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This is a question we hear often. What can someone do if they’re not selected in the H-1b lottery? Here are some options to consider. 1) STEM extension of OPT. If you’re on an F-1 OPT and eligible for STEM extension this should be an obvious option. 2) F1. Go back to school if there’s another […]

One of the questions on the N-400 application for citizenship asks: “Have you ever claimed to be a US Citizen (in writing or any other way)?” This simple Yes or No question can present a major problem if the answer is ever “Yes“. So when is the answer ever a yes? What is the full extent of this question, really? False

It’s all over the news if you have been paying attention, and has caused a significant amount of debate regarding whether or not President Obama can use Executive Powers to make changes to Deportation enforcement.  In case you haven’t heard, take a look here:  “Obama is Preparing to Make One of the Boldest Moves of his

Since the fall of DOMA, the immigration possibilities of same-sex couples where one happens to be of a different nationality have greatly increased.  We at SwagatUSA are thrilled to be able to assist a number of same-sex couples in their life goals by resolving their immigration issues!  However, a few challenges still remain.  Here I

As promised in my previous blog post, I wanted to offer a solution for some people accused of shoplifting or other similar crimes involving moral turpitude. If you haven’t seen that post, you can see it here. So, if it is only your first time that you have been accused of this crime. Maybe you have been

The Holidays are coming. We can feel it everywhere. All the stores are stocking up, sales are buzzing everywhere, holiday lights and music fill the air. What does this all have to do with immigration? Well, I’ll get to that. Shoplifting and that pesky petty theft (retail theft) presents a special problem for immigrants. Now, I

Today, Monday September 9, 2013, is the final day of “Paryushan,” a Jain holy week, when we ask for forgiveness from family and friends.  It seemed like a perfect opportunity for me to ask for forgiveness from my clients, prospective clients, and those who would have been my clients if I had reached you in time. Here

When an immigrant is married to a US Citizen, the person is sometimes eligible for a marriage-based adjustment of status (I485). However, many details need to be understood before you move forward with filing a case this complex without the proper guidance. Are you qualified to adjust your status based on marriage? – Sometimes people assume

The area of crimes in immigration is a HUGE topic. So huge, in fact, that Harvard University has recently begun offering a course called Crimmigration (The intersection of immigration and criminal laws).  The main reason that this is a complex area is because criminal law is state law, and each state has different terminology, different levels of punishments,