TPS EXTENDED FOR
HONDURANS AND NICARAGUANS UNTIL JULY 5, 2006
Applications Must Be Filed
Before January 5, 2005

Immigration officials announced an 18-month extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Honduras and Nicaragua.  This extension will allow those already granted TPS status the ability to live and work in the United States until July 5, 2006, if they apply for TPS renewal before January 5, 2005.

Contact this Office immediately to schedule an appointment to renew your Honduran or Nicaraguan TPS.

Additional news indicates that an extension of TPS for nationals of El Salvador will be coming shortly.

SETTING UP YOUR CASE TO SUCCEED

Quality of work and foresight are important in your immigration matter.  Anyone who prepares your immigration documents must know the most recent court decisions which interpret the immigration laws, and which show how to make the case successful. These decisions are being published rapidly on a daily basis, and have an immediate effect on the cases that are pending with Immigration.  If an application does not comport with recent law, or is filed without sufficient evidence, with poor workmanship, or without addressing foreseeable weaknesses, it can be denied and you will pay more farther down the road in motions to reopen/reconsider and appeal fees.

Furthermore, in this time of stricter immigration laws, sometimes the only way to win a case is to take it on appeal and challenge the law.  But the appellate court cannot help you if the case was poorly started-- appellate courts are not allowed to accept new evidence or new arguments to fix prior errors.  A good attorney will have “the big picture” in mind when preparing your case and can plan for possible events in the future, so that in the unfortunate event you have to fight it on appeal, it will have a good foundation and be strong enough to challenge existing laws.

Hill & Piibe maintains a very active practice before the appellate courts, helping to change the laws and staying updated on the latest ways to improve our clients’ cases, setting them up to succeed.

PERMANENT RESIDENTS ORDERED DEPORTED DUE TO PRE-APRIL 1, 1997 CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS MAY BE ABLE TO GET THEIR RESIDENCY BACK

Eligible lawful permanent residents (LPRs) with certain criminal convictions obtained by plea agreements prior to April 1, 1997, may be able to apply for relief from orders of deportation or removal under former section 212(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This relief is available to eligible individuals who are currently in removal proceedings or who have completed immigration proceedings and are under final orders of deportation or removal. It does not apply to those aliens who: have departed the United States and are currently outside the United States; or returned illegally to the United States after being issued a final order of deportation or removal.

It is important to note that eligible individuals under final orders of deportation or removal who are still in the United States must apply for this relief by filing a special motion to seek section 212(c) relief with the Immigration Judge or Board of Immigration Appeals, on or before April 26, 2005.

NEW LAW ALLOWS CERTAIN PEOPLE DEPORTED TO APPLY FOR THEIR RESIDENCY

A recent decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit allows certain people who have been deported in the past to apply for their “greencards” even though they did not remain outside the United States for the required 5 years.  If you have been deported and are now ready to receive your residency through marriage or another family member, call now and make an appointment to meet with the attorney to see if you qualify under this new law.

DON’T FORGET TO RENEW YOUR WORK PERMIT!!

You may apply as early as 90 days before it expires.