Katsivalis & Anderson Law, LLC

10/19/2026

Thinking about an O-1 visa? Learn exactly what “extraordinary ability” means and the practical steps to qualify — from the types of evidence USCIS expects to how a U.S. employer or agent files the petition. Read the full guide: https://wix.to/a8cFi67

To qualify for an O-1 visa, you generally need to show sustained national or international acclaim in your field, document at least three of eight specific types of evidence USCIS looks for (or hold one major, internationally recognized award), and have a U.S. employer or agent file the petition on....

10/15/2026

The Supreme Court has allowed third-country deportations to continue while it considers whether the practice is legal. That means the government can still send people to countries that aren’t their home country and aren’t named in their removal orders — at least for now. Read our explainer on what “third-country removal” means and what to watch for as the Court decides the case. https://wix.to/ZysFVh8

The Supreme Court let the government keep sending people to third countries, meaning countries that are not their home country and are not named in their removal order, while it decides whether that practice is legal. The justices have not yet ruled on the merits. A decision is not expected before n...

10/12/2026

New BIA precedent: Matter of G-R-B- (30 I&N Dec. 102) confirms immigration judges can pretermit asylum claims — deciding cases on the written application alone, without a hearing. This shift may affect how applicants prepare filings and what evidence is included. Read the full analysis on implications for asylum practice and next steps. https://wix.to/PoIxfhS

Yes. Under a new Board of Immigration Appeals decision issued on September 29, 2026, an immigration judge can deny, or "pretermit," an asylum application without ever holding a hearing and without the Department of Homeland Security asking for it. The ruling means the written application itself, not...

10/10/2026

Why do family-based green card wait times sometimes stretch for decades? Our latest blog breaks down the October 2026 Visa Bulletin and explains the limits, per-country caps, and how some preference categories fall years — even decades — behind. Read the full article to understand what affects your wait and what options might help. https://wix.to/AhTnJsA

Family-based green card waits can stretch anywhere from a couple of years to more than two decades because Congress allows only a limited number of family preference visas each year, and no single country can receive more than seven percent of them. The October 2026 Visa Bulletin shows just how wide...

10/09/2026

Understanding the T Visa can change lives. Our step-by-step guide explains who’s eligible, how to apply, and what to expect — including special rules for minors and trauma survivors. Read the full guide to know your rights and next steps: https://wix.to/CfFkm4B

A T visa lets certain survivors of human trafficking remain in the United States legally, receive work authorization, and eventually apply for a green card, but only if the application meets several specific legal requirements. In most cases that includes cooperating with a law enforcement investiga...

10/07/2026

New federal appeals court decision could open the door for some detained immigrants to seek bond hearings. Padilla v. ICE allows certain constitutional challenges to mandatory detention — it doesn’t guarantee an automatic bond hearing, but it keeps an important legal avenue available. Read the full breakdown and what this could mean for asylum seekers and detainees: https://wix.to/MD5I1yT

A federal appeals court has ruled that some immigrants held in mandatory immigration detention without a bond hearing may pursue a constitutional challenge to that detention. The decision does not hand anyone an automatic bond hearing, but it keeps a legal door open that a string of earlier rulings....

10/01/2026

Why is the extreme hardship waiver often the hardest part of a family-based green card case? Many find the I-130 approval straightforward — proving “extreme hardship” to a qualifying U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent is what decides the outcome. Read practical guidance on building a strong waiver case and common pitfalls to avoid. Read more: https://wix.to/DPNagB0

For many people who need a waiver of the three-year or ten-year unlawful presence bar, getting the family petition approved is the easy part of the case. Proving "extreme hardship" to a qualifying U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or parent is usually what actually decides whether the green....

09/30/2026

USCIS changed how it reviews "public charge" for green card applicants.

For adjustment of status applications filed on or after September 18, 2026, officers can now consider a broader range of means-tested public benefits, such as Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance. In some cases, benefits received by certain family members can be considered too, even if the applicant never received them.

A few important points:

Applications filed before September 18 are still decided under the prior, more favorable rules.
Public charge does not apply to U.S. citizens, and it does not apply to many categories, including most green card holders, refugees, and asylees.
This rule is being challenged in court and could change.

Before you file, or before you make decisions about benefits your household uses, get advice specific to your family. Call 773.657.3633.

09/29/2026

f you are sponsoring a family member for a green card, this one matters.

Starting October 1, 2026, USCIS will only accept the new 08/24/26 edition of Form I-864, the Affidavit of Support. The older version will no longer be processed after September 30. The same change applies to Forms I-864A and I-864EZ.

The new form also includes something sponsors have not seen before: permission for USCIS to pull the sponsor's credit report. If you have a credit freeze in place, be ready to lift it if USCIS asks, since a freeze could slow things down.

If your packet is already prepared on the old form, now is the time to have it reviewed before it goes out.

Every family's path is different. Call us at 773.657.3633 to talk through yours.

09/29/2026

Does your child's immigration case depend on filing before they turn 21? Pay close attention to this change.

Starting October 23, 2026, USCIS will no longer give you until the next business day when an age-based or eligibility deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday. If that birthday lands on a Saturday, the filing needs to be received before the cutoff.

The next-business-day extension will still apply to paper filings with deadlines counted in a set number of days, such as a 30-day response window. Online filings do not get any extension, even on weekends or holidays.

The safest approach is simple: don't plan to file at the last minute. If your family has an age-related deadline coming up, reach out now at 773.657.3633.

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