Kathleen Collins and Associates, LLP

07/30/2021

Designation Allows Eligible Haitians Who Resided in the U.S. as of July 29 to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents
WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today posted for public inspection a Federal Register notice that provides information about how to register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas previously announced this 18-month designation of Haiti for TPS on May 22.
The registration process will open next week when the FRN is published. All individuals who want to request TPS under this designation for Haiti must file an application.
This includes approximately 55,000 current TPS Haiti beneficiaries, whose TPS-related documentation is automatically extended at least through Oct. 4, 2021, in compliance with court orders. These individuals must file a new application for TPS under this designation to ensure they retain their status.
This designation of Haiti for TPS also enables an estimated 100,000 additional individuals to file initial applications for TPS, if otherwise eligible. To be eligible for TPS under this designation, individuals must demonstrate that they have continuously resided in the United States since July 29, 2021. In light of recent events in Haiti, including the July assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, Secretary Mayorkas has modified this date from what was previously announced. Individuals who attempt to travel to the U.S. after July 29, 2021, will not be eligible for TPS and may be subject to expulsion or removal.
Individuals applying for Haiti TPS must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the 18-month initial registration period that runs from Aug. 3, 2021, through Feb. 3, 2023. Haiti TPS applicants are eligible to file Form I-821 online. When filing a TPS application, applicants can also request an Employment Authorization Document by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with their Form I-821. Applicants may also submit Form I-765 online.

05/24/2021

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have published a joint temporary final rule making available an additional 22,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural guest worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2021 to employers who are likely to suffer irreparable harm without these additional workers. Of the supplemental visas, 6,000 are reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala.
DHS first announced the planned supplemental increase of 22,000 visas for the H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker program on April 20, 2021. The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 16,000 visas available only to returning H-2B workers from one of the last three fiscal years (FY 2018, 2019, or 2020), and 6,000 visas for Northern Triangle nationals, which are exempt from the returning worker requirement.
“Today’s joint rule helps American businesses and addresses the need for robust worker protections,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “For the first time, we are setting aside supplemental visas for noncitizens from Northern Triangle countries, in furtherance of President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’ direction to expand legal pathways for protection and opportunity for individuals from those countries.”
“The temporary final rule is designed to prevent permanent and severe financial loss to U.S. employers by supplementing the congressionally mandated H-2B visa cap, takes into account feedback from American businesses, employer organizations, and labor representatives, and is one piece of the administration’s broader comprehensive framework for managing migration throughout North and Central America,” said USCIS Acting Director Tracy L. Renaud. “This rule incorporates several key provisions to ensure adequate safeguards for U.S. workers and H-2B workers. The rule requires that employers take additional steps to recruit U.S. workers, and provides for “portability,” which allows H-2B workers already in the United States to begin employment with a new H-2B employer or agent once USCIS receives a timely filed, non-frivolous H-2B petition, but before the petition is approved. Portability enables H-2B workers to change employers more quickly if they encounter unsafe or abusive working conditions. DHS and DOL will also conduct a significant number of post-adjudication reviews to ensure compliance with the program’s requirements.”
Starting May 25, eligible employers who have already completed a test of the U.S. labor market to verify that there are no U.S. workers who are willing, qualified, and able to perform the seasonal nonagricultural work can file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, to seek additional H-2B workers. They must submit an attestation with their petition to demonstrate their business is likely to suffer irreparable harm without a supplemental workforce. Additional details on eligibility and filing requirements are available in the temporary final rule and the Temporary Increase in H-2B Nonimmigrant Visas for FY 2021 webpage.

08/16/2019

Texas Child Support Guidelines will increase effective Sept. 1. This change in the law will, in effect, raise the amount of maximum child support under the Texas Child Support Guidelines from $1,710 per month to $1,840 per month for one child.

08/12/2019

IMMIGRATION APPLICATIONS WILL BE DENIED IF THE APPLICANT HAS RECEIVED PUBLIC BENEFITS ABOVE A THRESHOLD AMOUNT.

Beginning October 15, 2019,persons seeking to adjust their status/gain lawful permanent resident status ( a green card)
or, extend their stay, if the applicant has received public benefits above a designated threshold (*) they are not eligible, meaning their application will probably be denied.

INELIGIBLE FOR CHANGE OF STATUS AND EXTENSION OF STAY IF THEY RECEIVED THE BENEFITS AFTER OBTAINING THE NONIMMIGRANT STATUS THEY SEEK TO EXTEND OR CHANGE.

The service may if the service choses, to allow an ineligible applicant to post a public charge bond, minimum bond amount is $8,100.00 dependent on the applicant's circumstances.

(*) an individual who receives one or more designated public benefits for more than 12 months, in the aggregate, within any 36-month period (such that, for instance, receipt of two benefits in one month counts as two months). The rule further defines the term “public benefit” to include any cash benefits for income maintenance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), most forms of Medicaid, and certain housing programs.

06/13/2019

I Married a Narcissist

What is a narcissist? Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a mental disorder where the person has very inflated self-esteem issue and a serious need for admiration and special treatment from other people. Typical arrogant behavior and lack of empathy for other people causes many problems in all emotional areas of their lives and relationships.

Narcissists are also very aggressive and usually have impulsivity, dangerous lifestyles involving cockiness, selfishness, manipulatives and power motives. These individuals are usually very exciting personalities at first meeting, but later cause unfulfilling relationships resulting in anxiety and depression at the end of the day.

How does a narcissist handle divorce?

“I am going to make sure you never see the kids again.”

“I’m not going to pay you a dime in support.”

“I am going to quit my job and you’re going to be paying me support.”

“I will spend all the money that we have just to fight you.”

“You and the children will be on the streets if you proceed with the divorce.”

If these threats sound familiar, it is probably because you are divorcing a narcissist. Narcissists by their very nature are control freaks. The narcissist cannot handle anything they perceive causes them to lose control. When the narcissist is losing control and their grip on reality has completely slipped, threats like this and other emotional abuse becomes very common.

05/31/2019

https://allriseforchildren.com/

Home ALL RISE: For the Good of the Children takes you inside the courtroom of an unconventional judge in East Texas who takes a trust-based, trauma-informed approach to healing broken families in the child welfare system. Two families share how their lives were transformed through the support and in...

05/28/2019

The First Court of Appeals Courtroom in the old Civil Courthouse in Houston Texas.

The First Court of Appeals serves the Houston, Texas Area. The Court consists of nine justices who hear appeals and original proceedings from ten counties.

Oral Arguments in Winnie Alwazzan vs. Isa Alwazzan and International Agencies Ltd., Co.