When Tax Issues Affect One’s Ability to Naturalize (Become a U.S. Citizen)
To be eligible for naturalization (the process of obtaining U.S. citizenship), a lawful permanent resident must show “good moral character” for the five years preceding the naturalization application. Good Moral Character (“GMC”) encompasses conduct beyond simple an absence of criminal behavior. The most common non-criminal GMC problems we see are failure to pay child support […]
Breaking down the New “90-Day” Rule Regarding Inconsistent Conduct After Entry that Suggests a Misrepresentation
On September 1, 2017, the Department of State revised their Foreign Affairs Manual (or “FAM”, the manual consular officers use when making decisions on visa issuance abroad) regarding what type of “inconsistent conduct within 90 days of entry” raises a presumption that a misrepresentation was made at a consular interview or upon entry into the U.S. This new rule […]
Knowing Your Rights at Ports of Entry as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Traveling Abroad and Returning to the United States
Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) should know their rights when traveling abroad so that, upon return, you don’t run into issues at an U.S. port of entry. For example, if a CBP officer alleges that you have lost your permanent residence status for some reason, or are not admissible into the U.S., you have the right to […]
Liberty, Justice and Gonorrhea Testing for All—Staying Up to Date on Form I-693 Medical Exam Requirements
A new technical instruction issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires gonorrhea testing for most adjustment of status applicants who are: Ages 15 and older and Already required to have a full medical exam when Filing Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) The requirement went into effect […]
Tips for Working with the National Visa Center
As many of you may have experienced, the National Visa Center, or “NVC” is the mysterious government agency that demands all kinds of documents before setting up your visa interview at an U.S. consulate or embassy abroad. The NVC is part of the Department of State, the government department in charge of all visa issuance […]