Tural Khalilov, Esq.

08/26/2026

BREAKING — The State Department just paused ALL immigrant visa interviews worldwide. Not just certain countries this time — EVERY embassy and consulate, globally. If you have an interview scheduled, you’re likely getting an email saying it’s being rescheduled — with no new date given yet. This is different from January’s 75-country pause (which a federal judge struck down just LAST WEEK). This is bigger. Stated reason: consular officers are undergoing training on the expanded public charge screening requirements. The good news: nonimmigrant visas (H-1B, F-1, J-1, etc.) are NOT affected — this only hits immigrant visa (green card) interviews. State hasn’t given any timeline for when normal scheduling resumes. If you have a pending immigrant visa case, talk to an attorney now to understand your options while this is in effect. Swipe through for the full breakdown and share with anyone waiting on an interview. 📞 212-500-0104

08/17/2026

🚨 New BIA precedent just made it harder to get more time to find a lawyer. In Matter of A-K-R-, a detained man got 2 weeks, then 2 MORE weeks, to find counsel — with a clear warning: no more delays. When he still didn’t have an attorney at his next hearing, the judge said no to a third continuance and ordered him removed. The BIA upheld it — and used the case to officially walk back the old standard. The old rule (from 2012) said judges had to give a “reasonable and realistic” period to find counsel. The BIA now says that was never actually binding. The only hard rule left: your first hearing can’t happen less than 10 days after you’re served your NTA. That’s it. There’s no automatic right to a lawyer in removal proceedings — only a possible due process argument in extreme cases. If you or someone you love is in removal proceedings — do NOT wait to start looking for an attorney. Document every effort you make. Swipe through for the full breakdown. 📞 212-500-0104

08/15/2026

The BIA overruled a 14-year-old precedent that protected advance parole travelers. Since 2012, Matter of Arrabally held that leaving on advance parole did NOT count as a “departure” that triggers the reentry bars. Today, in Matter of Delcarmen-Lara, the Board reversed that — a trip abroad on advance parole IS now a “departure” under the law. Why this matters: if you’ve accrued 180+ days of unlawful presence, this kind of departure can now trigger the 3-year or 10-year reentry bars, and it can affect your eligibility to adjust status. The good news: the Board applied this rule going FORWARD only, not backward. They didn’t even decide whether the person in this exact case is affected by her own past trip. If your advance parole trip already happened, don’t panic — but get current advice. If you’re planning one, the “safe” rule that existed for 14 years is gone. Talk to an attorney before you book anything. Swipe through for the full breakdown. 📞 212-500-0104

07/31/2026

USCIS just changed how asylum cases work, effective IMMEDIATELY. They can now refer your case straight to immigration court WITHOUT ever interviewing you. Up to 444,000 cases — about 31% of the entire USCIS backlog — could be affected. Here’s why this matters: immigration judges denied 62% of cases in Jan. 2025. By June 2026, that number hit 94%. Moving from USCIS to court is not a neutral change. The upside: you still keep your right to appeal an immigration judge’s decision to federal circuit court. Critics call this “shifting the backlog, not solving it” — moving cases from one overloaded system to an even more overloaded one. If you have a pending asylum case, your written filing may now be the ONLY thing USCIS ever reviews before deciding your fate. Make it count. Swipe through for the full breakdown. 📞 212-500-0104

07/21/2026

🚨 DHS just rescinded the 2022 “public charge” rule. Effective September 18, 2026 — not a small technical change. Here’s what “public charge” actually means: it’s a factor USCIS weighs (not a ban) when deciding if someone might become dependent on government support. The 2022 rule was narrow — mostly just cash assistance and long-term institutional care counted. The NEW framework restores broad officer discretion — Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance received on or after Sept. 18 can now be weighed against you. Benefits received BEFORE that date are still judged under the old, narrower standard. A new Form I-485 becomes mandatory too — old versions won’t be accepted after Sept. 18. If you’re planning to file a green card application and your household uses any means-tested benefits — timing your filing matters. Talk to an attorney before you file. Swipe through for the full breakdown. 📞 212-500-0104

07/16/2026

07/16/2026

🚨 BREAKING TODAY — DHS just issued the FINAL rule ending “Duration of Status” for F-1, J-1, and I visa holders. After nearly 50 years of open-ended stays, there’s now a hard 4-YEAR CAP tied to your program end date. What changed today: grace period cut from 60 to 30 days. Extensions now require a formal Form I-539 filing with USCIS (with biometrics) — not just your DSO extending things. New restrictions on changing majors or transferring schools in year one. The BIGGEST risk: unlawful presence can now start accruing automatically once your period + grace period expires — no more waiting for a formal violation finding. That means the standard 3-year and 10-year reentry bars now apply directly. If your program runs past 4 years (PhD, combined degrees, etc.) — you need a plan NOW. Check your I-20 or DS-2019 end date today. Swipe through for the full breakdown and share with any student who needs this. 📞 212-500-0104

07/08/2026

⚖️ Sick of “still pending” on your USCIS case? Yes, you CAN sue — it’s called a Writ of Mandamus. Here’s the truth: it won’t force an approval, but it WILL force USCIS to finally make a decision (approval, denial, or RFE). Filed under the Mandamus Act + Administrative Procedure Act, requiring agencies to act “within a reasonable time.” The biggest myth: people think suing will get their case denied out of spite. It won’t — USCIS can’t legally retaliate. In fact, filing often just gets your file moved to a senior officer who wants it off their desk. Filing fee: $405. Government gets 60 days to respond — and more than half these lawsuits end because USCIS just decides the case in that window. Before you file: gather your receipt, USCIS’s published processing times, and proof of any prior follow-up. Talk to an attorney first — whether your delay counts as “unreasonable” depends on your case type. 📞 212-500-0104

06/25/2026

🚨 BREAKING — The D.C. Circuit just ruled 2-1 to let fast-track deportation expand NATIONWIDE. No judge. No hearing. “Expedited removal” used to apply mainly near the border. Now it can apply ANYWHERE in the U.S. — to anyone who can’t prove they’ve been here 2+ years. The court says notice + a chance to respond is enough due process. Officers don’t have to tell you that proving 2 years’ presence can stop your removal. Judge Wilkins’ dissent: “Due process does not wait for a final removal order to be issued before it is owed.” If you don’t have permanent status — carry proof of your time here. Lease, pay stubs, school records, medical records. This is your defense now. More litigation is coming — possibly the Supreme Court. Swipe through and share this with anyone who needs it. 📞 212-500-0104