Articles on Immigration Stories

An Extreme Hardship Waiver Only Applies Where the Hardship Affects the Applicant’s U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident Parent or Spouse — Kids Don’t Count

Can a hardship to children who are US residents be the basis of an extreme hardship waiver? Read the story and outcome for one petition. - Read More

The Petitioner Signs the Petition

A young woman petitioned for her foreign national husband, who, because "he was the man," signed the petition. Learn about the outcome. - Read More

Woman Loses Out on 8 Years in Line

Immigration law is very strict and unwaivering in terms of the process that must be followed. Even a relatively minor matter can resulted in wasted years in line. Learn about one such experience. - Read More

Visas & Immigration
Testimonials
- If you heard the story about a soldier who met a Christian Iraqi girl in Iraq, fell in love and ultimately received worldwide media attention, even going on Oprah with Garth Brooks…well…Barbara made it possible
  Robert H. San Diego, CA
Seattle Immigration Blog
- Executive Order on AI and STEM Occupations Could Eliminate the Need for PERM Labor Certification for Many Workers
  PERM certification would no longer be needed if AI and STEM jobs are designated as “Shortage Occupations”; significantly speeding up the process to employ foreign workers in these positions.
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- The ABC’s of NIV’s and Possible Alternatives to an H-1B
  Non-immigrant (temporary) visas are designated by letters. Most people have heard of an H-1B visa, for example, but most don’t know there are many others. Here’s a fun visa vocabulary for common types of business-related status.
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- USCIS Announces Change – Many Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) and Travel Documents Will Now Be Valid for Five Years
  Learn about recent USCIS changes extending both work and travel authorizations to five years, and the ramifications of such changes.
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- New Version of Form I-9 Required Effective November 1, 2023
  Effective November 1, 2023 a new Form I-9 containing an edition date of 08/01/2023 must be used by all employers. Learn about the new changes.
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- If Your Business Seeks Visas for Professionals from Europe to Work in the US, Check Out the VIE Program
  The VIE program is a way to hire a European professional on a J-1 “visitor exchange” visa for up to 24 months. Managed by Business France, this program offers an excellent way to get visas to work in the US, especially considering the limited number of H-1B visas that are granted.
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- 2023 AILA PNW CLE Conference
  Attorney Barbara Marcouiller has been invited to moderate a panel presentation at the AILA Washington State Chapter for the annual conference in October, 2023.
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- I-9 Remote Document Verification Has Ended – Employers Have Until August 30, 2023, to Verify Documents in Person or Under the New Optional Alternative 1 (OA1) Procedure
  The temporary I-9 Covid accommodation allowing employers to verify documents remotely ended on July 31, 2023. Employers must now either conduct in-person verification of original documents by August 30 (not 31) for employees previously verified remotely, or (if they qualify), verify documents under a new process called Optional Alternative 1 (“OA1”).
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- Urgent Reminder: June 24th Deadline to Download Your E-Verify Records or Lose the Data
  On June 24, 2023, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will dispose of E-Verify records that are ten years old or older. This deadline affects all employers who use the E-Verify system.
  To ensure you retain access to this important data, you must download these records before the deadline or they will be permanently irretrievable.
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- Firm Founder Barbara Marcouiller to Speak at 2022 AILA NW Regional Conference
  Firm founder Barbara Marcouiller will be speaking at the 2022 AILA NW Regional Conference to be held at the Portland, Oregon Convention Center from September 21-22, 2022.
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- Important Advisory Regarding EAD/AP Combo-Cards – New Cards May Not Be Valid for Re-Entry Into the US
  Unlike previously, EAD’s now being issued are often not valid for return entry to the US. As a result, applicants for adjustment of status need to confirm re-entry authorization before traveling, or to forgo traveling outside the US.
  Read More >>

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