245(i) adjustment allows certain individuals to obtain permanent residence without leaving the United States, even if they entered illegally or have other immigration violations. This provision requires having been the beneficiary of a petition filed by April 30, 2001, plus meeting specific physical presence requirements. The process involves paying penalty fees and extensive documentation, but offers families the chance to avoid separation and consular processing abroad. Success requires thorough case evaluation and careful preparation of evidence, particularly proving qualifying petitions and historical presence in the United States.
Immigration Law New Jersey
Responding to a Request for Evidence (RFE): Tips and Best Practices
Getting a Request for Evidence (RFE) from USCIS can feel like a setback—but it doesn’t have to mean the end of your case. In fact, an RFE is often just a chance to fill in the gaps and give the agency the information it needs to make a decision. That said, how you respond matters—a
Federal Residency Applications Are Taking Record Time – What Changed and How to Navigate It
Federal permanent residency applications are taking longer than ever due to new security protocols, additional review stages, and processing center consolidations implemented in 2024-2025. Families face years of uncertainty as applications sit in multiple queues with different bottlenecks for family-based versus employment-based cases. The key to navigating these delays is understanding new requirements like expanded address history documentation, stricter medical exam scheduling, enhanced financial documentation, and updated biometrics procedures. Common mistakes include using outdated forms, incorrect photos, poor document organization, and improper address change notifications. Success requires thorough preparation, realistic timeline expectations, and proper responses to any government requests for additional evidence.
Immigration Appeals: Steps to Challenge a Denied Application
Getting denied after months—or even years—of waiting on an immigration application can feel like a punch to the gut. We’ve seen it happen to people who did everything they thought they were supposed to do. They followed the rules, filed the forms, and told their truth. Then a letter arrived in the mail saying no.
Green Card Denials: Common Reasons and How to Respond
Getting a green card denial can feel like the floor just dropped out from under you. After all the paperwork, interviews, and waiting, a denial notice isn’t just frustrating—it’s personal. It’s a legal decision, sure, but it hits differently when your future in the U.S. suddenly feels uncertain. At Tourzani & Long, LLC, we’ve worked
Green Card Renewal: Key Strategies for a Successful Process
A lot of people assume renewing a green card is just a formality—fill out the paperwork, send it in, and wait for the new card to arrive. And while that’s true in many cases, it’s not always so simple. Over the years, we’ve helped people who missed deadlines, lost their cards while traveling, or faced
Visa Extensions: How to Apply and Extend Your Stay in the U.S.
It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of time when you’re visiting the U.S.—especially if you’re reconnecting with family, finishing a project, or just enjoying your surroundings. But the date on your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record? That’s not something you want to overlook. Letting your visa expire without taking action can lead to real problems down the
Changing Your Immigration Status: Options and Requirements
One of the more common questions we get at Tourzani & Long, LLC goes something like this: “I came here on a student visa, but now I’m getting married—can I stay?” Or, “I have a work visa but want to apply for asylum—is that allowed?” The short answer is yes, in some cases you can
Understanding Humanitarian Parole: Eligibility and Application Process
There’s a moment I’ll never forget—someone called our office in a panic. A loved one was stranded overseas, facing a dangerous situation, and they were looking for a way—any way—to get them to the U.S. legally and quickly. That’s when we talked about humanitarian parole, an option that’s often misunderstood but can sometimes be the
Fiancé Visas (K-1): Steps to Unite with Your Future Spouse
Planning a wedding is exciting—but if your partner lives in another country, you’re probably juggling more than floral arrangements and venue deposits. The process of bringing your fiancé(e) to the U.S. through a K-1 visa can feel like a second full-time job. I’ve seen couples get lost in it more than once—buried in forms, frustrated