by line to the Form I-129F to help you complete the…
Sponsorship requirements for the Form I-864
To successfully serve as a Form I-864 sponsor an individual needs to be able to…
Are you eligible for a fiancée (K-1) visa?
The most important step of the fiancé(e) visa process happens before you start preparing any…
Should I consider immigration options not based on my marriage or relationship?
So, you are either married or engaged to a US citizen or resident. Most of…
What happens at an immigration medical exam?
All immigration strategies described in this resource require - at some stage in the process…
About the author
Hi, my name is Greg McLawsen. I am a practicing immigration lawyer based in Washington…
Consular visa interviews
The date of your visa interview is now just around the corner. As the culmination…
Marriage and fiancé(e) visas versus adjustment of status
For couples just beginning to research the immigration process, they often ask themselves if they…
Submitting your USCIS filing fee
The mandatory USCIS filing fees must accompany an application or petition at the time it…
Can I apply for adjustment of status if I entered on a TN visa?
A TN visa authorizes an individual to live and work temporarily in the United States…
About marriage-based visas (CR-1, IR-1)
Marriage visa / spouse visa. It is very common for a U.S. citizen or permanent…
About fiancée (K-1) visas
Fiance visa / K1 visa. To initiate marriage-based consular processing a couple must be legally…
About marriage-based adjustment of status
Marriage Greencards (adjustment of status) Certain foreign nationals who are physically present in the U.S…
How long does it take for USCIS to issue an EAD (work authorization card)?
In the past year, the processing times for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) have become quite…
Form I-864 issues 101 – Materials for NW conference, Amer. Immigration Lawyers Association
I prepared this material for a presentation this week at the Northwest Regional Conference for…
My husband/wife entered the U.S. legally, can she apply for adjustment of status (a green card)?
You are someone who follows the rules. You have no criminal record and pay your…
What would a government shutdown mean for immigration cases and immigration applications?
As negotiations in Congress stall, it appears very likely that there will be a federal…
Court orders USCIS to accept DACA renewal applications!
Yesterday a court ordered that the Trump Administration must partially reinstitute the Deferred Action for…
I filed an I-751 but my one-year extension is expiring – what do I do?
(Revised Oct. 30, 2018) Have you filed a Form I-751 and need to show your lawful…
What is the new 30/60/90 day rule? Now it’s just the 90-day rule.
Last month the State Department announced that it has eliminated the so-called 30/60/90 day rule…
What is included in Trump’s fourth travel ban?
This evening the Trump White House announced yet another - this is the fourth -…
Can I apply for a K-3 visa to speed things up?
If only I had a dollar for every time a client was confused about K-3…
President Trump has ended DACA – here’s what we know
Below is the official memo outlining how DACA will be ended. Official FAQ here. Memorandum…
Why our immigration system is like a TSA line
There you are again – the interminable TSA line at the airport. All that stands…
Want to end notario fraud? Take the law into your own hands
The following article, co-authorized with attorney Deborah Niedermeyer, is forthcoming by American Immigration Lawyers Association…
California appeals court: “Form I-864 is enforceable, and there is no duty to seek work.
The California Court of Appeals (First District) has handed down an extremely important decision affirming…
How do I enforce my rights under the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?
The Form I-864, Affidavit of Support is signed in virtually all family-based immigration cases. If…
Tax issues for immigration lawyers
When it comes to getting your clients to the United States you’re the master. But…
Can an immigrant start a business in Washington State?
A 2012 study found that immigrants are twice as likely to start businesses in the…
Can a foreign citizen or immigrant get a home loan (mortgage) in the U.S.?
Is it possible to get a home loan as a foreign citizen or immigrant? The…
Advising LPRs on foreign travel
Whew – your client has finally made it through the lengthy immigrant visa process. Or…
In Washington State, immigrants have workers comp. rights
Washington’s worker’s compensation laws are all structured around a singular purpose, to provide sure and…
Social media for lawyers – 26 questions and answers
Thanks to the 1,372 lawyers who attended this week's social media ethics Legal Lunchbox talk…
Understanding “administrative processing”
The following materials are provided from a webinar hosted March 29, 2017 featuring guest speaker,…
Details on Trump’s “extreme vetting” for visa applicants
The Trump administration has issued several a policy documents to all U.S. consulates describing new…
CLE materials – Tools for Streamlining and Automating Your Law Practice
Thanks to the Washington State Bar Association's Solo & Small Practice Section - I appreciate…
Travel Ban 2.0 – new Executive Order by Trump Administration
On March 6, 2017 the Trump Administration issued a new Travel Ban Executive order, entitled…
Understanding the Feb. 17 enforcement memos
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released draft guidance on how it plans to…
Across line: Advocacy at U.S. Ports Entry
This week we're proud to be hosting Greg Boos, Margaret Stock, and Heather Fathali of…
Federal Court halts Immigration Ban Executive Order
This afternoon a Federal District Court in Washington State entered a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO),…
Breaking news: USCIS to continue processing applications from banned countries
We have just reviewed a leaked an undated USCIS memorandum. It appears to be authentic,…
Trump Executive Orders – “I’m a lawyer, what can I do?”
Last Friday, January 27, 2017, President Trump signed an Executive Order that has come to…
Make your practice more client friendly with design thinking
The law is notoriously verbocentric and dense. And from the client’s perspective, legal services are…
State Department revokes all valid visas for citizens of banned countries
In an official cable, the Department of State has announced that it will revoke all…
NVC stops processing cases for citizens of banned countries
The National Visa Center (NVC) has announced that it will suspend all processing of cases…
Immigration Ban Executive Order Update – Feb. 1, 2017
Here are the latest updates on the Trump Administration's Executive Order, often referred to as…
Extra material – AILA National Podcast on the Form I-864
This morning we are recording a podcast for the American Immigration Lawyer's Association, covering ethical…
How does the Trump Immigration Ban impact USCIS applications (I-485, N-400, I-90, etc.)?
How will Trump's Immigration Bad affect applications that are pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration…
Immediately barred from U.S. – citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen
Updated January 29, 2017 - 0930 PST. On Friday, January 28, 2017, President Trump signed…
Executive Order will end DACA/Dream Act, but should not cause mass deportations
President Trump will end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) according to a draft memorandum…
Order ends visas in 7 countries (more later) and suspends refugee program
An Executive Order will end visas from seven countries and could be a first step…
Executive Order on protecting taxpayer resources
Today we received a leaked copy of a draft Executive Order that may be released later…
Trump’s January 25th executive order on “interior enforcement.”
Today Trump issued two executive orders aimed at tightening immigration enforcement in the United States…
How do I withdraw the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?
The Form I-864, Affidavit of Support imposes serious financial obligations on a sponsor who signs…
May I visit the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 (or ESTA) after filing an I-130 or I-129F?
It's just a fact - marriage and fiancé(e) visas take a long time. The process…
How to Run Your Law Firm from India (With a Four Month-Old)
In this presentation, I talk about the vision behind our law firm, Sound Immigration. We…
Ink signatures no longer required on I-864s for NVC
The Department of State announced yesterday that original ink signatures are no longer required on…
Understanding immigrant intent
A U.S. immigration officer presumes that all persons travelling to the U.S. have “immigrant intent.”…
Using contract attorneys to scale your law practice
Today we were joined by Andy Backlund of Emerald City Attorney Network, PLLC. On our…
Covering Your Assets: Protecting Your Law Firm’s Intellectual Property
Do potential clients seem to know of you and your firm before you even have…
Law firm value statements
Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday to hear Jenny Anderson and I speak at…
USCIS fees go up (a lot) on Dec. 23, 2016
On December 23, 2016 USCIS filing fees are going to increase. In some cases, they…
Trump’s YouTube is good(ish) news for immigrants
Yesterday president-elect Donald Trump took to YouTube to update the nation on what he plans…
Will Trump make it harder to get an approved I-751, or stop the program?
We have been fielding a lot of nervous emails from clients and community members going…
Trump’s first immigration policy changes
If Donald Trump’s own words are taken seriously then his administration will make massive changes…
Will Trump make it harder to get a U-Visa?
Immigrant families across the United States are worried about what a Trump presidency will mean…
Will Donald Trump make it harder to get my visa?
Many thousands of people are in the middle of the visa process. That includes many…
Can President Trump cancel my DACA?
When Donald Trump takes office in January, what will this mean if you have DACA?…
Can President Trump take away my greencard?
If are an immigrant to the United States, what does Donald Trump's victory mean for…
DIY videos for law firm marketing
Producing videos for your law firm might seem daunting but it doesn’t have to be…
The best (and most fun) free/low-cost legal tech for lawyers
Thanks to the Snohomish County Bar Association for inviting me to speak at today's CLE…
My greencard is expiring, should I file an I-90 before naturalizing (N-400)?
Congratulations - you're finally eligible to apply for citizenship! But uh-oh, your greencard (I-551) is…
Free and Low-Cost Technology for Law Firms
This talk was prepared for the nice folks at the Kittitas County Bar Association. Thanks to…
9 free/cheap pieces of tech to make your lawyer life better
Thanks to the folks at the Kittitas County Bar Association for having me out to speak…
Graphic Design for Legal Advocacy
Big thanks to Troy White of Counterpoint Legal for today's talk on Graphic Design for…
Advanced I-864 Issues (webinar video)
This post contains video of our August 31, 2016 webinar - Advanced I-864 Issues. Written…
Advanced I-864 issues (webinar material)
The material listed accompanies our August 31, 2016 webinar, Advanced I-864 Issues. The material in the body…
Stop: USCIS does not accept credit card!
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently issued a warning regarding filing fees. Currently…
What forms/documents do I file for a marriage-based adjustment of status?
There are a lot of items that go into a marriage-based adjustment of status application…
Does USCIS require original documents, or are copies okay?
When you are preparing an application for US Citizenship and Immigration Services do you need…
What is the I-9 employment verification form?
Running a business comes with a lot of paperwork. Businesses have to worry about licenses, taxes,…
Video: Using Inbound Marketing to Promote your Law Practice
Your law firm already has a website, but it doesn’t perform particularly well, and you…
Is it ethical for lawyers to advertise on Groupon and “daily deal” sites?
This piece originally appeared as an article in the Washington State Bar Association's NW Lawyer…
Packaging Legal Services as Products (Video)
Today's attorneys are exhorted to move beyond the billable hour and embrace flat fee billing. But…
Nine reasons your law firm doesn’t need your surname
McLawsen Tower. McLawsen Grand Casino. McLawsen Steaks? My own surname doesn’t lend quite the right…
Adoption and Immigration 101 (Written materials)
This post contains the written materials for our webinar on Immigration and Adoption 101. Our…
Can I enter on a visitor’s visa (B-2) and then adjust status to permanent resident?
Several time per week I get a question that comes something like this: I'm a…
INA to USC Conversion Table
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) is the primary authority for U.S. immigration law, codified…
Competency decisions in immigration court; the insanity continues
Immigration law recognizes that a foreign national must be competent to face removal (i.e., deportation)…
Webinar: Forensic psychologists & immigration law
Thank you to those who joined us for today's webinar, Forensic Psychologists & Immigration Law,…
I got my greencard – now what?
Congratulations! You've been through the long process, and now you finally have your greencard. You're…
Proving a bona fide (valid) marriage for immigration
One of the questions that is usually at the very top of our client’ list…
Marriage visa (IR-1/CR-1) versus fiancé(e) visa (K-1)
It is common to have the choice of pursuing either a marriage-based visa or fiancé(e)…
DAPA remains on hold as Supreme Court decides U.S. v. Texas
In a decision that will disappoint millions of immigrant families, the Supreme Court has issued…
Screening for employee immigration status; understanding the Form I-9
As the line supervisor at Ink Widgets,Inc. you're winding up production on a rainy…
Video: Kanban project management for lawyers
Busyness is the plague of Lawyerdom. Yet while lawyers claim busyness as a merit…
Ninth Circuit decides I-864 case re household size
Today the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided an important case regarding enforcement of the…
Seattle Legal Innovation and Technology Meetup Group
For this month's community spotlight we're showcasing the Seattle Legal Innovation and Technology Meetup Group…
“Tech Set-Up” for law firms – Seattle U. School of Law
Thanks to everyone who attended today's talk at Seattle University School of Law on legal…
Gustavo Cueva wins Client Choice Award
Associate attorney Gustavo Cueva has received the a 2016 Client Choice Award from Avvo in…
Video: Adjustment of Status from ESTA/Visa Waiver Program
This post provides a basic overview for assisting clients who enter the United States on…
Video: Agile project management for any lawyer
Busyness is the plague of Lawyerdom. Yet while lawyers claim busyness as a merit badge,…
Darwin Talk: KPIs for the New Legal Consumer – Sachin Bhatia, Chief Product Officer, Avvo
Sachin Bhatia, Chief Product Officer for Avvo, speaks on how law firms can use…
Tech set-up CLE (1.5 credit), June 1, 2016 – Seattle
Greg McLawsen will be speaking at Seattle University's Access to Justice Institute on June 1,…
Video: Family-Based Immigration Consultations 101
Today we broadcast a webinar on the topic of how to conduct initial consultations with…
How do I file an I-751 waiver?
If your U.S. citizen/resident spouse will not cooperate with your I-751 petition, you need to…
How can I report marriage immigration fraud?
There are two main ways to file a report of marriage immigration fraud: Homeland Security…
Sound Immigration featured as example of innovative law firm
Thanks to the publishing team over at Avvo! They recently featured Sound Immigration as an…
Webinar: Adjustment of Status from ESTA/VWP (May 24, 2016 – noon)
When: Tuesday, May 24, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 12:30 PM (PDT). If a foreign…
Webinar: Forensic psychologists & immigration law (June 29, 2016 – noon)
When Wednesday, June 29, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (PDT). Immigration lawyers frequently…
Webinar: Family-based Immigration Consultations 101 (May 13, 2016 – noon)
An introduction to handling consultations in family-based immigration matters. When: Friday, May 13, 2016 from…
How lawyers can use Agile project management and kanban
One of my core beliefs in managing our law firm is that we should borrow…
Using kanban to visualize workflow
Today on the Washington State Bar Association's blog I've done a short post how lawyers…
The landscape photography of Salvador Armendariz
This month we're showcasing the landscape photography of Salvador Armendariz. Now based in Denver, I…
If you were victimized by a noatario publico you may be eligible for financial damages and even a U-Visa
It is a violation of Washington State law to advertise services as a notario publico…
Evolve Law Seattle – Key Performance Indicators
This week I attended Evolve Law's CLE explaining how lawyers can use Key Performance Indicators…
Where can I download USCIS immigration forms?
Where can you find USCIS immigration forms? Right here! All immigration forms are freely available…
How does divorce impact my immigration status?
Many individuals get their immigration status in the U.S. through marriage. What happens if…
Do I need an immigration lawyer? (Maybe not)
What do immigration lawyers actually do? If you're going through the immigration process, do you…
Law school talk: Legal Zoom and Legal Hacking
This month I had the opportunity to return to the University of Nebraska College of…
Video: Social Media for Lawyers
Jointly hosted by Evolve Law Now and the Seattle Legal Technology and Innovation Meetup Group…
My petition was approved by USCIS – how long does it take to transfer to the NVC?
After a petition (I-129F or I-130) is approved by USCIS it will then be transferred…
I haven’t filed last year’s taxes – what income do I report on the I-864?
Tax season makes filing out the I-864 even more complicated. Here's a common situation that…
WSBA Sections Workgroup feedback
This page has been created to serve as a clearinghouse of written input sent to…
How to prepare for a visa interview at a consulate
The day has finally come. It's been months and months since you filed the original…
Tips for Preparing for a I-751 Application to Remove Conditions on Your Green Card
If you get a green card through marriage to a US citizen or legal permanent…
Work authorization for U-Visa applicants
Starting March 17, 2015, the Vermont Service Center (which handles all U visa applications) has…
Using Online Forms Is Easy and (Can Be) Ethical
The material in this post comes from a presentation I gave for the Washington State…
What is the permanent bar under Section 212(a)(9)(C)(i)?
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) there is a long list of grounds of…
How can the I-864 be legally enforced?
All marriage-based immigration visas require a promise by the U.S. citizen petitioner to financially support…
How to complete Part 2 of the N-400 (Information about you)
Part 2 begins by asking you to list every name you have ever used since…
What is “Good Moral Character?”
An individual applying for naturalization is required to show that she has good moral character…
What are the required documents for the Form I-864?
You will be required to provide the following documents with your Form I-864. It is…
Completing Part 7 of the Form I-864 (Use of Assets to Supplement Income)
You need to complete this section of the form only if your reported income in…
How to complete Part 6 on the Form I-864 (Sponsor’s Employment and Income)
Part 6 is an extremely important section of the Form I-864. Most problems we observe…
What are the consequences of signing the Form I-864?
The I-864 is a binding legal contract between you and the United States government. Too…
What is the Form I-864, Affidavit of Support?
U.S. immigration law is an invitation-based system. For someone wishing to move permanently to the…
Preparing for the US citizenship tests
As you have probably heard, an N-400 applicant must pass two tests at the time…
Ethical Use of On-Line Form Tools by Law Firms
Prepared as material for 7 Keys to Managing the 21st Century Practice Washington State Bar…
The Ethical Implications of Drafting A Form I-864, Affidavit of Support for a Joint Sponsor
In this piece we explore the ethics of whether attorneys should draft the Form I-864…
Op-ed: Fiancé visa disruption would impact Americans
In this piece in the Tacoma News Tribune I argue that Americans will be hurt…
Sending Secure Messages
Clio allows for an attorney to send Secure Messages (or "Communications") to people of their…
Reviewing and paying invoices
Clio allows for an attorney to share bills to their clients using Clio Connect. Viewing…
Your personalized calendar
Viewing your calendar entries You can view your calendar entries at any time in Clio…
Working with Tasks
Viewing your Tasks You can view your Tasks at any time in Clio Connect by…
Uploading/downloading documents
Viewing your Documents You can view all shared documents at any time in Clio Connect…
Getting started on our portal
We will be sharing items with you via Clio Connect for the duration of your…
Updating your personal information
Clio Connect clients can update their information including adding their own profile picture. 1. Click on…
Video: Deborah Niedermeyer receives Bar’s highest award for notario case
As we were pleased to report earlier, Deborah Niedermeyer - of counsel attorney at Sound…
Immigration interviews in Seattle
Going for your interview at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is usually a stressful…
5 fun ways to ruin a marriage-based visa case
There is a lot of guidance on the Internet – some good, lots bad –…
A brief overview of U.S. immigration law
The following material comes from a draft chapter of a book I am preparing for…
I got an invoice from the National Visa Center (NVC), what do I do next?
The National Visa Center (NVC) is where immigration cases can start to get really, really…
Am I eligible to file the N-400?
The most important step of the naturalization process is determining whether you are eligible to…
How do I check USCIS processing times?
How long will it take for USCIS to decide a case? There is no simple…
How do I check my USCIS case status?
You've filed your immigration case... but nothing has happened. Is there a problem? Did the…
I came to the U.S. on ESTA/VWP – can I adjust status?
Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) nationals of certain "low risk" countries are allowed to…
Redfin is cheaper and better than a real estate agent. Will you be the Redfin of legal?
A version of this article appeared in the NW Lawyer magazine of the Washington State…
Understanding marriage-related immigration
There are five basic ways in which marriage may facilitate a foreign national’s immigration to…
Social Justice Hackathon – congratulations participants!
Over the weekend our firm was proud to co-sponsor the first ever Social Justice Hackathon…
Can law firms profit from limited license technicians?
Washington is the first state in the country to granted a limited law license to…
Leveraging technology – MSJDN materials
The day after returning from a month in India I was proud to talk to…
India Pt. 7 – The best eats of the trip
Travel is just eating in a place we’ve never been. ~Jim Gaffigan There are reasons…
How to Complete the Form I-864
Download this free Guide in .pdf format here This Guide has been prepared for…
Working remotely – 4 top resources for lawyers
Later this morning I'm heading over to Seattle to talk to the folks at the…
India Pt. 6 – Don’t be an Indian cell phone bureaucrat
India, bless its heart, is a country that really does bureaucracy. Purchasing a train ticket can…
India Pt. 5 – Greatest foodie travel hack ever
Forgive me, since this has nothing to do with anything that's helpful to anyone professionally…
India Pt. 4 – Communicating with clients
Kolata, as it turns out, really knows rain and humidity. We swam out of the hotel…
India Pt. 3 – Communicating with the team
This week Jules and I are holing up in the storied and fascinating city of…
India, Pt. 2 – How to pack your life
They carried all they could bear, and then some, including a silent awe for the…
India, Pt. 1 – In which I violate the greatest stigma for professionals
Hard to know which was the last straw. But one of the straws was Christmas…
Attorney wins top award
Yesterday our colleague, Deborah Niedermeyer won the top annual award from the Washington State Bar…
What are the immigration consequences of suicidal and self-harming behavior?
It is surprisingly common for individuals to engage in self-harming behavior, such as cutting. Under …
Can a Single Fee Agreement Combine Flat Fees and Hourly Fees?
In flat fee cases, sometimes the attorney wins and sometimes she loses. But sometimes an…
Lessons from a Legal Tech Startup: One Month as a “Lawyer in Residence” at Clio
This February, I headed up to Vancouver, B.C. to have a kid and spend some…
9 Mistaken Beliefs About Immigrants & The Law
A version of this article was published by the King County Bar Association, co-authored by…
Inside SeaTac airport; behinds the scene Customs and Border Protection
I was lucky to join a behind-the-scene’s tour of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP)…
Where Can I Find Immigration Law?
With so many sources of information on immigration law on the web, it is extremely…
Great success story just in time for Christmas
We have a great success story to share, of a young couple reunited just in…
Greg gives talk on our approach to future of law
I was happy to have a chance on Wednesday to talk about the approach we’re…
Free and low cost technology for starting a law firm
These materials outline some basic ideas for how free and low-cost technology can help you…
Published opinion establishes right of immigrant to sue for financial support
Yesterday a Washington State appeals court handed down a published decision in a case where…
Social media ethics: 5 things to worry about and 6 red herrings
Social media marketing presents genuine ethical challenges for attorneys. But there are also plenty of…
What are the immigration rights of American Indians (ABCs) born in Canada?
Certain American Indians born in Canada enjoy access to the United States unrestricted by the…
Joint sponsor liable for $10,908
Following a bench trial to a federal judge, a joint sponsor has been held liable…
Reminder: joint sponsors may be held liable
A recent court decision serves as a reminder that an individual who signs an I-864,…
Raising I-864 in divorce court bars litigation in federal court
What happens if an Affidavit of Support beneficiary unsuccessfully raises the issue of I-864 financial…
Ante-nuptial agreements can’t waive I-864 support
A third court has held that purported waivers of I-864 support are ineffective. Toure-Davis v…
Ethical challenges of using flat fees
We argue that attorneys need to better safeguard clients when using flat fee billing. Even…
No issue preclusive effect following divorce trial. Yuryeva v. McManus (Texas).
In Yuryeva v. McManus a Texas appeals court stated clearly – although in dicta –…
Colorado River abstention applies. Pavlenco v. Pearsall (E.D.N.Y. Nov. 27, 2013).
In Pavlenco v. Pearsall the District Court for the Eastern District of New York has offered…
What is household size? Erler v. Erler (N.D. Cal. Nov. 21, 2013)
In Erler v. Erler a District Court provided the most detailed discussion to date of…
Solo attorneys: Who’s got your back? (You need a backup)
This article was initially published as: Solo Attorneys: Who's Got Your Back? You Need Backup…
A primer on the ethics of legal process outsourcing (LPO)
Solo and small firm practitioners are faced with tough choices as their practices grow. As…
Groupon for Lawyers: Does this marketing strategy make sense — or cents?
Is it ethical for attorneys to advertise on “daily deal” websites like Groupon and LivingSocial? My…
Is Google Voice the right (free) phone system for your practice?
A version of this article was published by the American Immigration Lawyers Association Law firms…
Using psychological experts to prove extreme hardship
Psychological evaluations are routinely submitted in support of applications for “extreme hardship” waivers of inadmissibility…