United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) remains OPEN during Government Shutdown

Immigration Law
Written By Tatiauna Holland

USCIS Remains OPEN during Government Shutdown

U.S. Government Shut Down (1).png

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) remains OPEN during government shut down. USCIS announced on their website:

The current lapse in annual appropriated funding for the U.S. government does not affect USCIS’ fee-funded activities. Our offices will remain open, and all applicants should attend interviews and appointments as scheduled.

However, several USCIS programs will either expire or suspend operations, or be otherwise affected, until they receive appropriated funds or are reauthorized by Congress. These include:

  • EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program. Regional centers are a public or private economic unit in the United States that promote economic growth. USCIS designates regional centers for participation in the Immigrant Investor Program.
  • E-Verify. This free internet-based system allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
  • Conrad 30 J-1 doctors. This program allows J-1 doctors to apply for a waiver of the two-year residence requirement after completing the J-1 exchange visitor program. The expiration only affects the date by which the J-1 doctor must have entered the United States; it is not a shutdown of the Conrad 30 program entirely.
  • Non-minister religious workers. This special immigrant category allows non-ministers in religious vocations and occupations to immigrate or adjust status in the United States to perform religious work in a full-time, compensated position.

Hopefully, the government shut down will be temporary. We will keep you updated as the story develops.

The Holland Law Firm, PLLC is a full-service immigration firm, which provides a variety of services, including citizenship and naturalization, family-based visa petitions, removal defense, business-based immigration.

The Holland Law Firm, PLLC proudly services the Greater Houston area, including Houston, Conroe, the Woodlands, Sugar Land, Katy, Huntsville, and more. Contact the Holland Law Firm, PLLC at (832) 328-7877 or submit an online form for more information.

 

Tatiauna Holland

Tatiauna Holland is the owner and the managing attorney of the Holland Law Firm, PLLC, a boutique law firm based in Houston, Texas, that focuses primarily on immigration and real estate law.

In the last 5 years, Tatiauna Holland has represented over a hundred clients in Federal Immigration Court, Texas State civil and criminal court, and administrative hearings in a range of matters, including asylum and torture claims, permanent resident and naturalization matters, misdemeanor and felony offenses, and more.

Awards and Recognitions

Attorney Holland has garnered significant recognition for her legal advocacy and professionalism, including:

2018 Top Immigration Attorneys Texas, American Institute of Legal Counsel

2018 Top 40 Under 40 Black Lawyers, The National Top 100 Black Lawyers, Finalist

2018 Rising Star in Immigration Law, The American Institute of Legal Advocates, Finalist

2017 Top Immigration Attorneys Texas, American Institute of Legal Counsel

Why immigration and real estate law?

While the two practice areas seemingly don’t mix, Attorney Holland’s motivation in the practice of law is the defense and the protection of underserved communities—-immigrants and individuals facing extreme hardship.

Tatiauna Holland’s primary practice areas include the following:

Family-Based Immigration

Deportation and Removal Defense

Citizenship and Naturalization

Asylum

DACA, U-Visa, Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

Foreclosure Defense

Eviction Defense

and More

Tatiauna Holland obtained her Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center and her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of New Orleans. Ms. Holland is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, the daughter of two U.S. Air Force veterans, and a native of Shreveport, Louisiana.

https://www.hollandimmigrationlaw.com
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