Benjamin, Gold & Troyb, P.C. | News / Blog - Benjamin, Gold & Troyb, P.C.

USCIS Delays Reach Crisis Levels

1/31/2019

Earlier today, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) released a policy brief that analyzes recently published U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data. AILA's analysis revealed crisis-level delays in the agency's processing of applications and petitions for immigration benefits under the Trump administration.

Analyzing agency data from fiscal years (FY) 2014 through 2018, AILA found:

Click "Read More" to continue reading.

To Be or Not to Be…come a U.S. citizen? That is the Question!

1/11/2019

To Be Or Not To Be...come A U.S. Citizen? That Is The Question!

Congratulations! You have become a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States, with either a 10-year "Green Card," or a 2-year conditional "Green Card." It has likely been a long road to get to this point, and you are probably tired of the process, the forms and the filing fees, but there may be one more form you want to submit when you are eligible to do so - USCIS Form N-400. That is the Application for Naturalization, and one files it to become a citizen of the United States. Some people cannot wait to take the oath of citizenship, while others are satisfied with having a Green Card, and wish to remain permanent residents. A subset of these individuals choose to remain permanent residents due to the long processing delays or to avoid the costs involved. Others choose not to file due to tax implications (in the United States or abroad) or issues related to dual citizenship (or a lack thereof with respect to the country of their birth). With that in mind, Permanent Residents must recognize that there are risks to not applying for citizenship, and there are things everyone with a Green Card should know about the requirements to become a U.S. citizen.

Click "Read More" to continue reading.

Aleksandr Y. Troyb Selected To The 2018 Connecticut Rising Stars List By New England Super Lawyers Magazine

10/22/2018

For a sixth year, Attorney Aleksandr Y. Troyb is honored to have been selected to the Connecticut Rising Stars list by the New England Super Lawyers Magazine. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area. The result is a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of exceptional attorneys.

The Super Lawyers lists are published nationwide in Super Lawyers Magazines and in leading city and regional magazines and newspapers across the country. Super Lawyers Magazines also feature editorial profiles of attorneys who embody excellence in the practice of law. For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.

Common Mistakes That Can Lead To Deportation of Legal Immigrants

10/8/2018

Common Mistakes That Can Lead To Deportation of Legal Immigrants

With the midterm elections just around the corner, many groups and individuals are out there to encourage citizens to vote, and registering those who are not already registered. You can find these individuals outside supermarkets, shopping malls, your public library, and many other public places. Their attempts to encourage participation in our democratic process should be commended, however, there is a significant (and even dangerous) drawback for non-citizens.

Voting is a right reserved only for U.S. citizens. It is illegal for a non-citizen to vote in a state or federal election or primary. Even identifying yourself as a citizen when you are not one, disqualifies you from renewal of a green card or naturalization. In fact, it is disqualifying for all other immigration benefits and will make you subject to deportation.

Following are several instances when people sometimes make the mistake of identifying as a citizen before they actually have achieved that status. There are many more instances when accidentally identifying as a citizen can happen, but these are the most common:

Click "Read More" to continue reading

Attorney Aleksandr Y. Troyb receives highest “AV Preeminent” Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell

8/20/2018

The firm is proud to announce that Attorney Aleksandr Y. Troyb has received the highest possible “AV Preeminent” peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. This rating signifies that he was deemed to have very high professional ethics and preeminent legal ability.

The Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings evaluate attorneys based on the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell conducts secure peer review rating surveys of attorneys across multiple jurisdictions and geographic locations, in similar areas of practice as the lawyer being rated. Reviewers are instructed to rate their colleagues’ general ethical standards and legal ability across various categories. The confidentiality, objectivity and independence of this ratings process are what has made this ratings system unique for many years. In addition, the fact that the ratings are determined by an attorney’s peers and the judiciary – the people who are best suited to assess the legal ability and professional ethics of their colleagues – have continued to ensure that this ratings system is highly regarded in the legal community.

Attorney Troyb is honored that his peers have evaluated him as being worthy of such a high distinction. It is a true testament to his work ethic and his love for the practice of law.

How Does the U.S. Visitor Visa (B-1/B-2) Process Work?

7/30/2018

How Does the U.S. Visitor Visa (B-1/B-2) Process Work?

Depending on the country from which one is visiting, the process to get a U.S. visa can be long and involve documentation, expensive fees and a personal interview at an overseas Embassy or Consulate, or it can be a relatively easy process of completing an electronic application online. In both situations, however, the process can often result in confusion when someone receives their visitor visa which shows that it is valid for multiple years. That is because many visitor visas state that they are valid for ten years, while others show a relatively short duration (such as three months).

It is not uncommon for a visitor to misunderstand the rules, and mistakenly think that they can remain in the U.S. for the entire 10 years (or the shorter duration of their specific visa). That is not the case at all!

Click "Read More" to continue reading.

DHS and Consulates Warn Migrants of Telephonic Fraud Scams

7/17/2018

DHS and Consulates Warn Migrants of Telephonic Fraud Scams

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued an advisory regarding telephone scams which target migrants. The scams, which seek electronic transfers of money to resolve some aspect of a family's immigration cases in the United States, have come to the attention of the Department of Homeland Security’s Joint Task Force-West South Texas Corridor (JTF-W STC) and consular officials from several neighboring countries.

According to the CBP advisory, people are receiving unsolicited calls from scammers posing as authority figures from several Department of Homeland Security (DHS) entities like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), as well as consular officers and shelter administrators. The scammers then request money to be sent electronically to help their family members obtain some service or consideration, or to purchase travel tickets. The scammers threaten an adverse action against the family members if the demand is refused.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Consulates DO NOT solicit money over the phone. CBP asks that if such calls are received, people decline to wire any funds, make a note of the number and any other pertinent details about the call, and report the incident to the authorities and the appropriate consulate for investigation.

New "Must Know" Rules For F, J and M Visa Holders

7/13/2018

On May 10, 2018, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum will soon impact F, J and M visa holders. The new policy changes when and how immigrants with these types of visas begin to accrue "unlawful presence" in the United States.

By way of background, generally, F visas are issued to students, J visas are issued to exchange visitors, and M visas are issued to vocational students. All are non-immigrant visas.

What is unlawful presence?

Unlawful presence is that amount of time a person remains in the United States (US) after the expiration of his or her approved visit, as listed on their Admission Record (Form I-94). When a person enters the US on a visa, they are generally inspected by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent at the port of entry (most often an airport). When their passport and visa are examined, the CBP agent determines a date by which the non-immigrant must leave the U.S., and he or she will issue an Admission Record that provides proof of someone’s lawful record of admission. That form (which is now electronic) also contains the date by which the visitor must leave.

Click "Read More" to continue reading

Attorney Aleksandr Troyb Scheduled To Meet With Members of the U.S. Congress To Discuss Various Immigration Issues

3/30/2018

Aleksandr Troyb Meeting Members of Congress

On April 12, 2018, as part of a delegation from the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Attorney Aleksandr Troyb is scheduled to meet with members of the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C. to discuss various immigration issues of interest to individuals and employers. He encourages his clients to contact him to discuss any immigration issues they may want him to address with members of Congress.

Tips For Selling Your Home

1/3/2018

Tips For Selling Your Home

Potential buyers usually decide within minutes whether or not a home is right for them. As you prepare your home to go on the market, try to view it through the eyes of a buyer. In this post, I will provide some tips to assist you in preparing to sell your home.

Click "Read More" to continue reading