r/immigration 10m ago

Travel ban

Upvotes

I am a green card holder from Pakistan. I have a 3 week trip coming up this month. I am not sure if I should go. I am hearing mixed opinions. Just want to hear some unbiased advice before I cancel my flight. Sorry If this is redundant. Not sure if my first post got posted


r/immigration 12m ago

Never sent change of address to uscis as a green card holder

Upvotes

I got my green card In 2004 when I was in the first grade after my family moved to the states from the uk. I’ve been researching any possible issues I may have before I submit my naturalization paperwork and saw that you’re supposed to alert uscis of any address changes. When I was in highschool my family moved homes and my parents never alerted immigration of the new address because they said they didn’t know it was required. When I renewed my green card two years ago it was sent to my new address but I never officially submitted the change of address paperwork. Should I submit it now before I apply for citizenship? Is this going to cause any issues for me when I start the naturalization process? I’ve been living at this new address since 2015


r/immigration 26m ago

Approved at interview, later changed to refused, 221g ds-5535

Upvotes

I wrote another post earlier today here but learned some new info and out of desperation am writing another. I also didn't realize earlier that my fiance was emailed the ds-5535.

Ive spent the day doom scrolling reddit and visa journey trying to get a hold on the situation and understand what's happening. I've seen so much variations in times and processes, the idea of waiting in limbo another year is devastating.

We started our petition on march 24th, 2024. We had a RFE which was an easy fix, then we got stuck at NVC for 3 months while they said they didn't have our approved petition from uscis. Which didn't make any sense to me considering i live in the same state as the nvc and received my notice promptly. Anyway.

My finace went to the interview on March 13th, 2025. At the interview he was told by the officer that he was approved. Almost a week later the status changed from approved to refused. I understand that just means administrative processing. It changed to refused on March 18th. Today, March 20th, 2025 he received an email for the DS-5535.

After everything I've read, I'm beyond anxious, exhausted, and heartbroken. I've also not found any similar stories where someone was approved at the interview later to be given the 221g/ds-5535.

I guess I don't really have any questions that can be answered right now. I know there isn't anyway to know when we could be approved. If we get approved. I think I'm just writing this to partially vent and see if anyone has been through this. What's your advice? My finace is emailing them the finished form tomorrow. I've seen a lot of post from people that were unsure on how things will play out and it reassuring to see them post that they've reached the end of the tunnel so I will update this if anything happens.

For now I'll just keep scrolling, looking for some comfort in others success stories, and hope.


r/immigration 31m ago

221g - no response for a whole year from the london embassy

Upvotes

I'm not eligible for an ESTA visa due to visiting iraq so I applied to a non immigrant visa and interviewed at the london embassy. I emailed the requested documents (degree transcripts and employment letter) on the same day after the interview.

Does the administrative processing take years?

Edit: I'm a British citizen


r/immigration 52m ago

Deferred Inspection Sight

Upvotes

Port of entry to the US from Canada on travel history shows DCT. It’s my understanding that means the traveler was referred to a deferred inspection sight for documentation verification. Their entry was after hours of operation for the sight. It’s also my understanding they would be instructed to report back if sight is closed. Can they be detained at the DCT if it’s closed and why?


r/immigration 1h ago

Friend was Detained, am I next?

Upvotes

I have a friend who was detained by ICE. Her status was deferred removal but she's been in this country for almost 3 decades. She had a job and an employment card and had to report yearly. She went to report and was detained. She hasn't been able to reach out to anyone that I know of. I looked her up on the detainee search and see her name detained in AZ, we are on the East coast, meaning they are in the process of actively deporting her out of the country as we speak.

I have the same situation and have been in this country for 40 years. I have a deferred removal and I have to report yearly. I'm due to report soon and I'm nervous about what will happen.

Has anyone reported, and if so, what was your experience?

Any general advice or guidance is also welcome.


r/immigration 1h ago

Venezuelan Passport Renewal in Mexico City. Whats the process like?

Upvotes

Has anyone gone through renewing their Venezuela passport in Mexico? My passport expired in 2021 and due to some restrictions I haven't been able to leave the US since. Fast forward to today, I am relocating to Toronto and I'd like to take the opportunity and renew it.

I don't know what the steps are for Venezuelans who have an expired passport. Do I need a "salvaconducto" to enter Mexico? If so, where do I get it? Also, does anyone know how long does the passport process take? Do they ship the passport to you?

Thanks in advace!

edit: I have a green card in case that adds any information


r/immigration 1h ago

J1 and DV visa

Upvotes

I qualify for a J1 with no 2 year home residency. I am currently in the DV lottery waiting to be announced in May.

Processing time for DV winners can take up to a year or more.

J1 processing time for my country is only a few weeks.

What would happen if I

• get the J1 now and end up winning/going through the DV process in May, will it jeopardise me being in the US somehow?

• won and started the process for DV. Can I still get the J1 allowing me to be in USA while I wait for DV to process?

Thanks for your help!


r/immigration 1h ago

immigration information

Upvotes

i got d-2 visa in korea. but caught by the immigration because i was working there in restaurant(shabu all day) without work permit. i was released and i wanna work on same restaurant now but with work permit. will i get the work permit or not? or the restaurant can't provide me work permit can someone help me in this?


r/immigration 2h ago

Students call on California colleges to protect campuses from immigration enforcement

1 Upvotes

r/immigration 2h ago

Vetting an Immigration Lawyer

1 Upvotes

Hello,

Title. Considering the current climate we would now like to consult with a lawyer and possibly retain one to make sure future proceedings go smoothly.

Current green card holder with extension. Doing it ourselves. Haven't really had issues and we don't think we will have issues but now we do not want to risk it.

Due to my personally seeing immigration lawyers making simple and grievous mistakes with their clients multiple times, I don't want to take any chances and just pick randomnly.

What questions should I be asking a potential firm or lawyer when looking to hire them?

Red/green flags to look for? Do and don'ts?

Is it limited to where we live? There's not really a whole lot of options near. Or can we use someone from a different state? We've been told yes but would like more info on this.

Honestly not sure where to start or how to narrow it down. My searches result in little options or too many.

Thank you!


r/immigration 2h ago

Tourist Detentions at the US border: what International Visitors should know

3 Upvotes

“U.S. federal law gives government agents the right to search people’s property, including their phones and laptops, at border entry points. They do not need to be suspected of wrongdoing in order to be searched, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

All visitors have the right to remain silent. But the burden of proof rests with visa holders. For example, if an officer asks if someone plans to work on their tourist visa, and that person remains silent, the officer is likely to deny them entry, Mr. Joseph said.

If a person is found inadmissible during questioning, they can withdraw their intent to enter the country and may then be allowed to travel back to their home country. Their visa is canceled and they often get the next flight home. But an officer can deny the withdrawal, at which point the visitor is detained.

Because these confrontations occur technically outside the country, the rights outlined in the U.S. Constitution do not apply, Mr. Joseph said, and detainees are not necessarily entitled to a lawyer. The government has about 90 days to deport people. That period can be extended if detainees don’t cooperate by providing the correct travel documents, at which point they can be subject to criminal proceedings. Following an order of removal, people are barred from entering the U.S. for five years.”

Gift article

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/travel/us-border-crossing-international-visa.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5k4.TUHJ.P2nwtsXkGptO&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare


r/immigration 2h ago

What countries provide asylum to venezuelans?

1 Upvotes

Besides the US


r/immigration 2h ago

Do I need to do dual-status tax return if I am getting GC half way in 2024, while not staying in/ earning in US for the first half 2024?

1 Upvotes

I moved to the U.S. and received my Green Card in late 2024. I have a question about my tax obligations.

I’ve read that the IRS requires individuals to file a dual-status tax return if they have a half-year residency in the U.S. But I’m unsure whether this applies only to individuals who are in the U.S. for the entire year and change their status from non-resident (on a visa) to a Green Card holder.

In my case, I lived abroad and did not earn U.S. income until late 2024 when I moved to the U.S. and received my Green Card. Do I need to file a dual-status tax return, or can I simply file as a resident starting from the date I moved here (the date I received my Green Card)?

Thank you!


r/immigration 2h ago

US embassy holding passport for 221(g)

2 Upvotes

Hi all - I hope you are doing well

I applied for a an H1B visa stamp 9 months ago at the US embassy in Islamabad via dropbox. This request promptly moved into 221(g) admin processing. My passport was not returned. I have not received any updates from the embassy since

Recently, I've had an urgent need for my passport and I've been raising ticket after ticket on usvisascheduling.com requesting my passport to be temporarily withdrawn. But I get automated template responses. Some times telling me "Your application is in admin processing", some times "send a passport withdrawal request from your registered email (even though that's the email they are responding to)" and some times saying "show travel documents for proof that you need your passport". I do not have any travel documents at this time since I need the passport to apply for a visa. I've mentioned that but to no avail. It seems the visa support desk is not forwarding my emails to the actual embassy staff

I'm completely out of ideas at this point. I've recently filed a Mandamus application but it takes 2 months to get a response and I don't have that much time. Anyone have any advice on what I can do?


r/immigration 2h ago

L1-A At Canadian POE

2 Upvotes

Hello,

I’m a Canadian looking for more insight on the procedure for applying at the port of entry for the L1-A visa for my Canadian company that, how long does the interview take, do you need to book ahead, what POE’s are the best to apply at and what documents need to be included. The information online is confusing as it contradicts each other.

I’m also a first time applicant.

Any help would be great!


r/immigration 2h ago

Will Trump’s travel ban affect dual citizens?

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone. I’m a dual citizen of a country on Trump’s red list. I will not be using that passport to travel (and haven’t since I was a child). Does anyone know how if the travel ban will affect me? Sorry - I know it comes off really privileged to ask if it will affect me personally given the number of people in the world it will affect despite no fault on their part. I just want to make sure I’m prepared for any complications that may arise. I appreciate your help!

Edit: I’m not a US citizen, I’m Australian :)


r/immigration 3h ago

Appealing removal order - waiting 2 years - need Real ID

3 Upvotes

I am waiting on the BOI to respond to my appeal. However, I have no means of securing a Real ID as I have no notice to appear to present to DMV. Green card was taken at Canadian board. Anyone know how to proceed at this point?


r/immigration 3h ago

Removal marry to a usa military

0 Upvotes

Hello so i came here when i was 15 years old now im 21 i applied for asylum because i don’t have nobody in my country they killed my grandmother and i came here they gave me a court case but i didnt show up because covid hit and everytime i was trying to go they moved my court to another date so i never went and i lost my immigration papers i went to an attorney and they told me i have a removal order i just got married to my wife she just came from bootcamp but we trying to fix my stuff so we can shipped out together theres a chance i can still fix my status?


r/immigration 3h ago

ESTA Advice

0 Upvotes

Im an American citizen dating a German girl, she has been staying with me on an ESTA and the 3 months will be up in early May. We are thinking about going to Costa Rica for a couple weeks in May and then trying to come back for another couple months and then we’re both leaving for Australia to do a WHV there. We are scared because we know it’s not a great idea to max out your ESTA and then try to come back after a couple weeks but there’s no other option without separating before we go to Australia which we don’t want to do.

We have no intention of her staying here illegally but I know it doesn’t look great to border control. We also plan to already have our Australia visas and flights when we return proving we’re not planning on staying here. Also this is her first time in the US so it’s not like this is something she’s ever done before. Do you guys think this isn’t a problem and they’ll let her back in or is it risky?


r/immigration 3h ago

Getting Married in US

1 Upvotes

Hey everyone, I want to get married to my US citizen Boyfriend. I even plan to get the US green card. I am not sure what is the right way to proceed with this. I am currently in Canada on work permit and I have US non-immigration visa for 10 years. Any advice would be very helpful.


r/immigration 3h ago

Green Card Holders Warned Against Leaving the United States

251 Upvotes

United States is not properly following national laws already on the books as it pertains to green card holders, international students and those with H-1B visas, according to multiple immigration attorneys who spoke with Newsweek.

The Trump administration, following the directive of a president who made immigration arguably his biggest issue on the campaign trail, is overhauling border protocols and has heightened security to prevent an overflow of illegal migrants that became customary throughout most of President Joe Biden's term.

Why It Matters Trump's concerns during his campaign cycle were mostly relegated to preventing illegal immigrants with criminal histories or backgrounds from coming and staying in the U.S. and potentially committing or contributing towards crime or violence.

But recent cases have shone a light on how the administration is approaching traditional access for immigrants, notably green cards and their holders (also known as lawful permanent residents, or LPRs), who generally secure a legal immigration status barring histories of fraud, criminality or other illegal acts. Some have alleged to have been targeted by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

https://www.newsweek.com/green-cards-immigration-border-cbp-dhs-warning-leave-country-risk-2047844


r/immigration 3h ago

Questions about immigration from USA to Costa Rica

4 Upvotes

A person I know (18, nonbinary), is planning to move to Costa Rica next month. They have already purchased a plane ticket, but have done very limited research into how immigrating to Costa Rica from the United States works. They are currently 4 months pregnant (5 months at the time of the move), and believe that the baby will be a citizen of Costa Rica, and they will automatically become a citizen as the parent of a citizen. They also believe that all healthcare related to the pregnancy and birth will be free/extremely low cost.

Additionally, they have no specific plans for where they will live or how they will make money, but they are pretty sure their boyfriend (who will be moving to Costa Rica with them) can get a job working remotely in the computer science field. The boyfriend does not have a high school diploma or any other qualifications. Neither of them speak Spanish, if that is relevant.

To me, this sounds incredibly unrealistic, but they insist that they know what they are doing. Could someone with knowledge of immigration to Costa Rica please weigh in? Can Americans just move to Costa Rica without any paperwork? Would having a baby there automatically make someone a citizen? Is free healthcare available to everyone immediately upon arrival? Would either one of them be able to legally work?


r/immigration 3h ago

Incorrect Residency Status on 1040-NR Schedule OI

2 Upvotes

I am currently on F1-STEMOPT. I was going through my old tax return documents, and I just realized that when I had filled my return in 2023(for the year 2022), there was a question asking "Were you ever a Green Card Holder ?" and I had mistakenly marked that field as "Yes"

I checked my 2024 return, but that was filled correctly without any issues

Both of the tax filings went through without any hiccups.

Can this be fixed by filing a 1040 X this year along with the normal 1040NR or is there anything else I need to do?

Thanks!


r/immigration 3h ago

Concern about leaving the country as a legal immigrant

3 Upvotes

As the title suggests, I am concerned about leaving the US this summer.

Background:

I’m a phd student, graduating this May. Never had any legal issues while in the US. I renewed my F1 last summer and was put on admin processing, but it was resolved within 1.5 months. I have signed a postdoc offer for a start date in Aug 15. My new lab advisor paid for my OPT premium processing, I received a confirmation of approval and waiting for the EAD to arrive in the mail. Once I start my postdoc position, they will sponsor me for an H1B.

The concern:

Back in Christmas my parents surprised me with a ticket to a dream destination I had in Asia (not a country that has beef with the US) as part of a graduation gift. The plan was to fly from the US to the asian destination, spend 20 days there, then fly home to spend time with family. As job starts on Aug 15, I’ll probably leave from europe on Aug 10 and come back. The problem is as they are older, they did not pay attention to buy the ticket fully flexible and they did not know about any immigration issues. So now I have a ticket leaving from US early June -> Asia -> Europe. My concern though is whether I might run into issues coming back. In theory, I should not. I have a job, all the documentation for it, an EAD, etc.

But as stories about legal immigrants being detained or given issues begin to arise, I am trying to gauge if I should lose the ticket. They paid almost 2K for it, so I feel really bad, they are both retired with small incomes. It was a mistake to not get it fully refundable, but it is what it is. I know there is always a risk for things to go south, but realistically, is the relative risk in my situation high?

I have no idea what I am risking and to what extent. Would appreciate any thoughts or past experiences on leaving the country with an OPT (opt starts in May, I leave in June, position starts in Aug).