Many New Jersey residents are aware that the political and economic situation in some Central American and Caribbean countries is turbulent. This has prompted thousands of people from these countries to flee to the United States, which has added to the problems at the nation’s southern border. To alleviate this situation and take some pressure off the U.S. Border Patrol, the Department of Homeland Security has introduced a streamlined process to help Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan...

On December 23, 2022, significant changes to Form I-485 (Application for Adjustment of Status) of the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) went into effect in New Jersey and the rest of the country, including a less vague public charge portion and several additional questions. Changes to public charge definition The new public charge portion now clearly defines a public charge as someone dependent on the government for "subsistence." The definition also includes those requiring...

If you are an immigrant living in New Jersey who has always wished to become a United States citizen, you can prepare for the naturalization test. Once you have your interview and pass, you can look forward to a whole new future. This is what to expect with the naturalization test. Understanding the naturalization interview The naturalization interview is the first step. A U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer will ask you a series of questions about your application to learn about...

If you are a foreign worker in New Jersey on a CW-1 visa and your status is about to expire, you can file a petition seeking an extension of your status. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services now considers this limited accommodation to facilitate the current Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Designation for non-immigrant workers in the state. HOW THE EXTENSION WORKS To apply, an employer must file a Form I-129CW petition with supporting documentation on behalf of the foreign worker. The...

Many immigrants settle in New Jersey and have families. Prenatal care is an essential part of health for pregnant people and their babies. A recent study revealed that pregnant immigrants face inequities in prenatal care. IMMIGRANTS MOST IMPACTED The study, conducted by researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the University at Albany, SUNY, examined the level of prenatal care provided to pregnant immigrants between 2011 and 2019. Over 6 million pregnant individuals...

The Employment and Training Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor runs the permanent labor certification program, also referred to as PERM. The purpose of the PERM program is to ensure that U.S. citizens are not passed over in favor of foreign nationals when it comes to employment opportunities. For New Jersey employers who want to hire a foreign citizen to work in the country, a knowledge of the PERM program can help to avoid unnecessary problems and make the immigration process go...

Applying to be a permanent resident in the United States is more commonly referred to as getting your green card. If you’re applying for a green card in New Jersey and have never heard of adjustment of status, it may be helpful to have a basic understanding of what to expect from the process before getting too deep into it. HURRY UP AND WAIT This process will likely feel slow and drawn out for the most part, so patience is important. You should expect the adjustment of status to take a few...

There are several different types of visas with which people who are not U.S. citizens can enter New Jersey. The IR-2 visa is designed for the children of U.S. citizens who do not live in the country. The requirements of the visa are that the person who will enter the U.S. is the child of a citizen, less than 21 years old and not married. The probable processing time for an IR-2 visa is between 17 and 24 months. Some relevant factors are the cost, interview and eligibility. IR-2 VISA TYPICAL...

Most immigrants staying in New Jersey have probably heard how lengthy the process of getting a green card is. The time can vary depending on many factors, including your location and delays in your application. WHAT’S THE MAIN FACTOR IN WAIT TIME? Usually, there’s a required waiting period between filing the family relationship form and applying for a green card. Filing the family relationship usually comes first with the I-130 form, and an actual green card application has to be filed after...