Gary Rich

It's only going to get worse!!

A new policy from the Trump administration could leave thousands of immigrants scrambling to keep their jobs while they await renewals of their work permits. Previously, many immigrants were able to extend their work permits automatically upon submission of a renewal application. Now, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is doing away with that policy, and forcing people to wait until a renewal request is approved before any extension. ( Read More ) https://www.huffpost.com/entry/work-permits-trump-homeland-security_n_69041248e4b00c26f070f792?origin=home-whats-happening-unit

Good Afternoon, I’m not sure of your timeline, but when my wife and daughter arrived on K-1 and K-2 visas, we timed it so that the school year was just ending. This gave us all summer to find the right school for our child. Since it’s November now, it might make sense to wait until summer for her arrival to avoid rushing school enrollment, or to have her arrive a bit later.

Here’s a small update from USCIS — my wife’s and daughter’s cases have been re-consolidated, which actually saves us about $1,500. However, the hearing has been pushed back to 11/5/2025 Still good news..

And that’s the strangest part—my wife and I talk about it all the time. This whole mess began last November, when the new administration took office.

You have no idea, in the amount of stress that USCIS is causing.. a total mess

I disagree. USCIS already charges some of the highest application fees in the federal system — and yet inefficiencies persist. The issue isn’t just a lack of funding; it’s how the existing funds are managed. More money without structural reform could just feed bureaucracy. Instead of more funding, USCIS needs accountability, modernization, and transparency to make sure the resources they already have are used effectively.

( my quote ) I agree with you. Right now, going to court is a gamble you simply cannot afford. The courts are completely backed up, and you will almost certainly end up spending far more money than you ever expected. It’s a slippery slope under this administration. My wife and I are already paying the price for the tiniest mistake — thankfully ours was minor, but it still cost us dearly. If your case reaches the courthouse, the costs will explode, especially if it moves into any removal proceedings. This system is stacked against ordinary people, and every misstep comes with steep consequences.

I agree with you. Right now, going to court is a gamble you simply cannot afford. The courts are completely backed up, and you will almost certainly end up spending far more money than you ever expected. It’s a slippery slope under this administration. My wife and I are already paying the price for the tiniest mistake — thankfully ours was minor, but it still cost us dearly. If your case reaches the courthouse, the costs will explode, especially if it moves into any removal proceedings. This system is stacked against ordinary people, and every misstep comes with steep consequences.

This is what is taking place right now

Good Afternoon, I just wanted to share a quick update. My wife and daughter had to refile their I-485 applications. USCIS has received the package, and so far, everything looks fine. My daughter has a master hearing scheduled in October. What happened is that the court separated their cases, but our attorney is working to have them combined again. The reasoning is simple: if the daughter is approved, then the mother should be as well. That said, the attorney has told us this is a very weak case against us. USCIS has already approved all of our other applications without any issues, and it’s not as though we committed fraud or anything of that nature. I’ll continue to keep you updated as new information becomes available.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ap-us-trump-deportations-us-visas-deportable-violations_n_68a76d66e4b03a473eb1c9e8#comments

( This Administration is cracking down... I just got this email from USCIS, website. Please be careful when submitting any documents or other materials. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is restoring robust screening and vetting processes to detect aliens seeking to defraud or abuse the immigration system, including aliens who make false claims to U.S. citizenship. We are also actively increasing public awareness among aliens and the public about the consequences of committing immigration fraud. Aliens who use false information or deceitful practices to unfairly obtain immigration advantages will face serious consequences. We are updating USCIS Policy Manual Volume 8, Part K, Chapter 2, to clarify the application of Matter of Zhang, 27 I&N Dec. 569 (BIA 2019), to the false claim ground of inadmissibility. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after the publication date. The clarified policy guidance: Specifies that the decision in Matter of Zhang supersedes all prior DHS policy and guidance that provided a defense to the false claim to U.S. citizenship ground of inadmissibility under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) 212(a)(6)(C)(ii) based on an alien’s knowledge or legal capacity; and Explains how we consider age, knowledge, and mental capacity when determining whether an alien had the subjective intent to achieve a purpose or benefit under the INA or any other federal or state law. The guidance contained in the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any prior guidance on the topic. For more information, see the Policy Alert. https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-8-part-k-chapter-2

We’re still waiting, but we’re staying prayerful and keeping life as normal as possible. My advice is—don’t let your mind run in circles. Keep moving forward, one day at a time, and trust the process. We’ve found that focusing on small, positive things helps. For us, our daughter is starting school next week, and that’s where our energy is going right now. Finding something good to look forward to can make the waiting a little easier.

Good Morning Visa Journey Family, I just wanted to share a small update with you all. This week, my wife and I heard from our attorneys regarding our case. They told us they’re working to have all fees waived for our refiling. Since we already paid once—and have proof of that—they believe we have a strong chance. They also pointed out that our case is so weak against us that the judge may remove it from her calendar entirely, meaning we might not even have to go through a video hearing. In their pleadings, our attorneys are asking the judge to approve our green card status and order USCIS to approve our case as well. But from what I’ve learned, USCIS (under this administration) seems to care more about money than anything else. We’re still being prayerful, and I’m doing my best to keep my wife calm through it all. Thank you all for your support—it means a lot to us.