The Trump Administration announced its plans for a $5 million green card proposal, but experts say it is more complicated that it sounds. Read more about the proposal to end the EB-5 program and create a $5 million green card and path to citizenship here.
Immigrants’ Rights if Contacted by ICE
Immigrants have rights when contacted by ICE, whether on the street, at the workplace or in the home. Knowing these rights does not mean immigrants are trying to avoid the law or legal consequences.
The pdf flyers below give detailed information on best practices when interacting with ICE officers. Please feel free to pass these flyers on to anyone who would find them helpful.
If you would like to schedule a legal consultation to learn more about your immigration options and/or risks, please contact me at (206) 354-4791 or lauren@ransfordlaw.com.
AILA Response to Immigration Plans from Trump Administration
January 20, 2025 announcements from the Trump Administration laying out initial plans on immigration raise multiple legal concerns. American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) leadership has issued a press release in response. These Executive Orders “undermine the effectiveness of the immigration system that is essential to the nation’s prosperity.” Read the full statement: https://bit.ly/3PKGpTG
Judge Pauses New Parole-in-Place (PIP) Program
NEWS UPDATE: On August 27, 2024, a federal judge paused the Biden administration’s new Parole-in-Place (PIP) program for 14 days, based on a new lawsuit challenging the legality of the program.
BACKGROUND: The PIP program allows certain individuals who are married to, or are step-children of, U.S. citizens to receive “parole” in the U.S., if they entered the U.S. without permission and have been in the U.S. long enough. With parole, qualified individuals would then be allowed to apply for adjustment of status (green card), without leaving the country to go to a U.S. consulate abroad. Contact me at (206) 354-4791 or lauren@ransfordlaw.com to schedule a consultation to go over whether you qualify for the PIP program, adjustment of status and your options for applying.
IMMEDIATE IMPACT: PIP applications can still be filed, but decisions will not be received for at least 14 days, and possibly longer. It is highly recommended that you file your application as soon as possible to have the best chance of getting an approval in case the program is permanently closed in October.
POSSIBLE SCENARIOS MOVING FORWARD:
- Best Case Scenario: The program could go forward as before, and we begin to see approvals again after 14 days, or after October when the judge reconsiders the case. Some applications filed during the first week have already been approved, especially those who already have I-601A waiver applications pending.
- Pause Continued. The pause could be continued until October, when there will be more legal arguments about the case. If this scenario happens, applications can still be filed, but will not receive approvals until mid-October.
- Program Terminated Going Forward. The program could be permanently stopped in mid-October, but USCIS might be allowed to approve cases that were filed before it stopped. If this scenario happens, the best chance at approval is to file as soon as possible.
- Worst Case Scenario: The program could be terminated completely and USCIS could be ordered to deny all pending applications. In this scenario, you would not receive a refund of your legal fees or government filing fees.
I am hopeful that Scenario Number 1 will be the outcome and the program will go forward. However, there is no guarantee what the federal judge will do.
Contact me at (206) 354-4791 or lauren@ransfordlaw.com to schedule a consultation to go over whether you qualify for the Parole-in-Place program, the benefits of receiving it in your case and your options for applying.
USCIS Filing Fee Increases Effective April 1, 2024
USCIS announced today that the final rule increasing USCIS fees for many immigration applications will be published tomorrow and the increases are scheduled to go into effect on April 1, 2024. Please see this link for the final rule.
Fees for lawful permanent residence (green card) will increase from $1,760 to $3,170 (for the complete package: petition, green card, work permit and travel authorization applications). Naturalization (citizenship) application filing fees will increase from $725 to $760.
If you are planning to file an immigration benefit application, please contact me ASAP to discuss options for filing before the increased fees are required. (206) 354-4791 or lauren@ransfordlaw.com.
DOS Publishes February Visa Bulletin
The February 2024 Visa Bulletin shows the dates when an Application to Register or Adjust Status (Form I-485) may be filed. Don’t forget to check which chart you must use: “Dates for Filing” or “Final Action Dates” – here.
If you have questions about whether you can file your AOS application, please click on this link to request a consultation with Attorney Lauren Ransford at a convenient time.
USCIS Fee Increase Expected Soon
The new USCIS Final Fee Rule could be published as a final rule within the next few weeks. The White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) received the final rule containing the new fees on Monday, January 8, 2024 and completed its review of this final rule on Friday, January 19. The next step is for the rule to be published in the Federal Register. Based on past fee rules, the final rule will likely take effect at least 60 days after publication.
Below is a chart summarizing some of the expected fee increases*:
| USCIS FORM | PURPOSE | CURRENT FEE | PROPOSED FEE | INCREASE |
| I-130 | Relative Petition | $535 | $820 | $285 |
| I-485 | AOS | $1,225 (incl. $85 biometrics) | $1,540 | $315 |
| I-765 | Work Permit | $0 (if filed with AOS) | $650 | $650 |
| I-131 | Travel Authorization | $0 (if filed with AOS) | $630 | $630 |
| N-400 | Naturalization | $725 (incl. $85 biometrics) | $760 | $35 |
If you have questions about the proposed fee increases or want to file an application before the increase goes into effect, please reach out to me as soon as possible.
lauren@ransfordlaw.com
(206) 354-4791
http://www.ransfordlaw.com
Becoming a U.S. Citizen
This USA.gov website has helpful information on eligibility for U.S. citizenship, as well as links to resources to study for the English and civics portions of the naturalization tests.
If you have questions about eligibility, lengthy/numerous stays outside the U.S., criminal history or other factors that might complicate your application process, please reach out to me.
lauren@ransfordlaw.com
(206) 354-4791
http://www.ransfordlaw.com
Citizenship Clinic on February 25, 2023!
Volunteers are needed for the February Citizenship Clinic at SeaTac Airport. Volunteering is a great way to gain experience in the naturalization process and to help eligible applicants become U.S. citizens!
Contact me for more information: https://ransfordlaw.com/#contact-me
Contact Washington New Americans directly: https://wanewamericans.org/about-the-citizenship-program-at-oneamerica/
Washington New Americans · Sign up to volunteer here: https://app.initlive.com/web-admin/app/
#citizenship #naturalization #belonging #N-400 #immigration
Stricter ID Requirements for U.S. Travel Postponed Until May 7, 2025
Stricter identification requirements for domestic U.S. air travel that were supposed to go into effect on May 7, 2023 have been postponed until May 7, 2025. Check out this Seattle Times Article.
When the new rules go into effect, you will need one of the following to fly within the U.S.:
- U.S. passport
- U.S. passport card
- DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
- U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- State-issued Enhanced Driver’s License
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized, Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
- Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
For more information on the REAL ID travel identification requirements, check out TSA’s REAL ID webpage.
Law Office of Lauren M. Ransford, PLLC 