For years, immigration applicants and their attorneys practiced under a basic assumption baked into the system: if something was missing or deficient from a filing, USCIS would request it before rendering a final decision. That assumption is no longe…
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On July 20, 2026, USCIS published a significant new rule changing how officers interpret a ground of inadmissibility called “public charge.” The rule takes effect on September 18, 2026, and it will drastically affect how USCIS evaluates green car…
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On June 23, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued a major ruling that every green card holder in New Jersey needs to understand. In a 6-3 decision, the High Court in Blanche v. Lau sided with the Trump administration and essentially held that…
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On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued Policy Memorandum PM-602-0199. The official press release that accompanied it declared that USCIS would grant adjustment of status “only in extraordinary circumstances,” ca…
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If you are applying for a green card while living in the United States — or planning to — a new federal policy just changed the landscape in a significant way. On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued Policy Memor…
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More than any time in recent memory, applicants who have filed for their green cards based on marriage are receiving distressing correspondence from USCIS in the form of a Request for Evidence or a Notice of Intent to Deny. If you are a couple in New…
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A system-wide fingerprint re-submission protocol took effect April 27, 2026 — here is what it means for your pending I-485 and what you should do. If you have not heard on social media, there has been a seismic new policy impacting not only pending…
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On March 25, 2026, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed three landmark immigration-protection bills into law — affecting potentially as many as 2.4 million immigrants in New Jersey, roughly 500,000 of whom are undocumented. At Lee & Garasia, LLC, we…
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If you are a DACA recipient living in New Jersey, you may be wondering whether you can still renew your DACA status in 2026 and what the most recent court decisions mean for your work permit and protection from deportation. The Trump Administration h…
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For lawful permanent residents in New Jersey, a simple, unintentional mistake at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) can create serious immigration consequences during the citizenship process and jeopardize one’s status. Only U.S. citizen…
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