Updates on the War in Ukraine: UNHCR’s advice

Posted on March 25, 2022 by Kayla Goldstein

Ukrainians evacuate their shelter where thousands were reported to have hid after humanitarian corridors were bombarded by Russian attacks.

The weeks behind and those ahead

As the war in Ukraine rages on for its fourth week, the world continues to digest news of Ukrainian strongholds in defense of its country against Russian invaders. Although the Russian military is significantly larger, Ukrainians continue to fight for themselves and their loved ones, surpassing even the most optimistic expectations of international onlookers.

Europe has received thousands of refugees, as Ukrainians flee Ukraine through any option necessary. Many Ukrainians sought to move out West, where Russian bombardment was more constrained due to their limited presence and resources in the area. However, now it seems it is not as safe as before. Many Ukrainians fled via train and were lining up in Lviv to cross the border by train and foot into Poland, where there are several centers accepting refugees and providing shelter and food while working to help them in the next steps of their journeys. Access points into Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Romania, and Moldova are still heavily resourced to welcome refugees and help them with immediate needs. Translation services and Ukrainian-speaking as well as Russian-speaking volunteers are available at all these points. Many Ukrainians who have fled are staying to volunteer to help others who have come after them.

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine

Weeks have passed and Europe and its neighbors continue to welcome Ukrainian refugees into an international rally of support for the underdog in this grotesque and criminal battle against a powerful enemy. At the beginning of March, the United States announced Ukraine is now a designated country for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which you can read more about in our TPS-oriented blog. With TPS now available for Ukrainians, any Ukrainian that has been in the U.S. since March 1, 2022 can apply. Along with TPS, you can apply for work authorization – an employment card (EAD), and work legally in the United States.

UNHCR’s statement on Ukraine

UNHCR, the United Nation’s High Commissioner for Refugees, released a statement recently to assist those seeking answers and for those who may have loved ones in Ukraine. Their statement gives some information on the ways the United States and the UN are responding to the current crisis in Ukraine and what can be done to aid those seeking refuge in the U.S. The following is information directly from UNHCR’s website:

The situation within Ukraine and neighboring countries continues to develop and resources as well as information is changing constantly. If you’d like to learn more about the developing situation, you can click on any of the following links:

• UNHCR Situation Portal: Ukraine Situation | Global Focus
• UNHCR Operational Data Portal: Ukraine Refugee Situation
• UNHCR Ukraine Help Page: Help Ukraine
• UNHCR Non-Return Advisory: Position on Returns to Ukraine

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has established an emergency hotline for foreign students trying to leave Ukraine. Foreign students can call 380-93-418-5684 on Viber or Telegram. Foreign students can also complete this questionnaire to receive information on available evacuations.

For individuals who remain in Ukraine and are in need of humanitarian assistance, you can contact UNHCR Ukraine (or a partner agency) through the links below:

I. UNHCR Ukraine:
• Address: 16, Lavrska St., Kyiv, 01015
• Telephone for internally displaced people: 0-800-307-711 (Monday to Friday from 09:00-18:00)
• Email: ukrki@unhcr.org or ukrkiprt@unhcr.org
• Telephone: +380 (44) 288 9710
• Twitter: @unhcrukraine

II. Contact UNHCR Ukraine partner organization:
• Right to Protection – provides social assistance to refugees, asylum seekers and
internally displaced persons, in partnership with HIAS

▪ In Kyiv: Address: 55, Shchekavytska St., Kyiv, 04071
Phone: +38 (044) 337-17-62, Mob.: +38 093 049 52 18, +38 094 905 67 62
WhatsApp/Viber: +38 093 038 95 62
Email: lps@r2p.org.ua
Web-site: https://r2p.org.ua/en/asylum-seekers/

▪ In Kharkiv: Address: 85, Chernyshevskaya St., Kharkiv, 61024
Mobile: +38 (057) 751 17 64, +38 (094) 811 17 64
E-mail: v.tsololo@r2p.in.ua

▪ In Lviv: Address: 13 Shota Rustavely St., office 10, Lviv
Mobile: +38 (093) 023 08 55, Phone: +38 (032) 276 19 21

III. List of organizations that are ready to provide shelter, food, clothing, and hygiene products in Ukraine

UNHCR is operating in many of Ukraine’s neighboring countries. If your loved one has successfully reached a neighboring country, they should contact a local UNHCR office when figuring out their next steps. At this time, there is no active UNHCR resettlement program for Ukrainians to the United States.

A list of relevant UNHCR offices include the following:
• Poland
• Slovakia
• Hungary
• Moldova
• Romania

Additionally, some Ukrainians from persecuted religious minority groups may be eligible to reunite with family in the U.S. through a program known as the Lautenberg program. This program enables a U.S. permanent resident, asylee, refugee or citizen to petition for certain qualifying family members. As of March 3, 2022, new applications for this program were not being accepted, but this could change. For more information on the program, you can check here.

Asylum and Related Protection in the United States

Asylum is a form of relief for people who are seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear that they will suffer persecution on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Applying for asylum may be an option for some Ukrainians currently residing in the United States, but you need to be in the United States to apply, much like TPS.

You can learn more about aslyum through USCIS’s website here. Additional information can be found here via UNHCR.

If you are finacially able, you can donate to several organizations directly aiding Ukrainians and their fight for their nation. Below is a list of partners and organizations that you can look into for donations. World Central Kitchen is also an excellent organization providing hot meals to refugees as they make their way across country borders. You can make a donation here.

To review UNHCR’s pdf in full, you can access this link and review their PDF.

Our services

Goldstein & Associates is eager and willing to work with families and individuals from Ukraine to bring their family members to the United States. No matter your finances, contact us today for a free consultation in English or in Russian. This story is ongoing and new resources and opportunties are becoming available each day. Please check our most recent blogs for updates. We hope to have more information regarding options for Ukrainians soon.

If you or a loved one are in Ukraine and are looking for a way to safely evacuate and come to the United States, we urge you to contact our office for legal guidance and to evaluate your options. We would be more than happy to connect you with a member of our staff to discuss your situation and come up with action plans during this chaotic time. You can call our Pittsburgh office at 412-258-8080, our Philadelphia office at 215-982-2381, or schedule a free phone or zoom consultation on our site using this link. English, Spanish, and Russian language options are available. We look forward to working with you. Keep safe.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Kayla Goldstein

As Russian shelling ceases for a few moments, a man walks through a battered Ukrainian street covered in debris while carrying a large package on his back.

War in Ukraine

Just days ago, the Russian military breeched the Ukrainian border, escalating from what was mere military presence and intimidation to a full-scale military attack. This news comes days after Russian President Vladimir Putin was confronted about his troops’ military presence along the Ukrainian border, specifically in Eastern regions of the country where conflict has been ongoing between Ukraine and Russia for several years. During this confrontation, Russian military presence was said to be “a training exercise,” but it became clear this was not the case as Russian forces invaded Ukrainian borders only days later.

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, displacing what will come to be millions of Ukrainians and foreign nationals who sought refuge and life within that nation’s borders. What we will see in the coming days and weeks, is a huge migration of Eastern European displaced peoples among Europe and beyond as individuals fleeing Ukraine seek refuge from the Russian invasion. As Russian shelling and agression continues to spread throughout Ukraine, many in the United States will seek to bring their loved ones here, and many abroad will seek refuge within the United States.

It is with great sadness and concern that we write this blogpost, but in light of these tragic events, we hope to provide timely updates on the situation on the ground in Ukraine, and answer questions our community may have about how to protect loved ones escaping from this senseless war. In addition, we would like to assist with this effort to bring those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine to safety and protect them from injustice and the war crimes committed by the Russian government.

What is the U.S. doing to help?

United States officials have mainly left their centers in Kyiv and continue to urge those still in Ukraine to consider leaving immediately and evacuating to another country to avoid the dangers of the Russian invasion. We do understand that for some this may not be possible (financially or otherwise) and some may choose to stay in the country to fight against foreign forces. Goldstein & Associates is here to answer your questions and provide some legal guidance on these matters if you are able to flee to somewhere safe and would like to know what options you have in terms of resettling abroad and perhaps coming to the United States.

At the moment, there is not a lot of news regarding immigration options and opportunities for Ukrainian refugees fleeing their homes for the U.S. We are awaiting news for the U.S. government that will better help guide the direction and advice we can provide. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact our offices for information, the latest updates, or to explain your situation so we may be better suited to help. Our contact information is listed at the bottom of this blog.

Слава Украïнi

What we have seen so far is that Ukraine will not be taken easily, if at all. The people are strong, their love for their country perhaps stronger, and they have significantly more to lose than Russians do. We believe in Ukrainians, both the tactically trained and the everyday citizens willing to stay and fight for their country and their futures. We send our strength and our unyielding support to those fighting for Ukraine and will continue to donate to the causes we believe provide the most aid during this time. Слава Украïнi!

A bit of our history

We are all incredibly shaken by this news. Our head attorney and founder of Goldstein & Associates, LLC, Mark Goldstein, Esq. and his family are originally from Ukraine and have a significant family history as Soviet Jews fleeing the Soviet Union during WWII, so he is uniquely attuned to this situation and those fleeing Russian persecution. We are all working to learn of the most recent opportunities for Ukrainians here in the United States. Please check this blog and future blogs on this topic for updates, as we will post more information as it becomes available. Если вам нужен перевод на русском языке, то мы с удовольствием можем это предоставить. Пожалуйста, напишите Кейла Голдстейн через емайл: kgoldstein@mglaw.com.

Legal advice and contacts

For specific legal advice about your loved ones or relatives, please call me to set a free legal consultation with our office. To reach our Pittsburgh office, please call (412) 258-8080 and our Philadelphia office at (215) 982-2381. Please note, however, that due to Consular closures and backlogs, and severely limited immigration options under the current U.S. legal system for immigration to the United States, it may not be possible to obtain a visa at this time. We are consistently monitoring media and U.S. government briefings to understand what options look like for Ukrainian citizens both in the United States and abroad. Regardless, we will do our best to discuss your options and work towards finding a solution for your particular situation.

We are doing everything we can to help our clients with loved ones in Ukraine, and are always willing to speak with those seeking to learn about what options may or may not be available.

Information on Afghanistan – what you need to know

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Kayla Goldstein

Hundreds of Afghan families and individuals wait to board evacuation flights out of Kabul, Afghanistan.

Disclaimer: The following message is not offered as official legal advice, but rather to inform on the situation in Afghanistan, and provide general information on available resources. If you or a loved one needs legal advice on this issue, we strongly urge you to contact our offices as soon as possible.

What is happening in Afghanistan?

The situation in Afghanistan is extreme and complicated. The Taliban is in control of almost the entire country, creating serious constraints on the US government’s evacuation of US citizens, workers, and allies. It is reported that the US embassy is closed and has been completely evacuated. US citizens have been urged to make their way to Kabul airport in order to evacuate the country. This means that the only US authority still present in the country is located in and around that airport.

Dates and deadlines

President Biden’s Administration has publicly stated the US will continue its evacuation from Kabul airport until August 31st at the latest. This is still the current course of action, regardless of the Taliban’s claim on blocking flights from taking off. At this time, US forces and personal are still processing “Special Immigrant Visas”(SIV) on the ground at the airport.

What are my current options to get to the United States?

There are, generally, two main situations facing those who wish to travel to the United States from Afghanistan at this time.

For those who can leave Afghanistan, by one way or another, and fear staying in Afghanistan due to the Taliban takeover, entering the United States or a third country will potentially offer multiple options. For individuals who can make it to the US, there is the possibility of applying for asylum or other benefits of US immigration law. For those who can leave Afghanistan and travel to a third country, it would be helpful to contact a US embassy or consulate in that country and inquire about ways to gain admission into the US; such as through the United States Refugee Admissions Program, submitting an application for parole into the US based on humanitarian grounds, etc.

For those who cannot find a way to leave the country, Kabul airport is possibly the only option for leaving. If you or the people you know can make it to the airport and gain entrance, it would greatly increase the chances of your/their evacuation to Doha, Qatar, and, from there, to the United States or other countries.

What now?

At this time the situation is incredibly dangerous and unpredictable. Kabul itself is in chaos, and news from on the ground is not reaching the United States in real time. Yesterday, August 26, 2021, we learned there were a series of terrorist attacks on the Kabul Airport. It is unclear, at this time, how this will effect evacuations and remaining flights to the United States. We will continue to update the blog with new material as it is learned.

What we suggest

Goldstein & Associates urges all people involved to exercise great caution. For those who cannot or do not wish to attempt entry into the Kabul airport, we recommend contacting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to find other options for evacuation.

The phone numbers for the protection hotline are:

079-069-1746 and 070-499-6168 (available on all working days)

You can also email their protection email atafgkaprt@unhcr.org.

Contact us for legal advice and free consultations

For specific legal advice about your relatives, please call our to set a free appointment with our experienced staff. Our numbers are 412-258-8080 and 215-982-2381. Please note, however, that due to Consular closures and backlogs, and severely limited immigration options under the current U.S. legal system for immigration to the United States, it may not be possible to obtain a visa at this time. Regardless, we will do our best to discuss your options and work towards finding a solution for your particular situation.

We are doing everything we can to help our clients with loved ones in Afghanistan, and are always willing to speak with those seeking to learn about what options may or may not be available.

If you or a loved one are in Afghanistan and are looking for a way to safely evacuate and come to the United States, we urge you to contact our office for legal guidance and to evaluate your options. We would be more than happy to connect you with a member of our staff to discuss your situation and come up with action plans during this chaotic time. You can call our Pittsburgh office at 412-258-8080, our Philadelphia office at 215-982-2381, or schedule a free phone or zoom consultation on our site using this link. We look forward to working with you. Keep safe.

What you need to know about the recent DACA ruling and its effects

Posted on July 29, 2021 by Kayla Goldstein

Texas Judge, Andrew Hanen, who made the recent ruling against DACA pictured next to protesters in support of DACA and holding signs that read, “Defend Dreamers.”

This summer, a Texas judge made a ruling stating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is illegal and ordered government to cease processing new applications at this time.

The ruling stated that public comment was never taken into account for DACA, which makes it a violation of federal rulemaking. The judge who made the ruling, Judge Andrew Hanen, argued that President Obama exceeded his power by creating the program.

At the same time, smaller courts across the nation have the potential to make decisions against DACA recipients, using Judge Hanen’s ruling as support. There is a lot of uncertainty around how the ruling can and/or will be applied at lower-level courts, if at all. Let’s break down what DACA is and how it may affect you.

What is DACA?

DACA is the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and it has protected around 800,000 undocumented young adults and children from deportation from the US. Specifically, it has allowed many children who were brought illegally into the US (or were of unlawful status at the time) to stay and secure work authorization. While the recipients, alternatively known as “Dreamers,” are not official legal citizens, the program allows them to apply for a driver’s license, social security number, and a work permit.

The program was started during the Obama Administration back in 2012. In the past decade, it has faced many legal battles. This ruling is not entirely new for the program in terms of obstacles faced along the way of its inception. At G&A, we do not believe this ruling should discourage for beginning the process of applying for DACA or renewing your application if you have been granted DACA in the past.

Who will be affected by this ruling?

Fortunately, current program recipients will not be affected by this ruling and can even continue to renew their DACA status. Similarly, if you have a pending DACA application (meaning you applied before the ruling became public), your application will still be processed for the time being. The Department of Homeland Security is temporarily not allowed to approve new applications for DACA. In addition, if a person’s DACA status has been expired for over a year, they will be considered a first-time applicant and their application will be placed on hold.

This is not the first time DACA has been met with backlash. The Trump Administration had stopped processing DACA applications before and later resumed processing them last winter, creating a major rise in cases in December and severely affected backlog. Current new applicants will be most affected by the recent ruling, since already there was backlog in cases, and now there is a full pause in accepting new applications once again.

What are the next steps?

Recently, the White House announced that the government will petition Judge Hanen’s decision against DACA. The Biden administration also announced that the Department of Homeland Security plans to release a proposed rule concerning DACA shortly.

Additionally, the Biden Administration pledged to challenge the decision at the US Court of Appeals’ 5th circuit, which is where the Texas district court is located. This case could even be taken up to the Supreme Court. Once more information is published on this progressing story, we will update the blog accordingly. Please check in periodically if this information affects you or a loved one.

This blog post was written by our Summer 2021 intern, Sami Semiatin. We hope this blog has been useful and informational for you. If you find yourself affected by this ruling, you are more than welcome to reach out to our firm. If you’d like to discuss details of DACA, if you are eligible for the program, if you are worried about your status or potential for first-time or renewal applications, and so on, please reach out to us and we can connect you with a member of our staff. We would be glad to assist you whether or not you are already a client with our firm. Please give us a call at our Pittsburgh office at 412-258-8080, our Philadelphia office at 215-982-2381, or schedule a free consultation on our site using this link. We look forward to working with you.

U.S. Supreme Court’s New Ruling on Temporary Protected Status (TPS): What to look for

Posted on June 13, 2021 by Kayla Goldstein

Protesters hold signs supporting dreamers and TPS outside of the U.S. Supreme Court. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

This blog has been updated to include Ukraine’s TPS designation, announced by Secretary Mayorkas on March 2, 2022.

Within the United States, there are currently around 400,000 immigrants considered to be holding Temporary Protected Status, or TPS as known to many. Just last week, the US Supreme Court ruled that immigrants who entered the US illegally and received TPS are no longer able to apply for a green card solely based on holding TPS. This would have allowed for TPS receipients to become lawful permanent residents.

What is Temporary Protected Status (TPS)?

Under the TPS program, foreign nationals living in the United States are allowed to live and work (with an Employment Authorization Document – EAD) in the US due to unsafe and/or unstable conditions in their home countries. These conditions include ongoing conflict such as a civil war, environmental disaster, political upheaval or another extraordinary condition.

There is a list of 12 countries which currently qualify for TPS. The Biden Administration has added three (3) more countries, Venezuela, Myanmar/Burma, and now Ukraine, to the list of TPS eligible countries. Other countries that currently qualify for TPS in the United States are El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. A full and exhaustive list of TPS eligible countries and their requirements can be found using the USCIS weblinks below.

Select the country link for additional information.

For more in depth information on TPS and whether or not you or a loved one qualify, please visit this USCIS link.

How does this change TPS moving forward?

The Supreme Court decision emphasizes the “temporary” in temporary protected status. The ruling is meant to clarify that those who were approved for TPS are seeking safety for a limited amount of time and TPS should not be used as a permanent pathway to a green card (permanent residency).

I have TPS, am I affected by this ruling?

If you have come to the US due to war, natural disaster, or another form of instability in your home country and are seeking a pathway to a green card, this may affect you. We want to clarify that this Supreme Court decision does not change the status of current TPS recipients. It also does not mean that TPS individuals are unable to receive a green card at all. It does, however, make it more challenging for those who entered the US unlawfully to seek green card status. TPS recipients can apply for specific visas if they are a victim of serious crimes in their home nation or they also have the option of applying for asylum. Asylum applications are usually for individuals who fear persecution upon returning to their home country. This method can often times lead to an eventual green card, although it depends on specific case details that are different for everyone. This new ruling will make it much harder for many TPS holders to receive a green card based on TPS alone, as the bar is now much higher.

Additionally, those who entered the United States illegally and were granted TPS are now ineligible to seek permanent residency on that basis alone. However, if you were to enter legally and overstayed a visa for example, you can still apply to become a lawful permanent resident in the United States.

While this ruling changes the way we look at Temporary Protected Status and its future benefits, there’s no immediate need to worry. As a TPS foreign national, you still have the ability to apply and become a permanent resident and obtain your green card.

We hope you found this blog helpful and informational. As always, please reach out to our firm if you have any questions or concerns about your case, that of a loved one, or if you’d like to discuss details regarding TPS or Asylum with one of our trained professionals. We would be glad to assist you whether or not you are already a client with our firm. Please give us a call at our Pittsburgh office at 412-258-8080, our Philadelphia office at 215-982-2381, or schedule a free consultation on our site using this link. We look forward to working with you.

Supporting our AAPI Community

Posted on March 17, 2021 by Kayla Goldstein

This featured blogpost is a message of solidarity with our beloved members of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community as they process the recent tragedies in Atlanta, Georgia and all across the United States.

We stand with you, today and always.

Across the United States, Americans have seen a steady increase in the number of hate crimes specifically targeting the Asian American Pacific Islander community. These crimes have been on the rise and vary in levels of violence.

On March 16th, 2021, a white supremacist murdered several people in a mass shooting in Atlanta, GA, killing six (6) Asian women and two (2) others. This cannot be tolerated, nor can this crime go unpunished. As an organization that prides itself in our commitement to assist foreign nationals and immigrants from all over the world live and thrive in the United States, we cannot stand aside and silently watch our community struggle. Our AAPI community members deserve better. And we can do better.

If you see someone who is experiencing racism, discrimination, harassment, or even physical assault, please do not remain silent. Be an active bystander and report hate crimes. There are several resources to help you with this, but a few have been listed below:

www.stopaapihate.org
www.standagainsthatred.org

Make a contribution

If you would like to contribute to the community in another way, either by volunteering or making a donation, please feel free to research the following sources below that would aid the AAPI Community:

GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/aapi
www.stopaapihate.org
Asian Americans Advancing Justice: www.advancingjustice-aajc.org
Red Canary Song: www.redcanarysong.net
New York Mag has a list of 45 ways you can donate to help the AAPI Community using this link: bit.ly/nymag-aapi

Mental health resources for AAPI Community Members

Asian Mental Health Collective: www.asianmhc.org
SAMHSA National Hotline: 800-662-HELP
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA): www.nqapia.org
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

I-944 Cancellation and what it means

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Kayla Goldstein

Form I-944 in the background with a faded image that reads “Public Charge Form I-944” in bold lettering layered on top.

So by now, you may have heard that the public charge rule, I-944, is no longer required. There are a lot of questions in the community, so we’d like to give you some information on what is going on. You may be wondering what major changes you can expect to see, what happens with petitions that have already been filed before this new ruling, and so on. Before we answer those questions, let’s do a little background on the I-944 and what this used to mean for immigration policy.

The public charge rule, originally brought in in 2019, is no longer in place – effective immediately. This is good news. On March 9, 2021, USCIS officially declared they would stop enforcing the public charge rule, visible on their website. There have been a couple litigation challenges in several courts that turned out to be successful. Additionally, with Biden’s Administration halting the opposition to this ruling, we were able to see a turn in our favor. The Supreme Court announced they would no longer be pursuing the case, and as a result, District Courts began doing the same.

So what does this mean exactly?

Great question. It means that USCIS is no longer applying the harsh rule from 2019 that tested education, health, financial status, etc. and which made it quite easy for someone to become subject to public charge. For those who receive government benefits, but are hoping to sponsor family members (for example), this rule will no longer hinder your goals.

What happens now?

Now we will see USCIS going back to the original regulations from 1999. This still requires you to prove that you will not be a burden on the government, but you will no longer have to jump through the bureaucratic hoops you had to with this past rule. You can submit form I-864 and prove that you meet the public guidelines, depending on your household size.

In addition, questions regarding the public charge on other forms, such as sections of the I-539 and I-129 forms, are going to be excluded and will not have to be completed by the applicant / petitioner any longer.

What if I had already filed an application before this rule was overturned?

USCIS has stated they will not be applying the 2019 rule to any applications filed on or after March 9, 2021. You will not have to include form I-944 or any of the supporting documents previously required with this rule.

What if I had already filed an application before this rule was overturned and I’ve received an RFE or NOID since then?

If you received an RFE and the request specifically mentions or pertains to form I-944, you do not have to worry about it or respond. Keep in mind that this is only if the RFE specifically pertains to the I-944. If the RFE contains other information that they would like you to submit, you will still have to do so. If you have documents that are also applicable to other forms, such as the I-539 and I-129, that relate to the public charge, they are no longer required.

Where do we go from here?

You can work with your attorney to figure out if this rule cancellation affects you and what you will need to do if it does. This information is certainly subject to change, but for now, public charge is gone. Rejoice, but stay vigilant in your applications and the forms you are completing.

We hope this blog was helpful to you and at least made you aware of what USCIS is doing in terms of public charge rule changes. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to our firm if you have any questions or concerns about your case. We would be glad to assist you whether or not you are already a client of our firm. Please give us a call at our Pittsburgh office at 412.258.8080, our Philadelphia office at 215-982-2381, or schedule a free consultation on our site using this link. We look forward to working with you.

Receipt notice delays: A frustrating reality

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Kayla Goldstein

A USCIS Receipt Notice lays on a table and showcases a receipt number, date, and notice date.

When you file cases with USCIS, you always receive a receipt notice in the mail documenting the delivery of your application or documentation. Recently, however, USCIS has been experiencing rapid delays in the issuance of receipt notices. They list the Covid-19 pandemic, an increase in case filings, and US postal delays as the main factors contributing to these delays.

According to their website, USCIS has declared delays of up to 4-6 weeks to receive a receipt notice. This is on top of the usual wait time of receipt notices, and for all application types, not just a select few. We are aware of other firms waiting on receipts for over 8 weeks, so if this is the case for you, do not panic. Speak to your attorney about these delays and remain calm. It is possible that these delays may be up to 10 weeks or more, although at Goldstein & Associates, LLC, we have not experienced issues to this degree – waiting a maximum of 6 weeks in delay for receipt notices for several clients, regardless of case type.

So what is USCIS doing to combat these delay issues, you may be asking?

Great question. They have stated that USCIS employees and officers are working overtime to meet the higher demand in application filings, in addition to shifting cases from specific locations to help lighten the load of specific offices. If you receive an unexpected Transfer Notice in the mail, this may be the reason for that development – and if so, it would only be to speed up the processing of your case.

What can you do to speed up this process, if anything at all?

Another great question. First, be patient, and trust in your attorneys who helped you prepare your applications. We know the process is frustrating, confusing, and lengthy. At G&A, all of our staff work long and hard to make sure there’s less for you to worry about. Unfortunately, we have no control over the processing times, or any delays that accompany them, but we are here for you. Don’t hesitate to give us a call or send your representative an email if you need some reassurance or peace of mind.

Another thing you can do is submit a G-1145 form, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance using this link. By filing this form attached to your application, you can receive email and text notifications from USCIS to help you keep track of any updates on your case. Please reach out to us for a free consultation if you would like help with this, or if you would like to go through our attorney services instead. If you are already a client of ours and are interested in this process, please contact your case representative to see if this method would work for your immigration goals.

We hope this blog was helpful to you and at least made you aware of USCIS receipt notice delays and issues that may be occurring due to Covid-19, US postal delays or other external factors. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to our firm if you have any questions or concerns about your case. We would be glad to assist you whether or not you are already a client of our firm. Please give us a call at our Pittsburgh office at 412.258.8080, our Philadelphia office at 215-982-2381, or schedule a free consultation on our site using this link. We look forward to working with you.

Does the court block of Biden’s 100-day freeze on deportations affect you?

Posted on January 28, 2021 by Kayla Goldstein

President Joe Biden sits in the oval office signing a stack of executive orders.

You may have seen some information on the news about President Biden initiating a ban on deportations for 100 days. We’ve also mentioned it in our previous blog post. This proposal came on January 22nd, and many of our clients and immigrant families across the United States were excited to hear the news.

This excitement was short-lived, however, when a Trump-appointed judge in Texas ruled to block Biden’s deportation freeze. This was the first major blow to President Biden’s immigration policy proposals. This challenge to Biden’s immigration related executive order may be the first of many. The new president has many progressive policies on the docket with his immigration plans, and we are sure there are more challenges to come.

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An AILA analysis of Biden’s early immigration policies

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Kayla Goldstein

The logo for the American Immigration Lawyers Association – AILA. The website where the information in this blog post was published.

President Biden has had a lot to cover in his short time in office so far. From reversing executive orders set by Donald Trump, to creating his own regulations and policies, the man has been exceptionally busy. In our past blog posts, we have broken down some of the immigration policy changes, both immediate and long-term, that are sweeping through the country. However, there are even more to add to that growing list. Let’s take a look. Continue reading →

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