WHY
CHOOSE US
CHOOSE US
A “Stokes” interview happens when USCIS believes you and your spouse are attempting marriage fraud for the purposes of obtaining an immigration benefit. Each spouse is called into a separate interview room and is subjected to questions to determine whether the couple is truly married.
Many of these questions are about obscure pieces of information, such as the last time you got groceries together or details about the sofa in the living room. While the questions may seem easy at first glance, people often misremember small details, such as exact days, colors, or numbers.
Nevertheless, there’s no reason to panic if you’ve received notice that a Stokes interview will take place. While learning that USCIS is suspicious of your application is not good news, there are steps you can take to pass the interview.
It’s not a good idea to over-rehearse every piece of information you can think of, but you should know the basics. You need to know each other’s birthday, where your first date took place, where both of you work, how you met, and your favorite foods. You should be able to name members of one another’s immediate families.
Some spouses are very bad at remembering this basic information, even in a bona fide marriage, so it doesn’t hurt to touch base and make sure both of you are on the same page.
You can find a list of common Stokes interview questions here.
Don’t practice to the point where your answers are robotic and matched to an insane degree. That will just signal that you coached one another for the interview and “got your stories straight.”
Small discrepancies won’t threaten you much. USCIS officers know that people struggle to remember exact days, dates, times, and colors.
Besides, no online list of questions is going to cover every question an officer might think of. Officers know the online lists exist and often have personal, favorite questions that don’t often get published. There’s a good chance you’ll be asked something that stumps you or results in a discrepancy, even if you’ve been happily married for over a year.
You have the right to bring an attorney to your appointment, and you should. First, the attorney will hear both sets of answers. Being there gives your lawyer time to prepare if they spot that one of the answer sets is likely to be problematic to your green card application. Your lawyer will generally take detailed notes throughout the proceedings. This information will be useful if you and your lawyer need to appeal USCIS’ decision.
Second, your lawyer may be able to challenge particularly unfair or ridiculous questions. Your lawyer can also help clarify what a question means, as sometimes language barriers can result in “wrong answers.”
Plus, having your lawyer present can have a calming effect on you, which can help you avoid answering incorrectly because you are panicking.
You don’t have to go through the marriage green card process alone. The team at Hykel Law is here to help you succeed.
Schedule an appointment to get help today!
See also:
Common Marriage Green Card Interview Questions
4 Good Reasons to Bring an Attorney To Your Green Card Interview
If you are planning to file an Application for Naturalization soon, USCIS has some good news for you. You’ll save a lot of time obtaining vital documentation, namely your Social Security card.
Updating or receiving a Social Security Number (SSN) and card will be much easier. USCIS is also making it easier for you to update your immigration status with the Social Security Administration (SSA). You won’t even have to visit an SSA office.
Instead, you’ll request a new Social Security card or number when you fill out your Form N-400. Earlier editions of the form will not include the questions; you’ll want to make sure you’re filling out the latest version of the application online.
USCIS has also combined green card and Social Security number applications, updating Form I-485, the application for the Adjustment of Status, to include additional questions allowing you to apply for an SSN.
Citizens and permanent residents require SSNs to accomplish most legal tasks within the United States, including applying for employment, applying for credit, filing taxes, and, of course, eventually claiming Social Security income at retirement.
While you may apply for the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to pay your taxes before you become a permanent resident or a citizen, the ITIN doesn’t help you fully participate in American life. It is merely a tax processing number built to ensure the IRS gets its due, even from undocumented immigrants.
Of course, if you are undocumented and do not currently have an ITIN, we recommend obtaining one, filing your taxes, and paying them. Doing so can open up some immigration options later. Doing so also keeps you on the right side of the law, which is vital if you’re going to avoid deportation.
It will be vital to take advantage of this new option and to streamline your ability to obtain these legal documents in the future.
Want more updates on immigration policy? Be sure to continue watching this space, as we regularly cover these types of issues. In the meantime, if you need help filling out your Form N-400 or your Form I-485, contact Hykel Law to get started today.
We help hundreds of people achieve their dreams of living and working in the United States, and we can help you, too.
See also:
Are There Risks to Applying for Citizenship?
How Does an Employment-Based Green Card Work?
5 Steps to a Smoother Immigration Process
Do you wish to work in the United States for a limited period of time before returning to your home country?
If so, the O-1 visa might be right for you. This visa is designed for individuals with “extraordinary” abilities in the sciences, arts, education, business, film, or athletics. STEM workers, in particular, are often beneficiaries of these visas.
An O-2 visa even allows you to bring your assistants over, whereas an O-3 visa allows you to bring your spouse and children.
You may qualify for an O-visa if you can prove you have distinguished yourself in your field. Ways you might prove distinction include:
You can provide any proof which tends to show that you’ve distinguished yourself in the field.
If you are applying for an O-2 visa, you must demonstrate how your assistance is vital to the O-1 visa holder’s activities.
The initial period of stay is up to three years, though you must declare a specific event or activity you’ll be involved in.
Examples could include participating in a research project or filming a motion picture.
You will receive an additional ten days prior to the validity period and an additional ten days after, but you’ll only be authorized to work during the validity period.
h3Can you extend an O-visa?
Yes. USCIS determines the amount of time you need to finish the initial project or activity and then gives you one-year increments.
You may even change employers if necessary, but the new employer must file Form I-129 with USCIS.
Your employer must fill out Form I-129 on your behalf and submit the required evidence according to the instructions on the form. You must also provide a written advisory opinion from a peer group to help prove that you are a person of exceptional ability.
Your employer must also submit a copy of a written employment contract, as well as an itinerary explaining the nature of the events or activities, the beginning and ending dates for those activities, and a copy of the itinerary if applicable.
If the O-1 visa is not right for you, there may be other visas you can pursue. Our law office can help. If you are trying to get an employee into the United States on an O-visa, we can certainly help.
Contact Hykel Law to get started today.
See also:
How Does an Employment-Based Green Card Work?
How Much Money Do You Need to Immigrate to the United States?
If you dream of United States citizenship, it may shock you to realize that there are some risks to applying. It’s important to realize what you are doing when you attempt to adjust your status from “permanent residency” to “US Citizen.”
This post is not to discourage you from attempting to become a citizen. It is to arm you with the information you need to be as successful as possible.
There are three key differences between permanent residency status and citizenship.
In all other ways, permanent residents hold the same rights as citizens. They are protected by the constitution, may sponsor relatives for permanent residency, may work and go to school, may apply for a driver’s license, and may purchase property.
Naturalized US Citizens may still be stripped of their citizenship if they take actions that would show greater loyalty to a foreign power than to the United States.
When you apply for citizenship, you are inviting USCIS to reopen your file and to go over everything, yet again, with a fine-tooth comb.
They could uncover an issue with your initial application. If they decide you were never legally in the United States in the first place, they can revoke your permanent residency status and start deportation proceedings.
In addition, if you have acquired a criminal record since coming to the United States, even a very minor one, you may have trouble showing you have good moral character.
USCIS isn’t paying attention to every arrest that happens once a person has a green card, but they will certainly see your record the moment you give them a reason to look again.
It may also be risky to apply for citizenship if you took long trips outside of the United States (for six months or more), or if you became a member of the Communist Party or another party that the United States has blacklisted.
Fortunately, you can meet with an immigration attorney prior to launching a citizenship application. We can go over potential problems and discuss whether your application is particularly risky.
Pursuing citizenship may be risky, but there’s no denying that it’s a wonderful opportunity. Many new, naturalized citizens get very emotional during their ceremonies, and it’s not hard to see why.
Hykel Law is here to help you achieve your dream of citizenship. We’ll help you apply, help you gather all the appropriate evidence, and help you meet any issues and challenges that might arise. Don’t take a single step on your application before you meet with us.
See also:
Understanding Re-Entry Permits for Permanent Residents
What You Need to Know About “Good Moral Character” In Your Immigration Case
What is the Difference Between an RFE and a NOID?
EB-4 visas are fourth-preference employment-based visas available to certain special classes of workers. You must have an employer to take advantage of this type of visa, but whether you petition for yourself or your employer petitions for you depends on what kind of subcategory of eligibility you fall into.
The petitioner files Form I-360 to begin the process. It is important to submit relevant evidence of all the claims made in the form, such as proof of identity and nationality.
The qualification list is quite narrow.
EB-4 visas are also available to the family members of some of these immigrant types, such as the retired officers and employees of G-4, NATO-6, or employees of the US government.
Processing times vary but average out at around eight months. It’s important to realize that USCIS is facing a backlog, and you may have to wait longer. You may also have to wait if the numerical limits for EB-4 visas have been filled for your country already.
You’ll be informed when a visa is available and when you can file Form I-485 to receive a green card.
The EB-4 visa grants permanent residency. R-1 is a temporary working visa that may be extended for up to five years. They serve very different purposes. There is no path to a green card from an R-1 visa.
R-1 visas are appropriate for ministers or other religious employees who are on temporary assignment in the United States.
Not sure how long you’ll be in the United States or which visa is right for you? Ask your immigration attorney!
We help employers bring over EB-4 visa holders, and we help individuals who seek to obtain employment-based visas.
Every immigration matter is a complex legal case, and it helps to have good guidance from day one. This avoids costly mistakes, including mistakes that could end your dream of living and working in the United States.
Contact Hykel Law to get started today.
See also:
How Does an Employment-Based Green Card Work?
What Are the Four Types of Immigration?
Suppose you are a non-citizen and were abused by a relative who is a US citizen or lawful permanent resident. In that case, you gain the right to self-petition for immigrant classification.
Under the VAWA visa program, you do not need the abuser to sponsor you, and you do not need their consent. The abuser doesn’t even have to know you’re pursuing citizenship on your own.
You must meet the following requirements.
Certain grounds for inadmissibility do not impact VAWA visa petitioners. For example, the Public Charge (INA 212(a)(4)) does not apply to a VAWA petitioner.
Almost all forms of recognized physical and mental abuse do qualify.
Yes. You can do this by submitting police reports, medical records, text message records, and affidavits from yourself, court officials, psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, nurses, school officials, social workers, or clergy members.
Working with an attorney can be very helpful here. Often, we need to seek out expert witness testimony to prove the abuse, which we can help you find.
You also need evidence of your relationship with the abuser. If the abuser was your spouse, you’ll need additional evidence that shows you entered the marriage in good faith.
Many VAWA petitions fall apart because the victim does not realize they need certain documentation or understand all the forms of abuse that might qualify. Working with an attorney can help you address these issues.
You must fill out Form I-485, the Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, as well as Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant.
Suffering through abuse is frightening and confusing. Dealing with the United States government on any immigration matter is also frightening and confusing. Get all the help you can if you’re going to pursue this type of visa.
If you or someone you care about is seeking a VAWA visa, contact Hykel Law to get the help you need today.
See also:
What is the Difference Between an RFE and a NOID?
Immigration for Victims of Forced Marriage
Foreign exchange programs allow a certain number of pre-approved visitors to visit the United States, even as a visitor from the United States visits another participating country. Foreign exchange participants must seek a J-1 visa.
A J-1 visa is the appropriate visa for an individual participating in a work or student exchange program. You must be visiting the United States via an approved program that is designed for the purpose of teaching, instructing, lecturing, studying, observing, researching, consulting, receiving training, receiving graduate medical education, or demonstrating special skills.
The duration of a J-1 visa depends on the program you’re using. Most student and au pair programs are valid for 12 months. Programs for teachers, professors, and researchers may receive a J-1 visa for up to 5 years plus 30 days for the purposes of preparing to leave the United States.
In a few cases, you can stay more than 7 years.
The J-1 visa does not offer a path to a green card. It is a nonimmigrant visa, and you will be required to show that you fully intend to return to your home country when the program is complete. If something changes when you are here (if, for example, you get married to a US citizen or receive a job offer from a company that is willing to sponsor you), you’ll want to work with an immigration law office like ours to ensure that the transition goes smoothly. USCIS will be somewhat suspicious of your application because it may indicate that you came into the United States under false pretenses.
Every J-1 visa holder has a sponsor exchange program—there are no exceptions. If you are hoping to come to the United States on this visa, your first step will be to find a qualified foreign exchange program. If you cannot find a program but still wish to work or study in the United States, you may instead wish to explore student or work visa options.
Next, you will fill out Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. Most of the time, the program will have its own staff members who can help you through the application process. If yours does not, we will be happy to help ensure that your application is free from mistakes, addresses potential problems, and comes with sufficient evidence to be successful.
If you want to create a foreign exchange program of your own, there are many steps you will have to follow, from defining the objectives of your program to establishing partnerships with qualifying institutions. An immigration law office like Hykel Law can help you meet your legal obligations if this is of interest to you. We can also help foreign exchange programs provide legal help to program participants.
Foreign exchange programs can be a wonderful way to forge intercultural relationships around the world. Don’t let the legal hurdles scare you! If you have the chance to come to the United States on such a program, we highly encourage you to take it.
See also:
How Does an Employment-Based Green Card Work?
Steps for Getting a Student Visa in the United States
If you’re a victim of human trafficking or domestic abuse, you may be eligible for a U-visa. A U-visa is a nonimmigrant visa that allows victims to stay in the United States while they help law enforcement prosecute crimes.
Here’s everything you need to know about this type of visa.
To be eligible for a U-visa, you must:
A long list of crimes counts. The current list includes:
Other related crimes may also be considered.
You must fill out Form I-918. A law enforcement officer must fill out Form I-918, Supplement B, to confirm you are helpful or are likely to be helpful to an investigation.
If there are admissibility issues, you need to fill out Form I-192, Application for Advance Permission to Enter as a Nonimmigrant.
You must also submit a personal statement describing the criminal activity of which you were a victim and submit evidence to back up your claims.
Obviously, there is no part of the application process that is easy. Even knowing whether you have admissibility issues that need to be addressed could be a challenge. Fortunately, you can work with our law firm to help ensure that your application packet is filled out correctly, increasing the chances that your visa application will be approved.
There is no such thing as a visa that is easy to obtain. Even U-visas are becoming the subject of fraud and schemes in the United States, which means they’re receiving as much USCIS scrutiny as any other visa.
It’s possible, but it can be difficult. In 2021, U-visa applicants became eligible to apply for a work permit. An employer may be able to sponsor you for permanent residency, which, in turn, could give you a path to citizenship. In addition, you may be eligible for a marriage-based green card later.
You may also be able to make an asylum application if you are eligible for that type of visa.
Unfortunately, the U-visa doesn’t offer other, more direct paths to permanent residency or citizenship.
It can be difficult to navigate the US immigration system. Our team has extensive experience helping with visa applications of every kind.
Contact our law firm to get started today.
See also:
How Does an Employment-Based Green Card Work?
What is the Difference Between Asylum Status and Refugee Status?
What Are the Four Types of Immigration?
Two weeks ago, USCIS announced that they were going to make an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for the fiscal year, for a total of 130,716. 20,000 visas will be allocated to workers from Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras. 44,716 supplemental visas will be available to returning workers.
Employers will still need to obtain a temporary labor certification from the United States Department of Labor.
This means there will be many more opportunities to hire foreign workers in hospitality, tourism, landscaping, seafood processing, and other common industries that hire foreign temporary workers.
USCIS is also working to strengthen protections for temporary foreign workers. The Biden-Harris administration is well aware of the potential for abuse in a system that links a worker’s ability to stay in the United States to a single employer.
Under new proposed rules, employers who violate H-2 program requirements may become ineligible to hire and employ H-2 workers.
The proposals would also protect workers from exploitative debts and abuse, increasing consequences for violators. It would also extend grace periods for H-2 workers seeking work with a new United States employer, who are preparing for departure from the US, or seeking a change in status. The proposed rules would also make it easier for H-2 workers to adjust their status.
Note that these proposed rules have yet to be enacted; only the new visa allocations have been put into place.
Current rules include:
Many employers try to cut corners, such as providing “housing” that barely meets health and safety requirements or by creating fines and fees to claw money back from worker paychecks. Some are verbally abusive or sexually harassing workers, knowing workers are often reluctant to report them or involve themselves in labor disputes.
Ideally, of course, if you are considering hiring a foreign worker, you will give thought to how you will treat them well and fairly while they are here.
To apply for an H-2 visa, a foreign worker must have a valid job offer from a US employer who has obtained a temporary labor certification. USCIS must approve the petition.
Want to take advantage of the new visa quota? Need help obtaining a Labor Market Certification, hiring a foreign worker, or helping a foreign worker process their application?
Contact Hykel Law to get started today.
See also:
Who is Responsible for Paying Employment Visa Fees?
We look forward to helping you with your immigration case. We have the experience, knowledge and staff to handle your matter swiftly. Reach out today to discuss your needs for representation.