Our Blog | Goldstein Immigration Lawyers

I was in Boston today at the Fundamental of Immigration Law Conference sponsored by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). I spoke at a seminar entitled "Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing Workshop with the Experts--I-485, I-864, DS-230." The immigration lawyers in attendance asked me some great questions, mostly about the I-864. Here is some follow-up information: 1. I-864, Affidavit of Support. For questions on completing the I-864, I refer to an excellent 2006 USCIS memo available here which consolidated and revised USCIS policy regarding the I-864, Affidavit of Support. Although more recent updated on the I-864, I find that this guide answers most basic questions. READ MORE

Apr 2 2009

Obama’s Aunt in Boston Immigration Court

asylum, Deportation, Immigration Court Boston, Immigration News Boston, Removal

As a lawyer specializing in deportation defense who frequently appears in Boston Immigration Court, I find it fascinating that a close family member of the President appeared yesterday in our court before our own Immigration Judge Shapiro. Zeituni Onyango, the Kenyan aunt of President Obama, is in deportation proceedings in Boston as everyone on the populated Earth knows by now. Of course, asylum applications are confidential. I certainly have no direct knowledge about this case. But my experience as a deportation lawyer in Boston tells me that Ms. Onyango's immigration case has been widely reported in a way that is quite misleading. The headline of the Boston Globe, for instance, claims that the Immigration Judge allowed Ms. Onyango to stay in the U.S. until February 2010. What is misleading about this headline is that it falsely suggests that the Immigration Judge made a discretionary decision in favor of Ms. Onyango. This is not at all what happened at the hearing yesterday. READ MORE

Mar 31 2009

USCIS Lawrence, MA Immigration Office will open on June 1, 2009

Immigration Court Boston, Immigration News Boston

Immigration lawyers in Boston, get ready: the new US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Massachusetts immigration office will officially open its doors on June 1, 2009. USCIS Lawrence immigration office plans to take on up to 30% of immigration cases for Massachusetts residents currently handled in Boston in the JFK Federal Building. I'll be posting more information about the new USCIS Lawrence, Massachusetts immigration office as soon as it becomes available. READ MORE

Mar 30 2009

Boston Immigration Court Schedule

Deportation, Immigration Court Boston, Immigration Tips, Removal

As an immigration lawyer In Boston focusing on deportation defense, I know that each our Immigration Judges has a particular reputation and perspective. The Immigration Judge to which your deportation case is assigned will have a great bearing on how your case is handled as well as the ultimate outcome. Immigration Court in Boston currently has the following six Immigration Judges: Matthew J. D'Angelo Leonard I. Shapiro Paul M. Gagnon Robin E. Feder Eliza C. Klein Francis L. Cramer Boston Immigration Court - Schedule of Non-Detained Master Calendar Hearings: To figure out which Boston Immigration Judge will be handling your deportation case, (assuming you a not detained) use the following schedule for master calendar hearings (FYI: your first appearance is called a master calendar hearings): READ MORE

Mar 26 2009

Boston Immigration Court News: our new Immigration Judge–Brenda O’Malley

Deportation, Immigration Court Boston, Immigration News Boston

This evening I attended a meeting of the New England Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Robert Halpin, the Court's Administrator, announced that Boston's new Immigration Judge, Brenda O'Malley, will be taking the bench and hearing deportation cases starting May 18, 2009 after training in Immigration Court in Boston, MA and Hartford, CT. Judge O'Malley has built a distinguished career having served previously with, among other places, the Office of Immigration Litigation, the Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) Office of Chief Immigration Judge. Apparently, she even worked at one point as a law clerk with Boston's Immigration Court! Boston immigration lawyers with backlogged deportation cases are thrilled that we will soon have a new, 7th Immigration Judge to relieve the Immigration Court's busy docket. READ MORE

Mar 25 2009

Boston Deportation Lawyer: Welcome to new home of Boston ICE Detention and Removal in Burlington, Massachusetts

Deportation, Immigration Bond, Immigration Court Boston, Immigration News Boston

Boston deportation or a removal hearing in Immigration Court often begins with a visit from U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE). For the unfamiliar, these are the guys that deport people. The immigration raid in New Bedford, Massachusetts was a fine example of the handiwork of ICE. If you are a green card holder but have a criminal conviction, you may have to contend with ICE. Overstayed your student (F1) or visitor visa (B1/B2)? ICE is the immigration agency you should fear. In late 2007, U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement moved its Office of Detention and Removal (DRO) from the 17th Floor of the JFK Federal Building in Boston, MA to a new facility in Burlington, Massachusetts. READ MORE

Mar 23 2009

Your biggest immigration mistake: Marriage fraud

Deportation, Green card, Immigration Tips, Immigration Waiver, Marriage-Based Immigration, Removal

With my experience as a Boston immigration lawyer, I know that many people in Boston and throughout Massachusetts mistakenly believe that marriage to someone with U.S. citizenship is a relatively easy and fast way of obtaining permanent residency or green card status and other immigration benefits. Stop by City Hall in Boston, pick up your marriage certificate and you are automatically entitled to a green card. And it is believed that once you get married, a work permit will arrive soon after you put your immigration petition in the mail. Despite this persistent fantasy, a green card through marriage often proves to be difficult path. For starters, it can be extraordinarily hard to convince U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at the Boston District Office that your marriage is truly based on a real and bona fide relationship. The immigration authorities will be expecting you to produce extensive documentary evidence that you and your spouse have a shared life that involves love and companionship and that your relationship is not just a sham to obtain permanent residency. At a bare minimum, you can be sure that USCIS will scrutinize all Massachusetts public records to confirm that you and your spouse truly live together in marital union. READ MORE

Feb 14 2009

Boston Immigration Court – Outlook for 2009

Deportation, Immigration Court Boston, Immigration News Boston, Removal

As a deportation attorney in Boston, I frequently appear in Immigration Court Currently, I serve as a liaison to the Boston's Immigration Court, Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR), on behalf of the New England Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Looking into my crystal ball, here are some positive changes that I personally predict are coming to Boston's Immigration Court in 2009: Boston gets a new Immigration Judge: It is anticipated that in 2009 Boston will have a new immigration judge. I will post more news on our new IJ as soon as her appointment is made official. Boston will get a new Immigration Court rooms: The space on the 3rd floor of the JFK Federal building, formerly occupied by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is being renovated as an additional Immigration Court room. An extra court room and a seventh Immigration Judge should help ease the Immigration Court's crushing docket of immigration cases. READ MORE

Feb 7 2009

Rhode Island Immigration Lawyer — USCIS Rhode Island will move from Providence to Johnston in 2009

Rhode Island Immigration News

Immigration and citizenship lawyers will likely see another change for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)--this time in Rhode Island. The USCIS Providence Office is scheduled to move to a new facility in Johnston, Rhode Island in 2009. I plan to post the address of this new Rhode Island immigration office on this immigration blog as soon as it becomes available. READ MORE

Jan 25 2009

Tips on how to post an immigration bond in Boston, Massachusetts

Deportation, Immigration Bond, Immigration Court Boston, Immigration Tips, Removal

Congratulations! An Immigration Judge in Boston just ordered the release of your friend or loved one with an immigration bond. He or she will be released from the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement soon after you post your immigration bond. As an attorney specializing in deportation defense, I routinely represent detained immigrants in Immigration Court in Boston. I can offer you the following suggestions to help make the process of posting an immigration bond a more hassle-free experience. READ MORE

Tips on Adjustment of Status / Consular Processing from Boston AILA Conference