Johnson & Masumi, P.C.

05/27/2026

Do you have to leave the United States to get a green card now? The short answer is no. Here is what is actually happening — especially if you have a case pending right now.

USCIS issued a memo last week calling adjustment of status "extraordinary relief" and "administrative grace." The press release said people here temporarily must go home to apply except in extraordinary circumstances. That language is aggressive and intentional and it has people panicking. But when you read the memo line by line and check the actual citations? The legal overreach is significant.

Here is what the memo actually does. It reminds officers that adjustment of status is discretionary — meaning they weigh the positives and negatives of your specific case. Overstays and status violations are now explicit negative factors. The decision to stay in the U.S. instead of going through a consulate is something you will need to overcome with strong equities. That part is real.

Here is what it does NOT do. It does not ban adjustment of status. It does not change the statute. INA Section 245 was written by Congress on purpose. It is not a loophole. A loophole is something built in by accident. This was not an accident.

If you have a pending case right now — cases are still moving, interviews are still being scheduled. But officers are looking harder at your discretionary factors. Family ties, immigration history, moral character, length of time here. The record you bring to your interview matters more than it ever has.
There is also a critical carve-out almost nobody is talking about. The memo applies where consular processing is available. For VAWA survivors, Special Immigrant Juveniles, and applicants with no viable waiver path — there is a strong argument this memo does not apply to you at all. And if this administration has already suspended visa processing for your country, you cannot be told to use a process the government shut down.

AOS is not dead. Save this, share it with someone who is affected, and drop your questions below.

05/22/2026

‼️Breaking news: USCIS dropped a NEW memo and the internet immediately said adjustment of status is over. It's not. Here's what the memo actually says vs. what the headline said — because they are not the same thing.

The memo does NOT ban AOS. It does NOT tell everyone to leave the U.S. What it does is remind officers that AOS is discretionary, meaning they have to weigh the good AND the bad in your case. Courts have said this for 50 years. This is not new law.

Here's what IS new: officers must now treat your decision to stay in the U.S. instead of going through a consulate as a negative factor. Overstays and status violations matter more now. BUT the memo also requires officers to weigh your family ties, your moral character, your time here, your community. And if they deny you on discretion, they have to explain IN WRITING why the negatives outweighed the positives.

If you have a pending AOS case: do not abandon it. Do not leave the U.S. based on a headline. Talk to an attorney who read the actual memo.

Save this. Share it with anyone who may benefit, and drop your questions.

⚖️ Not legal advice. Consult a licensed immigration attorney about your specific case. You may reach out to the immigration lawyers of Johnson & Masumi at 703-506-1400.

05/13/2026

Nobody tells you this before you file. 👇

An immigration officer's review is structured, layered, and detail-heavy — and knowing that changes how you prepare.It starts before they ever read your story. The first thing checked is your eligibility checklist. Correct form? Filed on time? All fees paid? Every document included? If anything is off at this stage, your case can already be delayed or flagged for a Request for Evidence — before an officer has even looked at your situation.

Then comes document verification. Every ID, every immigration record, every prior filing, every piece of submitted evidence gets cross-checked against what you declared.

They're looking for consistency. Mismatched dates. Gaps in records. Anything that doesn't line up. Even small inconsistencies at this stage can slow down processing significantly.

After that, background and security screenings run through multiple systems. Officers review those results carefully. If something unusual appears — even something you think is minor — your case can move into additional review. This is often where timelines extend without explanation.

Finally, the officer makes a legal determination. Does your case meet all requirements under the law? That's the only question being answered.

Here's the takeaway nobody emphasizes enough: most delays don't come from one major red flag. They come from small missing details and minor inconsistencies that move a case into extra review.

Questions about your immigration case? Contact the immigration lawyers of Johnson & Masumi at 703-506-1400.

05/12/2026

Important discussion in The Washington Post on the government’s approach to denaturalization cases and how they are being pursued compared to prior administrations.

Our principal attorney was quoted on why these cases raise legal and due process concerns, especially given the high burden of proof required in court.

Full article below.

The announcement marked a significant escalation in the federal government’s efforts to strip citizenship from individuals, which for decades was tried only in rare instances.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone whose love, strength, and guidance help shape generations. 💐

Today, we celebrate all mothers, grandmothers, guardians, and mother figures who give so much of themselves every single day. Thank you for your endless care, sacrifice, and unwavering support.

Wishing you a day filled with love, appreciation, and beautiful moments with family. 💖

— Johnson & Masumi, P.C.

05/06/2026

Bond motions only work when the immigration judge actually has authority to release the person. But in many cases, that authority is already limited or completely blocked depending on how ICE is holding them.

So attorneys can spend weeks in bond hearings… without a court that can even give the result they want. That’s where habeas comes in.

Habeas is about challenging whether the government can legally continue detaining someone at all. And if granted, a federal judge can order immediate release or, at a minimum, a bond hearing.

Johnson & Masumi handles habeas petitions in VA and MD. For questions about a habeas case, or any other immigration cases, contact us at 703-506-1400.

05/05/2026

ANOTHER HABEAS GRANTED🚨

Our client came to the United States as a minor and has lived here for 20 years. Despite that long history, ICE detained him.

We challenged the detention by filing a federal habeas petition, arguing that it was unlawful.

The federal court agreed and ordered his immediate release. He is now free while his case proceeds to a bond hearing before an immigration judge.

This case is another reminder that ICE detention can be challenged in federal court, and unlawful detention does not have to stand.

This is what accountability looks like. And this is why challenging unlawful detention matters.

If someone you know is being detained, there may be legal options available to fight it.

04/29/2026

🚨URGENT: New rule effective May 29, 2026 — pending asylum applicants, this affects you directly.

The Trump administration just issued an interim final rule through DHS that creates an Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) — a fee you must pay every single year your asylum case remains pending.

Miss the payment within 30 days of being notified? USCIS will reject your asylum application. And if you don't have another legal status in the U.S., they will move to deport you.

Let's call this what it is — this is not about funding immigration services. This is a deliberate mechanism to push pending asylum seekers into removal proceedings and meet deportation targets. Asylum seekers are people who fled violence, persecution, and danger. They followed the legal process. And now the government is setting up a paperwork trap to deport them.

Here's what happens if your application gets rejected for non-payment:
❌ Your work permit application gets denied
❌ If you already have work authorization based on your pending asylum case — you lose it immediately
❌ USCIS keeps your filing fee even if they reject your application on a technicality

Here's what you need to do RIGHT NOW if you have a pending asylum case:
✅ 1. Call your immigration attorney. May 29th is the effective date so find out where your case is at.
✅ 2. Update your mailing address with USCIS. If the fee notice goes to an old address, the 30-day clock still starts. You will not get a second chance.
✅ 3. Keep records of everything. Every notice, every payment confirmation, every receipt. Save it all.
✅ 4. Ask about fee waivers. If you cannot afford the fee, an attorney can help you explore your options.
✅ 5. STAY INFORMED. Policies change fast so being up to date is key.

This rule is effective May 29, 2026 and public comments are open until June 29, 2026. Share this post with anyone who has a pending asylum case.

04/29/2026

Denaturalization is no longer just a rare, historic enforcement tool.

Right now, we’re seeing a clear policy shift where the government is actively expanding how these cases are identified and referred. Reports indicate roughly 100 to 200 new referrals are being pushed for review, and about 384 individuals have already been identified for potential denaturalization scrutiny.

Legally, this process is not automatic. The government still carries a high burden of proof. They must go through federal court and show that there was fraud or a material misrepresentation during the naturalization process. In other words, it has to be something significant enough that it could have affected the approval of citizenship in the first place.

Historically, these cases were extremely rare and reserved for the most serious situations. What is changing now is the scale and attention being placed on identifying cases for review.

This is why understanding what “material misrepresentation” actually means under the law matters more than ever.

If you are a naturalized citizen or working in immigration space, this is a policy area worth watching closely.

04/29/2026

A mistake on your citizenship application doesn’t automatically mean you’re in trouble. But not all mistakes are treated the same.

The real question is: did you mean to say something false, or was it just an honest mistake?

Small errors can usually be fixed.
But intentionally giving wrong information can lead to serious consequences.

Details matter. And how you explain them matters too.

If you’re unsure about something, it’s better to fix it before you submit.

📞 Book a consultation with us and get it right the first time. (703) 506-1400.

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