Law Office of Jeffrey Thompson

02/03/2026

TPS UPDATE: As of February 3, 2026, a federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for approximately 350,000 Haitians.

Current Status & Recent Developments:

Court Order (Feb 2, 2026): Judge Ana C. Reyes of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., issued a temporary stay halting the termination of TPS for Haiti, which was scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m. on February 3.

Immediate Effect:

This ruling allows current Haitian TPS holders to continue living and working in the U.S. while the lawsuit challenging the termination is litigated.

01/24/2026

01/23/2026

Humanitarian parole offers temporary U.S. protection, but adjustment of status to permanent residency requires meeting three hard eligibility requirements: sufficient financial support at or above federal poverty guidelines, medical admissibility through a USCIS-designated civil surgeon, and background clearance with full disclosure of any criminal history.

File Form I-485 with all required documentation before your parole expires, since processing delays in 2026 mean cases take months or longer. Submit everything upfront rather than waiting for requests for evidence, attend your biometrics appointment on the scheduled date, and notify USCIS immediately if you move. Small errors—filing to the wrong address, missing deadlines, or omitting court records—delay approval significantly or result in denial.

https://jeffreyathompsonlaw.com/how-to-adjust-status-from-humanitarian-parole-to-permanent/

01/19/2026

Arriving aliens seeking permanent residency must file Form I-485 to adjust status while physically in the United States, requiring confirmation of eligibility category, a visa number to be available, and submission to the correct USCIS field office with certified documents and professional translations.

The process involves biometrics appointments, medical examinations, background checks, and interviews that typically take 8 to 36 months depending on your field office, with common delays stemming from missing documents, medical issues, or inconsistencies between your application and interview statements. One filing error, missed deadline, or translation omission destroys your receipt date and forces you to restart entirely. Consulting an immigration attorney protects your case against rejection and ensures proper preparation for each stage.

https://jeffreyathompsonlaw.com/how-to-handle-arriving-aliens-and-adjustment-of-status/

01/16/2026

TPS offers temporary work authorization and deportation protection but does not lead to permanent residency, while adjustment of status provides a pathway to obtaining a green card if you have an approved immigrant petition and meet eligibility requirements.

Your entry method determines your options: those who entered legally on a valid visa can adjust status within the U.S., but those who entered without inspection typically must pursue consular processing abroad, which can trigger re-entry bars lasting years. Success requires precision in completing forms, gathering all required documents before filing, attending your biometrics appointment without fail, and preparing thoroughly for your interview if scheduled.

https://jeffreyathompsonlaw.com/how-to-navigate-tps-and-adjustment-of-status-process/

01/12/2026

Adjustment of Status lets you apply for permanent residence while staying in the United States rather than processing your visa overseas, but you must have a current priority date in your immigration category to file.

Your application package must include Form I-485, a recent medical examination, financial documentation proving your sponsor meets income thresholds, and certified identity records—missing even one document results in rejection without opportunity to correct it. USCIS will not contact you for missing items before denying your case, so submit all required evidence on your first submission using the correct form editions and assembly order. Start by verifying your priority date in the Department of State Visa Bulletin, collect certified copies directly from government offices, and mail your complete package to the appropriate lockbox address with tracking.

https://jeffreyathompsonlaw.com/your-adjustment-of-status-package-a-complete-checklist/

01/09/2026

H1B adjustment of status requires maintaining valid U.S. status, employer sponsorship through an EB-2 or EB-3 petition, and visa availability in your category—eligibility hinges on all three factors.

Processing timelines vary dramatically by USCIS field office and country of chargeability, ranging from six months to several years, particularly for applicants from India or China facing per-country visa caps. Missing documents, expired evidence, and address changes derail applications far more often than applicants realize, making meticulous documentation tracking essential throughout the process. File Form I-485 at the correct location with certified translations, attend your biometrics appointment, and monitor document expiration dates to avoid preventable denials.

https://jeffreyathompsonlaw.com/how-to-navigate-h1b-adjustment-of-status-process/