When you married the love of your life and entered a new lifestyle in California, you might have felt like you were living a dream. After traveling a far distance and saying goodbye to family and friends in another country, you might also have felt nervous and worried about certain legal issues. Adapting to a new lifestyle can be challenging on several levels, including emotionally, financially and, sometimes, legally as well.
Lawyers say false addresses are being used on asylum paperwork
California residents who are following the developing immigration situation at the nation's southern border may know that the Trump administration recently instituted a controversial policy that requires Central American migrants to wait in Mexico while their petitions for asylum are being processed. Asylum seekers are sent a Notice to Appear form when an asylum hearing is scheduled, but many of them say that they are not receiving NTAs.
How the government defines various immigration terms
When is the last time you discussed the topic of immigration? You might be one of many California residents who try to steer clear of conversations regarding immigration, politics or religion because such issues tend to incite debate. However, if you or someone you love has arrived in the United States from another country of origin, it's wise to learn as much as you can about certain immigration terms, in particular, how the federal government defines them.
Immigration rules negatively impact unwed couples in California
A same-sex couple from Honduras believed that they would be able to live together safely after coming to the United States. They had planned to apply for asylum based on the fact that they were persecuted for their sexuality at home. However, after arriving together in California, they were sent to detention centers in different states. One of the men was sent to Colorado while the other was sent to Louisiana.
Dance studios are struggling with tougher immigration rules
Dance studio owners in California and around the country are finding it increasingly difficult to find qualified instructors, and many of them say stricter visa application requirements are to blame. A Connecticut studio owner thought that she had finally found the perfect candidate after a year of advertising, but the Greek national she planned to hire was detained at a New York airport and sent back to Europe.
Trump administration to increase citizenship, visa fees
California readers might be interested to learn that the Trump administration is planning to raise the price of U.S. citizenship applications by 83%, according to media reports. The move is part of an overall 21% increase for certain visa applications that was proposed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in November.
Trump administration begins deportations
Immigration courts in California and other states along the U.S.-Mexico border are likely to be extremely busy in the coming months. On Nov. 21, the Trump administration began the process of deporting thousands of migrants who sought asylum in the United States to Guatemala. The migrants are being deported under the provisions of a bilateral agreement that the White House negotiated with Guatemala in July. Similar agreements were brokered with El Salvador and Honduras in September. The agreements require Central American migrants to seek asylum in nearby countries instead of continuing on to the United States.
