Peri B Edelman, Attorney at Law

10/06/2026

I am very happy to share some good immigration news from our office.

Earlier this year, one of our clients attended his immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juárez. Unfortunately, he was found inadmissible and was told that he would need an I-601 waiver before he could receive his immigrant visa.

For many families, receiving this type of news after a consular interview can be frightening. But it does not necessarily mean the case is over.

We immediately began preparing a comprehensive I-601 waiver, documenting the extreme hardship that his U.S. citizen family would suffer if the waiver were not approved.

USCIS received the waiver last Spring.

Just a few months later, in September, the waiver was approved.

The family is now able to move forward with the immigrant visa process.

Every immigration case is different, and no attorney can guarantee a particular result. But difficult immigration problems can sometimes have solutions. A finding of inadmissibility, a complicated immigration history, or a setback at a consular interview does not always mean that there is no path forward.

If you or a family member has been told that a waiver is required, or you are concerned about a problem that could arise at an immigrant visa interview, obtaining experienced legal advice before taking the next step can be extremely important.

09/16/2026

🚨 GOOD NEWS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

A federal judge has blocked a new DHS rule that would have placed stricter time limits on how long international students and exchange visitors could remain in the United States.

The proposed rule would have limited many F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors to a maximum stay of 4 years, potentially forcing students in longer programs to apply for extensions just to complete their education.

⚖️ For now, those new restrictions will NOT take effect.

International students can continue under the current system, which generally allows them to remain in the U.S. for the duration of their authorized studies as long as they maintain their immigration status.

The case is not over, and the government may appeal. We will continue to monitor any developments.

09/10/2026

We are seeing an increasingly concerning trend in immigration cases: individuals who file applications on their own, or rely on a “notario,” paralegal, or other non-attorney to prepare their paperwork, may find themselves facing removal proceedings when something goes wrong. Many people have appeared in my office with this issue.

An immigration application is not simply a matter of filling in blanks on a form. Every answer can have legal consequences.

For example, using the wrong eligibility category on an employment authorization application, incorrectly answering a question on Form I-485, or misunderstanding a person’s immigration history can create significant problems. Something that may appear to be a minor mistake can affect whether USCIS believes the person is eligible for the benefit being requested.

The consequences have become much more serious. In cases where USCIS determines that an applicant is not eligible for adjustment of status and the person does not have lawful status, the government may issue a Notice to Appear (NTA), placing that individual into removal proceedings before an Immigration Judge.
In other words, a person may file an application hoping to obtain a green card and instead find themselves facing deportation proceedings.

This is why it is especially important to have your immigration history and eligibility carefully reviewed before anything is filed with USCIS. A qualified immigration attorney can identify potential problems, determine the correct legal basis for the application, and make sure that the answers provided are accurate and consistent with the applicant’s immigration history.

If you are considering applying for adjustment of status, do not assume that your case is “simple” simply because the forms are available online. And if someone other than a licensed attorney is preparing your immigration paperwork, make sure you understand exactly what is being filed on your behalf.

The cost of correcting an immigration mistake can be far greater than the cost of getting proper legal advice before filing.

09/04/2026

This Labor Day, we recognize and celebrate the dedication, hard work, and contributions of workers throughout our country.

In observance of the holiday, our office will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, and will reopen on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

We wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable Labor Day!

09/03/2026

USCIS has updated Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, effective August 31, 2026. There is no grace period for the new form.

What You Need to Know

The most significant change is that the new Form I-864 includes a privacy release allowing USCIS to obtain information from consumer reporting agencies when reviewing a sponsor’s financial eligibility.

This means USCIS may obtain information from credit reporting agencies as part of its review of an Affidavit of Support.

If you are a financial sponsor, this is an important change. If you have a credit or security freeze, USCIS may ask you to lift it so that the agency can obtain the information it needs.

Our Advice to Clients

If you have questions about your income, financial documentation, credit report, or a credit freeze, please contact our office before submitting your I-864. We can review your situation and make sure your Affidavit of Support is prepared correctly under the new requirements.

09/01/2026

08/20/2026

🚨 NEW PUBLIC CHARGE RULES FOR GREEN CARD APPLICANTS

USCIS has issued new guidance on how officers will determine whether certain Green Card applicants may be considered likely to become a “public charge.”

📅 The new rules take effect September 18, 2026.

The changes may affect many people applying for Green Cards through family or employment. USCIS may consider an applicant’s financial situation and other individual circumstances when reviewing the case.

Certain immigrants remain exempt, including refugees, asylees, VAWA self-petitioners, U and T visa applicants, and other humanitarian categories.

⚠️ Planning to apply for a Green Card? It is important to understand whether the new rules apply to you and how they could affect your application.

📞 Contact our office to schedule a consultation.

08/13/2026

🚨 Immigration Alert: Major Change to Advance Parole

August 13, 2026

The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) announced an important change today that could affect immigrants who travel outside the United States using Advance Parole.

What changed?

For more than 10 years, people who traveled with Advance Parole generally did not have that trip counted as a “departure” for purposes of the 10-year unlawful-presence bar.

That has now changed.

In Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, the BIA overturned its previous rule and decided that leaving the United States with Advance Parole can count as a departure.
Why does this matter?

If someone has accumulated one year or more of qualifying unlawful presence, leaving the United States can potentially trigger a 10-year bar on returning to the country.

This means that having Advance Parole does not automatically mean that international travel is safe.

Who should be especially careful?

If you have:

DACA or another status that provides Advance Parole;
A pending green card application;
A history of unlawful presence; or
An immigration case involving a previous entry without inspection,
talk to an immigration attorney before traveling outside the United States.

One important point

The BIA recognized that people relied on the old rule for many years and addressed retroactivity in its decision. This means the new rule is not simply being applied to every past Advance Parole trip.

Bottom line

Do not travel internationally on Advance Parole without first reviewing your individual immigration history with an attorney if you have any history of unlawful presence.

This is a major change, and additional guidance or court decisions may provide further clarification.

Contact our office to schedule a consultation regarding your immigration matter.

08/11/2026

🚨 USCIS MOVES TOWARD MANDATORY ELECTRONIC FILING

A major change is coming to the way immigration applications and petitions are filed with USCIS.

Effective August 11, 2026, a new Department of Homeland Security rule gives USCIS the authority to require certain immigration forms to be filed electronically instead of by mail.

⚠️ Important: This does NOT mean that all USCIS forms must be filed electronically beginning August 11.

USCIS may make e-filing mandatory for forms that have been available electronically for at least 180 days. Before requiring electronic filing for a particular form, USCIS must provide at least 60 days' notice.

💻 When e-filing is required, applicants and their attorneys will generally need to use a USCIS online account to submit the application and supporting evidence.
Individuals who cannot file electronically may request an undue-hardship waiver, although approval will be at USCIS's discretion.

📌 Immigration filing procedures are changing. Following the correct USCIS requirements for your particular application will be more important than ever.
Our office closely monitors changes in immigration law and USCIS policy to help our clients navigate an increasingly complex immigration system.

📞 Contact our office to schedule a consultation regarding your immigration matter.

08/07/2026

⚠️ IMPORTANT USCIS UPDATE ⚠️

USCIS has restored its authority to deny immigration applications immediately if they are filed without the required initial evidence.

❌ Do not assume you will receive a Request for Evidence (RFE) giving you a chance to fix missing documents.

A missing form, signature, filing fee, or required supporting evidence could now result in an immediate denial.

What this means for you:

✔️ Double-check every document before filing.
✔️ Make sure your application is complete the first time.
✔️ Don't rely on getting a second chance.

With immigration policies becoming increasingly strict, proper preparation has never been more important.

If you are planning to file with USCIS, our office can help ensure your application is as complete and well-supported as possible before it is submitted.

📞 Contact Peri B. Edelman, Attorney at Law, to schedule a consultation