New court decision with potentially big DACA news for some people
DACA, including advance parole (travel permission), could be coming back to original form in 90 days. Stay tuned for more information.
NC Human Trafficking Commission Symposium
Patrick was a panelist this week at the NC Human Trafficking Commission Symposium in New Bern. Patrick was honored to be chosen to speak on immigration issues, among many passionate and intelligent practitioners.
New Associate Attorney Beth Hutchens
Hatch Rockers Immigration would like to introduce Beth Hutchens, our new associate attorney in Durham. Beth joined us in August, as a law clerk awaiting her bar exam results. Beth is now a licensed North Carolina attorney and a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill School of Law. Beth’s prior professional experiences include working with non-profits […]
New Old Policy, Requiring Interviews for Employment-Based and Asylum Dependent Adjustment Cases
The Trump administration will no longer waive the in-person interview step before certain applicants can get a green card. Previously, USCIS had allowed employment-based applicants and asylum dependents applying for a green card to skip the in-person interview part of the process. The reason for waiving the interview in those cases was to redistribute resources […]
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) has been rescinded
Here is what we know so far: The DACA program is being phased out, but anyone with a valid DACA work permit can continue to use that permit through its expiration date. DACA holders whose permit will expire between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018 are eligible to renew one more time. These applications must […]
Hatch Rockers Immigration in New Orleans
Last month, Patrick Hatch, Jack Rockers, and Evelyn Smallwood of Hatch Rockers Immigration attended the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s (AILA) National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. While there, the attorneys heard dozens of panel presentations from some of immigration law’s leading legal minds. Patrick, as the Treasurer on the AILA Carolinas Chapter Executive Committee, planned […]
Evelyn named AILA Pro Bono Award winner
We are proud to report that Attorney Evelyn Smallwood was named AILA Carolinas Pro Bono Champion at the AILA Conference in New Orleans in June. Congratulations, Evelyn! See the list of other winners: http://www.aila.org/practice/pro-bono/recognition/pro-bono-heroes-recognition-program/2017-aila-chapter-pro-bono-champions?utm_source=Recent+Postings+Alert&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=RP+Daily#2
USCIS has new fees and new forms
On December 23, 2016, USCIS released new additions to many of their forms, with dates effective immediately. USCIS will continue to accept previous versions of the forms until February 21, 2017. The N-400 is the only form not included in this exception. The previous version of the N-400 can not be used after December 23, […]
Hatch Rockers Immigration announcement
It is official. Jack Rockers has been promoted to partner at our firm. We are now Hatch Rockers Immigration. Congratulations to Jack. Our new website is coming soon.
Big news for people waiting for their priority dates
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that beginning with the visa bulletin effective October 1, 2015, USCIS will accept I-485 applications to adjust status to Permanent Resident according to a separate filing date chart. This new filing date chart will be published in the visa bulletin alongside the usual chart outlining which priority dates […]