Corrales Law Group

Corrales Law Group is extremely disappointed by the decision of federal judge Andrew Hansen to issue a preliminary injunction, temporarily halting any new administrative relief for millions of hard working immigrants. We have faith that an appellate court will not be swayed by politics and will overrule this decision. In the meantime, please note that this does NOT affect anyone that currently benefits from the DACA program. This decision only temporarily pauses the administr...ative relief that will be granted under the expansion of the DACA program and under the planned DAPA program for parents of citizens and permanent residents. We have posted new videos regarding this decision and will be posting updates regarding administrative relief as news becomes available. En Corrales Law Group estamos muy decepcionados por la decisión del juez Andrew Hansen cual suspender todos los nuevos alivios administrativos para millones de inmigrantes que trabajan duro. Tenemos fe en que una corte de apelaciones no se deje llevar por la política y anulará la decisión. Mientras tanto, por favor, tenga en cuenta que esto no afecta a nadie que actualmente se beneficia del programa DACA. Esta decisión detiene temporalmente el alivio administrativo que se concede con la expansión del programa DACA y del programa DAPA prevista para padres de ciudadanos y residentes permanentes. Hemos publicado nuevos vídeos con respecto a esta decisión y vamos a publicar actualizaciones en cuanto a aligerar la administración noticias esté disponible.

Peter Corrales helping people prepare for Obama's new executive action programs at our free community workshop this morning. This is our 7th one since the programs were announced. Give our office a call to sign up for the next free workshop. Peter Corrales ayudando a la gente a prepararse para los nuevos programas de acción ejecutiva de Obama esta mañana en nuestro taller gratis para la comunidad. Este es nuestro séptimo taller desde que se anunciaron los programas. Llame a nuestra oficina para inscribirse en el próximo taller gratis.

Over the weekend we read through the Executive Action DHS memos and made a few videos outlining the eligibility requirements for the new DACA expansion and the new program that benefits parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents (DAP). Starting next week we will be holding community information workshops, but until then here are videos to help people prepare: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GVn7lQgJ_jg4bYQvp3kJw Durante el fin de semana leimos las notas del DHS sobre... la Accion Ejecutiva e hicimos videos que describen los requisitos de elegibilidad para la nueva expansion de DACA y el nuevo programa que beneficia a los padres de ciudadanos estadounidenses y residentes permanentes (DAP). A partir de la próxima semana vamos a tener talleres de información para la comunidad, pero hasta entonces aqui tenemos vídeos para ayudar a las personas a prepararse: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1GVn7lQgJ_jg4bYQvp3kJw See more

President Obama announced major changes to immigration policy in the United States last night! The Department of Homeland Security released several policy memorandums that detail these major changes. Corrales Law Group will be posting informational videos and checklists explaining all these changes and what they mean in the weeks to come, but for now here are some highlights from the DHS memos: 1) DACA program will be expanded to include more individuals; 2) parents of US cit...izens and permanent residents may qualify for deferred status; 3) provisional waivers will be available to permanent residents that qualify; 4) removal priorities have been realigned; 5) directs USCIS to more clearly define extreme hardship for 601 waivers; 6) expand the OPT program for STEM graduates. ¡El presidente Obama anunció cambios mayores a la política de inmigración en los Estados Unidos anoche! El Departamento de Seguridad Nacional publicó varios memorandos de políticas que detallan estos cambios mayores. Corrales Law Group estará publicando videos informativos y listas de verificación explicando todos estos cambios y lo que significan en las próximas semanas pero aquí hay algunos aspectos destacados de las notas del DSH: el programa DACA se ampliará para incrementar los individuos elegibles; los padres de ciudadanos estadounidenses y residentes permanentes pueden calificar para el estatus diferido; exenciones provisionales estarán disponibles para los residentes permanentes calificables; las prioridades de eliminación se han realineado; dirige USCIS para definir más claramente dificultades extremas para perdones (601); expandir el programa OPT para los graduados de STEM. http://www.dhs.gov/immigration-action

Congrats to the happy new U.S. lawful permanent resident and to attorney Peter Corrales for another "Waived In" Adjustment approval!! We're grateful USCIS- Santa Ana has fairly and consistently applied case law in Quilantan cases and that our complex cases have received approvals. Before signing up for a waiver process or a "perdon" with your spouse, remember that if you came to the United States and a border officer saw you and allowed you to come into the United States, even if you did not have a visa, you may have the right to adjust your status here in the United States and not go through the waiver process. Definitely consult a lawyer if you think you may qualify for a "waived in" case.

The attorneys at Corrales Law Group have helped hundreds of applicants with DACA renewals. We recently posted checklists for anyone needing help with a DACA renewal. Checklists in English: http://corraleslawgroup.com//applicationdocument-checklis/ Checklists in Spanish: http://corraleslawgroup.com/abogadosc/informacion-y-videos/ Also remember we have several videos on our Youtube channel that go over the entire renewal process. Contact us if you or anyone you know needs help with a DACA renewal!

Happy Halloween from Corrales Law Group! Trick-or-treating has started early here!

Corrales Law Group would like to provide some information about the surge of unaccompanied children refugee from Central America that has been headlining news. We're sharing a very brief informational video we came across that provides a simple overview of the humanitarian crisis and discusses some, though not all, of the factors. We would also like to give general tips for anyone who knows a minor in this situation: 1) Seek legal assistance before a court date is issued: B...acklogs in courts mean that a hearing may not take place for months or even a year after arrival. An asylum application should be submitted within a year of arrival so it is important to not waste time. We’ve had minors show up at our office after the one year deadline because they were misinformed by others. 2) Apply for Asylum while still a minor: Applying for asylum before reaching 18 years old brings the benefit of having the application decided outside of an adversarial immigration court and if the application is denied , the applicant may still be heard before an immigration judge. 3) Ask a lawyer about other options besides asylum: Many of these minors will qualify for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) but we’ve found that this option is not always explored. Contact us for an eligibility screening. 4) Make sure the person providing legal advice is a licensed attorney: We do not want any more victims of ‘Notario’ fraud. See more

DACA Renewals! On June 5, 2014 USCIS published the process for renewing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Renewal applications should be submitted 4 months before the expiration of deferred status so please keep time frame in mind. The updated version of form I-821d for renewal has been published on the USCIS website, please contact us with any questions or check out our videos explaining the renewal process. El 05 de junio 2014 USCIS publicó el proceso para la renovación de la Acción Diferida (DACA). Las solicitudes de renovación deberán presentarse 4 meses antes de la expiración del estatus. La nueva versión de la forma I-821d para la renovación ha sido publicado en el sitio web de USCIS, por favor póngase en contacto con nosotros con cualquier pregunta o vea nuestros vídeos explicando el proceso de renovación.

Another Quilantan adjustment of status approved today! We're so happy for our clients who were able to avoid the hardship waiver and consular process. If you are married to a U.S. citizen and are thinking about starting your hardship waiver/I-601a process and you came to the United States through an inspection point like the Tijuana border, even if you did NOT have a visa or actual permission to come to the United States, you should see a lawyer before you start your process ...because you may qualify for an adjustment of status HERE in the United States under Quilantan. That would mean no 10-year bar, no waiver, and no having to leave the country. A lawyer is crucial for this kind of adjustment, but it's something worth looking into since it could save your family a lot of money, time, work, and stress. We know that the consular process is one of the most stressful processes clients go through since they tend to worry that their loved ones won't be able to come back, so we always try to qualify clients for adjustment of status in the United States when possible. We've found that a lot of our clients who were brought to the United States as children are eligible for a Quilantan adjustment and that they usually have no idea that they may qualify.

PLEASE BEWARE OF SCAMS.This week 3 different DACA applicants have mentioned previously paying a website money for access to fill out DACA forms on their own. This website has been coming up when people have been trying to reach the USCIS website. Always remember DACA forms, and other immigration forms, are available for FREE on www.uscis.gov. You should NOT pay anyone for just access to forms. One of the applicants sent us a screenshot of the website he paid and while the design of the website makes it look like it is linked to the government, the small print states that they are not associated with USCIS and that they are NOT lawyers.

Today's mail brought an approval letter for our DACA grant contest winner!!! Congratulations to Heidi Reynoso Rojas!!! USCIS approved this amazing straight A student in just 2 months and one week. We have no doubt that if she chooses to do so, Heidi will be an incredible doctor and will help many people. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to support her on her journey in this way and are very happy about the news.

Good news from USCIS! As many people know back in March of 2013, USCIS started allowing the spouses of U.S. citizens to submit new provisional waivers, where immigrant spouses could remain in the United States until their waiver was decided, rather than being separated from their families for months. USCIS stated they would not decide any other admissibility issues except for unlawful presence in these waivers and this led to USCIS denying provisional waivers submitted by pe...ople with previous crimes that did NOT make them inadmissible in anyway. People were devastated to find out their waiver had been denied over a DUI from 10 years ago when it was not a bar to admissibility. We've had to tell everyone that if they have ever even stolen gum from a store then they should not submit the new waiver and to just wait until USCIS corrects this issue. Well, USCIS has now corrected this issue! USCIS just issued a Field Guidance memo telling officers to not deny provisional waivers submitted by people with previous crimes that do NOT make them inadmissible. Those with minor crimes can now go forward, AFTER consulting with a lawyer to make sure it is indeed a crime that is not a bar to admissibility. See more