Seattle Immigration Law Updates & Resources
Expert Guidance from Attorney Lesley Irizarry-Hougan
Get clear answers about citizenship, green cards, asylum, VAWA, and family immigration from Seattle attorney Lesley Irizarry-Hougan. Latest USCIS policy updates, step-by-step guides, Know Your Rights resources, and immigration news in English and Spanish. 20+ years of experience helping Seattle's immigrant community.
Essential Immigration Resources
Know Your Rights:
A Comprehensive Guide for Immigrants Encountering ICE
Master
the 2025 USCIS Civics Test
Cómo Verificar el Estatus de una Solicitud o Caso de Inmigración Pendiente
Van a subir los precios de las aplicaciones de USCIS
La Abogada Lesley Irizarry-Hougan explica cómo van a subir costos para las aplicaciones frente USCIS empezando abril de 2024, y revisa las formas más comunes y la cantidad que cambia.
¿Qué sucede si presento una solicitud de inmigración (USCIS) que está incompleta o es incorrecta?
If the application you submit to immigration is missing something critical, the entire package will be rejected by immigration returned back to you. Examples of critical missing things are: forms missing, filing fees not included or incorrect amount, package sent to the wrong address, forms missing pages, not including required initial evidence (according to the form instructions) or missing or no signatures.
What happens if I submit an application with immigration (USCIS) that is incomplete or incorrect?
If the application you submit to immigration is missing something critical, the entire package will be rejected by immigration returned back to you. Examples of critical missing things are: forms missing, filing fees not included or incorrect amount, package sent to the wrong address, forms missing pages, not including required initial evidence (according to the form instructions) or missing or no signatures.
How to Check the Status of a Pending Immigration Application or Case
If you have filed an immigration application and would like to check the status of your application or approximately how much time it will take, there are several tools that you can use. These tools are only estimates, and do not always reflect what is currently going on…
What is the I-212 Waiver When Applying for the “Green Card”?
In previous blog posts, we have discussed two common waivers that are often required when applying for lawful permanent resident status (the “green card”), the I-601 and the I-601A. In this post, we discuss a third waiver, the I-212. The I-212 is used to waive a prior removal (deportation). It is also used if you have been unlawfully present in the United States for more than one year and you attempt to reenter unlawfully.
¿Es usted elegible para aplicar para la ciudadanía?
Para aquellos que son elegibles, la ciudadanía provee beneficios que los residentes permanentes legales no tienen. Por ejemplo, los ciudadanos pueden presentar peticiones de visa familiar para padres y hermanos, pueden obtener su visa familiar para su esposa (o) e hijos más rápido que los residentes, pueden votar para las leyes federales, estatales, y las elecciones locales y proveer protección adicional de remoción (deportación).
Renewals of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
If your initial two-year grant of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is expiring, then you may request a renewal of your employment authorization document (EAD). In order to make sure that your EAD does not expire before the new one is approved, you should submit your renewal request about 120 days (4 months) before your current period of deferred action will expire.