Milner & Markee LLP

Our offices will resume normal staffing, hours and operations on Tuesday, May 26th, following the Memorial Day holiday. We will advise regarding in-person appointments on a case-by-case basis, and will take all precautions of social distancing and in-depth cleaning protocols. For additional questions, please call the office anytime at 858-451-6269 or email [email protected]. Have a great and safe holiday weekend, and please take a moment to remember those who gave their lives for our freedoms.

On April 22, 2020, President Trump signed a new Executive Order aimed at temporarily limiting immigration to the US. Affected categories: - any preference categories (family and employment based) immigrant visas issued through the US consulates - immigrant visas for parents of US citizens issued through the US consulates ... Those NOT affected: - spouses and minor children of US citizens applying for immigrant visas through the US consulates - anyone applying for Adjustment of Status inside the US - anyone with a valid immigrant visa issued before 4/22/2020 - nonimmigrants - current greencard holders Although not as sweeping as first announced, we sincerely appreciate that those impacted will feel significantly affected. We want to reassure all clients that we remain open, with modifications for safety and health, throughout this crisis, and we will continue to monitor the progress and application of the Executive Order. Please call our office at 858-451-6269 or email [email protected] with any questions or concerns.

WE ARE OPEN! To all valued and potential clients of Milner and Markee LLP -- we want to reassure you all that our office remains open, operational and dedicated to the needs of our clients. Voicemail is picked up several times a day when our front desk is not staffed, and email remains a top priority. We offer Zoom, Skype and telephonic consults and meetings for all case and client needs. We know that these times are uncertain, but we remain ready and willing to assist you! Email [email protected] or call 858-451-6269 anytime.

As we enter challenging and unprecedented times, we want to reassure our clients that we remain OPEN, and dedicated to the same exceptional level of professional services. Our office is well aware of due-dates for filings, responses to requests, and other time-critical matters, and will ensure that those deadlines are met. We also remained fully-staffed at this time, with protections in place for our staff and clients. If you have any questions, please call the office during normal office hours (Monday through Thursday, 7:30AM to 6:00PM), or email [email protected]

Our offices will be closed on Monday, November 11th in honor of Veterans Day. We are proud to have four military vets as part of the law firm, and send our thanks for the combined years of service to all military and their families. We will close as normal today at 6:30 PM and will reopen on Tuesday morning at 7:30 AM.

I was proud to collaborate on this recent article on international adoption and immigration issues. Please take the time to read and review, and contact our office with any questions you may have. - Tifany https://coolmompicks.com//forms-to-ensure-your-adopted-c/

Over the last handful of months, USCIS has eliminated or greatly reduced nearly every avenue of communication with the public, yet increased its processing times and general disregard for "customer service." As a result, we are often left with only one remedy for a problematic case: the Mandamus action. Brought in federal court, this action asks the government to do one thing: its job. The lawsuit cannot demand approval, but it can ask USCIS and the Dept of State to act o...n submitted applications within a reasonable time period. Our office has very successfully filed and settled Mandamus actions, and all have a few common themes: unreasonable government delays, non-responsiveness to public inquiries, and financial or logistical harm to the applicants as a result of the delays. Please call or email our office if you would like additional information on this critical federal action. https://news.bloomberglaw.com//fed-up-with-immigration-bac

This is certainly an accurate reflection of our experience as well.. scrutiny is up, denials have increased, and approval rates for even the best cases have declined. Welcome to the "new normal." I don't think we're in Kansas anymore! https://news.bloomberglaw.com//lawyers-juggle-client-expec

As predicted, and despite loud public comment, International Field Offices within USCIS have begun to close worldwide. The USCIS offices in Manila, Philippines and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico have shuttered public access and filings, beginning June 1, 2019, and all offices are expected to close on a rolling basis by March of 2020. This move primarily affects foreign adoptions, and those US citizens filing applications while living abroad (including our military). The move is "prom...oted" to save government money and resources, but is simply one more step taken by this Administration to make access to immigration resources more and more difficult. Note that this will not directly affect consular operations, including immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applications. https://www.buzzfeednews.com//trump-administration-oversea

On Friday, May 31, the US State Department added "social media" usage to the DS-160, the nonimmigrant visa form used by nearly all applicants for temporary visas to the United States. This policy seems consistent with President Trump's plan to increase vetting of all visitors to the United States.. yet the actual impact -- positive OR negative -- will remain to be seen. https://www.nytimes.com//us-visa-application-social-media.

As a follow-up to our 4/21/2019 post with the Denver newspaper article, USCIS just released this updated policy memo confirming that any involvement in the legal cannabis industry will in fact lead to disqualification for naturalization.

As more states legalize the personal use of marijuana, the conflict with the federal regulations escalates. Immigration is based in federal law, and that naturally creates a scenario where an action - such as marijuana use - could be legal under state law but illegal under federal law. USCIS has been relatively silent on the matter - until recently when USCIS denied citizenship applications to workers in the (legal) cannabis industry in Colorado. Before moving forward with ANY application or benefit, seek the counsel of a qualified immigration firm to ensure that you are compliant with both state AND federal laws. https://www.thedenverchannel.com//us-says-immigrants-can-b

Last night, President Trump gave his 2019 State of the Union Address before the nation. One of the central pieces of his speech was immigration, and his ongoing desire to construct a wall along the Southern Border. However, most in the immigration community will agree that we have been experiencing what we call "the invisible wall." This is an attempt to decrease LEGAL immigration through a series of decisions, memorandum and practices. One of those impacts is a major inc...rease in overall processing delays, with some applications jumping over 500% in their processing times seemingly overnight. A recent article confirmed what we have all been feeling: everything in LEGAL immigration is more difficult, and is taking significantly longer. Now more than ever, it is critical that you choose the correct law office for your immigration needs. https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org//immigrants-are-waiti/