Susan V. Perez, Immigration Lawyer

09/06/2026

This Labor Day, we honor the hardworking men and women whose dedication keeps America moving forward.

We especially recognize the millions of immigrants who contribute their skills, talents, determination, and hard work to our nation’s economy and communities. From small businesses and healthcare to education, technology, construction, hospitality, and countless other industries, immigrants are an integral part of America’s workforce and economic strength.

Today, we celebrate every worker who works hard, dreams big, and helps build a brighter future for the next generation.

🇺🇸 Happy Labor Day from the Law Office of Susan V. Perez, APLC!

ImmigrantWorkers

08/27/2026

Mexico – 180,530
Cuba – 81,600
India – 78,070
Dominican Republic – 68,870
China – 59,260
Philippines – 49,200
Vietnam – 36,000
Afghanistan – 30,300
Brazil – 28,880
El Salvador – 26,210

https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-worst-hit-countries-as-trump-pauses-visa-appointments-12368941?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwZnRzaAT9EjRwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNQ1Dz91msI2iivXoeUAztzlRx_Wb2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5WSeamEkVFAEh0hOalKj_vxtvtSLLoEUWDGZHPelMnIflunDoOrQ6sjvtgzg_aem_NgNDKSwPIVu8eixJhadxaA =1787745703

The Trump administration has announced a temporary pause on visa appointments worldwide, amid its ongoing immigration crackdown.

08/26/2026

BREAKING: Immigrant visa applicants with ​scheduled consular interviews have received emails that their appointments were being rescheduled.

A U.S. State ​Department spokesperson said that it launched a global training initiative at ​all embassies and consulates worldwide and that appointments for visa services ⁠will be adjusted to accommodate the training.

08/21/2026

Client asked if I was related to ChatGPT, when he asked for the best Filipino immigration attorney in San Diego, my name came up!

08/21/2026

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) says officers will use five factors to determine if green-card applicants are subject to the public charge of inadmissibility. The five factors that will be evaluated by immigration officers are an applicant’s age, health, education, skills and family status as it relates to assets, resources and financial status.

The new framework replaces 2022 rules put in place during the Biden administration

08/14/2026

❤️ Love or Green Card? Sometimes, the truthful answer is: BOTH. And a genuine marriage should be judged on the evidence—not simply on the fact that immigration benefits come with it. The question often asked in marriage-based immigration cases is: “Is it love, or is it the green card?”

The answer can be simple: it can be both.

A foreign national can genuinely love a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident spouse while also recognizing that marriage may provide an immigration benefit. Wanting to live legally and permanently in the United States with your spouse does not, by itself, make the marriage fraudulent.

Immigration law does not require a person to be indifferent to the immigration benefits of marriage. The critical issue is whether the couple entered into the marriage in good faith, intending to establish a life together as husband and wife, rather than entering into the marriage solely to evade the immigration laws.

So yes, a person can love their spouse and want a green card. Those two motivations are not necessarily inconsistent.

What matters is the bona fides of the marriage—the couple’s shared life, commitment to one another, and genuine intent when they married. If the evidence establishes a real, good-faith marriage and the applicant otherwise satisfies the requirements for permanent residence, the fact that immigration benefits were also considered should not, standing alone, be a basis for denial.

08/06/2026

USCIS may deny their immigration benefit request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID). USCIS form instructions specify all required initial evidence for every benefit request, giving requestors all the information needed to comply.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is clarifying that benefit requestors should establish eligibility for an immigration benefit at the time they file a benefit request.

08/02/2026

The U.S. Department of State has finalized a rule making the Visa Bond Program permanent, effective August 3, 2026. Under this permanent framework, applicants for B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourist) visas from 50 designated countries must post a substantial refundable bond.

GOOD NEWS - Philippines is not included in the list of 50 countries affected by the U.S. Visa Bond Program

The U.S. Department of State has finalized a permanent Visa Bond Program that may require certain B-1/B-2 visa applicants to post bonds of up to $20,000 before receiving a visa.

07/31/2026

Between July 22 and July 23, 2026, USCIS experienced a technical issue that caused inaccurate case status information to display in some user’s myUSCIS accounts. The issue has been resolved, and updated case status information is now available in your account.

07/23/2026

Great news! Getting a J-2 waiver isn’t always straightforward.

My client entered the United States as a J-2 dependent of his wife, a J-1 teacher. After their marriage ended in divorce, he was left without her support for the waiver process and had to pursue a waiver on his own—a path that presents unique legal and procedural challenges.

Today, we’re celebrating a major milestone: the U.S. Department of State issued a favorable recommendation for his waiver. One step closer to securing his future in the United States.

Every immigration case has its own obstacles. The right legal strategy can make all the difference.

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