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Green Card Marriage in NYC: What’s Changing in 2025?

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  Many couples in New York City are facing delays after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January that disrupted the processing of green cards. While political orders can be frustrating and unclear, being informed is the first step toward staying on track. In this blog, we are breaking down how the 2025 policy shift could affect your green card marriage in NYC and how you can respond strategically. What does the new executive order say? On January 20, President Trump signed an executive order titled ‘ Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats.’ The order directs US immigration agencies to increase screening measures for anyone trying to enter the country or adjust their status, especially individuals from countries flagged for national security concerns. The goal of the order is to increase vetting of immigrants, including those already in the US, to ensure that no perceived threat goes unchec...

USCIS Releases June 2025 Visa Bulletin With Key Updates

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  Each month, USCIS announces which applicants living in the US should file their adjustment of status applications using either the “Final Action Dates” chart or the “Dates for Filing” chart. For June 2025: ·         Family-based applicants must use the “Dates for Filing” chart. ·         Employment-based applicants should follow the “Final Action Dates” chart. Both charts are available on the US Department of State’s website. If you're tracking your green card status, the visa bulletin gives a better sense of expected wait times and can help you decide whether it’s time to consult a family immigration lawyer in New York. Quick summary of family-based categories Most family-based green card categories saw no movement in June 2025. The exception was F-4 for siblings of U.S. citizens from India, which advanced by two months. All other categories remained unchanged. F2A Final Action Dates — June 2025 ...

Understanding the Impact of Trump's Expanded Travel Ban Proposal

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  The Trump administration recently announced that it is considering a new and broader travel ban that could affect citizens from up to 43 countries. This proposal is expected to go far beyond the original travel restrictions he introduced during his first term — and it is already raising serious concerns for travelers, students, professionals, and families across multiple continents. Contact our immigration attorney in New York if you think this development may affect you. A closer look at the proposed categories A three-tiered system is being proposed to classify the affected countries. Each tier will correspond to different restriction levels: ·         Full visa suspension may be imposed on Afghanistan, Iran, Libya, Bhutan, Cuba, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen, meaning that that their citizens would no longer be allowed to enter the US for any reason. ·         Partial visa...

End of Birthright Citizenship: Key Changes for Immigration Law Firms in New York

As soon as he took office, President Donald Trump enacted a series of immigration-related executive orders. These orders — more than a dozen in total — dismantled many of Biden's immigration policies and introduced stricter regulations for undocumented immigrants, asylum seekers, and visa applicants.  One of the most controversial policies is the end of birthright citizenship. Critics say that this policy change has created a challenging political environment that underlines the Trump administration's rigorous approach to immigration. As an immigration law firm in New York, we at Berd & Klauss, PLLC, stay on top of key changes in immigration policies. Contact us if you need legal guidance. President Trump’s America First Priorities The first executive order outlines several key priorities for the Trump administration's approach to immigration: • The president aims to enhance border security and protect communities by involving the National Guard and US Armed Forces. •...

Best Asylum Lawyers in New York: Legal Expertise for Immigrants and Refugees

  You may be eligible to apply for asylum if you’ve fled persecution in your home country and come to the United States seeking safety. The process, however, is complex and demanding — it requires that you have either (1) experienced persecution or (2) fear persecution based on specific criteria. Having an asylum lawyer in New York to provide you with legal guidance can make a world of difference. What does asylum mean, and how can it protect you? Asylum is a protection granted to individuals who have fled their home country due to (1) persecution or (2) a well-founded fear of persecution. The US offers this legal pathway to safeguard human rights and provide refuge to those in need. To qualify, you must prove that the persecution you faced relates to at least one of the following categories: race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group. ·         Race includes discrimination, threats, or viol...

Biden Administration Declines to Extend Legal Status for Migrants from Four Nations

  In late 2022, the US government implemented the CHNV program, which allowed eligible migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to legally work and live in the US for two years. This program was designed to address the influx of migrants from these countries and provide a legal pathway for them to remain in the US. However, the Biden administration announced the end of this temporary humanitarian program on October 4, 2024. This decision will impact hundreds of thousands of migrants who benefited from the program, who will now need to explore alternative pathways to legal residency or face potential deportation. How the program changed If you are affected by this, you can always seek help from Berd & Klauss, PLLC. Our immigration attorneys in Brooklyn will help you find alternative solutions and avoid deportation. Who’s affected? Since the CHNV program commenced in 2022, more than 530,000 migrants have been able to fly legally into the United States and ob...