Steele-Kaplan Law Offices

05/27/2026

English/Spanish Follows // Inglés/Español Sigue

New USCIS Policy Guidance on Adjustment of Status:

USCIS has issued new guidance directing officers to take a closer look at the full record in adjustment of status cases, including both positive and negative factors, when deciding whether to approve permanent residence in the United States. While adjustment of status remains available, we may now need to present stronger supporting evidence to show why your case deserves a favorable exercise of discretion.

This does not eliminate adjustment of status, but it does mean a more exacting review process. USCIS may consider a range of issues, including immigration history, prior status violations, unauthorized employment, criminal history, and other adverse facts, alongside positive factors such as lawful residence, family ties, employment history, tax compliance, community involvement, and hardship uscis.gov.

For many of our clients, the decision between filing for adjustment of status and pursuing consular processing abroad will now require an even more careful case-by-case analysis. Consular processing may still be the better option in some situations, but adjustment of status continues to offer important advantages for eligible applicants and their families.

Our team is closely monitoring how USCIS applies this guidance and what it means for pending and future green card cases. If you are considering adjustment of status, now is the time to review your immigration history and documentation carefully. Call us at 970-461-1282 to set up a time to discuss your options!

**Nueva Política de USCIS sobre Ajuste de Estatus:**

USCIS ha emitido nuevas directrices instruyendo a los oficiales a revisar más detenidamente el expediente completo en los casos de ajuste de estatus, incluyendo tanto factores positivos como negativos, al decidir si aprueban la residencia permanente en Estados Unidos. Aunque el ajuste de estatus sigue disponible, ahora podríamos necesitar presentar evidencia de respaldo más sólida para demostrar por qué su caso merece un ejercicio favorable de discreción.

Esto no elimina el ajuste de estatus, pero sí significa un proceso de revisión más estricto y detallado. USCIS puede considerar una variedad de factores, incluyendo historial migratorio, violaciones previas de estatus, empleo no autorizado, antecedentes penales y otros hechos adversos, junto con factores positivos como residencia legal, lazos familiares, historial laboral, cumplimiento con impuestos, participación comunitaria y situaciones de dificultad o perjuicio.

Para muchos de nuestros clientes, la decisión entre presentar un ajuste de estatus o realizar el proceso consular en el extranjero ahora requerirá un análisis aún más cuidadoso caso por caso. En algunas situaciones, el proceso consular podría seguir siendo la mejor opción, pero el ajuste de estatus continúa ofreciendo ventajas importantes para los solicitantes elegibles y sus familias.

Nuestro equipo está monitoreando de cerca cómo USCIS está aplicando estas nuevas directrices y qué significan para los casos pendientes y futuros de residencia permanente. Si está considerando solicitar un ajuste de estatus, ahora es el momento de revisar cuidadosamente su historial migratorio y su documentación. ¡Llámenos al 970-461-1282 para programar una consulta y hablar sobre sus opciones!

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a new policy memo reiterating the fact that, consistent with long-standing immigration law and immigration court decisions, aliens seeking adjustment of status must do so through consular processing via the Department of State outside of the....

05/27/2026

We are getting a lot of clients who used Alexandra Lozano. She is no longer a licensed attorney. If you used her, please come see us! 970-461-1282 -- Estamos recibiendo a muchos clientes que recurrieron a Alexandra Lozano. Ella ya no es abogada con licencia. Si usted recurrió a ella, ¡por favor, visítenos! 970-461-1282

The attorney, Alexandra Lozano Kennedy, has denied the allegations, including that she advised clients to make false statements to immigration authorities.

05/07/2026

DACA Renewals: Please do not wait the normal 150 days to renew your DACA. I am now recommending filing the renewal at least 10 months prior to the expiration.

RENEW YOUR DACA!

05/07/2026

A new proposed change is being submitted for review that will affect F, J, and I programs. (Heads up, students, this is you!)

1. They would like to get rid of D/S and require students to extend their status manually.
2. Students would be unable to change their major in the first year and graduate students would be unable to change at all.
3. Grace period will be changed from 60 days to 30 days.
4. Deference to prior petitions when filing for extensions will be removed and every petition will be treated as a new petition.

If this happens, all the new filings will extend processing times even more!

What's next? It has to clear through OMB and then it will be published in the Federal Register for it to be implemented in 30 - 60 days.

04/30/2026

To finish my day of gratitude: another five star review! We have the best clients!

04/30/2026

We received flowers and chocolates from another wonderful client! Thank you! Don’t ask where the chocolate went! 🍫

04/30/2026

Received a wonderful thank you from a client!

04/30/2026

Estaba en la oficina de USCIS el lunes cuando el oficial me dio la noticia: ¡USCIS ha pausado las adjudicaciones de todos los casos que requieren huellas! ¡USCIS planea tomar nuevamente las huellas de todos!

📌 ¿Quiénes podrían verse afectados primero?
Casos ya pendientes en los que las huellas fueron presentadas antes del 27 de abril, incluyendo:
• Solicitudes de Ajuste de Estatus
• Casos de asilo
• Peticiones familiares para residencia permanente
• Otras solicitudes que requieren datos biométricos

📌 ¿Qué pasa con los casos recién presentados?
Se espera que las solicitudes presentadas después del 27 de abril queden en espera hasta que los casos pendientes anteriormente completen el nuevo proceso de verificación, lo que podría generar retrasos significativos.

📌 Excepción actual:
Los casos de naturalización con ceremonias de juramento ya programadas podrían seguir avanzando.

🚨 En resumen: Este nuevo sistema podría causar demoras sustanciales en una amplia gama de solicitudes migratorias. Prepárese para esperar.

04/30/2026

I was at the USCIS office on Monday when the officer told me the news: USCIS has paused adjudications for all cases that require fingerprints. USCIS plans to re-fingerprint everyone!

📌 Who may be impacted first?
Cases already pending where fingerprints were submitted before April 27, including:
• Adjustment of Status applications
• Asylum cases
• Family-based green card petitions
• Other applications requiring biometrics

📌 What about newly filed cases?
Applications submitted after April 27 are expected to be queued until previously pending cases complete the new vetting process—potentially creating significant backlogs.

📌 Current exception:
Naturalization cases with oath ceremonies already scheduled may continue moving forward.

🚨 Bottom line: This new system could cause substantial delays across a wide range of immigration applications. Be prepared to wait.

03/29/2026

I have the privilege of representing a wide range of faith communities, helping churches bring individuals here to further their missions and the good they do. When the law falls short, I step in—challenging the government and winning! Through RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act), we can seek exemptions that make a real difference. My latest RFRA victory: securing approval for my client to extend his stay beyond five years without leaving the country! So happy that he can get back to what he loves!