We offer warm regards to all our clients, friends, and professional colleagues. In response to the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), here is important information regarding our operations: IMPORTANT: The Transatlantic Law Firm, PLLC has NOT shut down. Our attorneys and staff continue to work from home through our computer system, which provides confidential and secure access to our files and other important information. We have invested heavily in IT infrastructure, allowing our employees > Read More
Green Cards for Liberians in the United States: 5 Things to Know
Tucked in the massive National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 was a Christmas and New Year gift for Liberians in the United States: Section 7611, the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) allowing Liberian nationals, their spouses, unmarried children under 21 years old who meet eligibility requirements to apply for permanent residence. On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed it and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting applications on > Read More
U.S. Immigration: 5 Trends to Watch in 2020 and Beyond
There is one thing that U.S. immigration practitioners undoubtedly agree: the law and policy under President Trump has seen dramatic and far-reaching changes. It is nearly impossible to discern patterns or trends, much less predict future actions by the Department of Homeland Security. We seem to have entered a new era for applications, enforcement, processing and everything in between as far as immigration benefits go. Here is an absurd attempt at clairvoyance: Cost of > Read More
U.S. Government Shutdown and Your Legal Matters, Now What?
Shutdown What? Starting December 21, 2018, parts of the United States government have been shut down. This is due to disagreements on appropriations between President Trump and congressional leaders. The main sticking point appears to be funding for a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. During the shutdown, some federal agencies are providing skeletal service or completely shut down. For example, the following are impacted: Homeland Security, Justice, Agriculture, Treasury, Others are: > Read More
Why Every Immigrant Family Needs “Legacy Planning”
Right upfront, let’s face it: we all like to put off unpleasant or uncomfortable thoughts or conversations. It is not easy to confront the reality of our own disability, weakness or mortality. So we put it on the back burner. However, burying our heads in the sand hardly makes the unpleasant or uncomfortable issues go away. Immigrant and first-generation immigrant families have unique circumstances that underscore the importance of advance planning and deliberative decision-making. Many > Read More
Why the proposed RAISE Act is Objectionable
Earlier this past summer, Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark) and David Perdue (R-GA) introduced a bill dubbed Reforming American Immigration for Strong Economy (RAISE) Act. It received a heartfelt endorsement by President Trump at the White House, though little else has been publicized about it. The bill’s purpose is declared to be amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act to “establish a skills-based immigration points system, to focus family- sponsored immigration on spouses and minor > Read More