After years of delays and push backs, the REAL ID Act will finally be in effect on May 7, 2025. This new law will have a significant impact on how Californians and all U.S. travelers use their identification for domestic travel and federal access.
The REAL ID Act is a law that was passed in 2005 that set higher security standards for identification cards issued by states. In order for a REAL ID to be compliant with the Act, the identification cards (such as drivers licenses) will have a gold star or similar marking indicating compliance. Once in effective, identification cards that are not REAL ID-compliant will no longer be accepted for many purposes, including:
Effective May 7th, federal agencies are prohibited from accepting licenses or identification cards that do not meet the standards outlined by the REAL ID Act.
On May 7, Californians will need to have a REAL ID compliant driver's license or identification card in order to board a domestic flight, enter federal facilities, or access military bases. If you do not have a REAL ID, you'll be required to provide another form of identification approved by TSA, such as a valid passport or permanent resident card.
All U.S. citizens will be required to have a REAL ID driver's license or state identification card, for the purposes outlined above. Without a complaint form of ID, citizens will be prevented from accessing federal facilities or flying domestically.
Non-citizens and lawful permanent residents should also make sure that identification cards are compliant for air travel.
If you are overstaying any type of visa or if you are currently under an order of deportation, you could be at risk of detainment, further questioning, or referral to immigration enforcement if you present a non-compliant form of ID or outdated documents at TSA checkpoints. Before doing any kind of travel - especially domestic air travel - make sure that you have a valid form of ID that is compliant with the REAL ID law.
If your form of identification is not complaint with the security standards under the REAL ID act, you will need to visit your local California DMV office to apply for a REAL ID. You will be required to provide the following in order to apply for a REAL ID:
You can avoid last-minute stress and possible delays while traveling if you plan ahead and make sure that you have a compliant form of identification before traveling!
If you are in California and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (known as ICE) comes knocking or you spot them on the streets, stay calm and know your rights!
Here’s what you need to do to protect yourself and your loved ones:
Learn about potential changes in immigration practices and prepare by keeping all your legal documents organized and up to date. Always consult with a legal expert if you face complications or have questions about your case.
¡Si estás en California y el Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de EE. UU. (conocido como ICE) llega a tu puerta o los ves en las calles, mantén la calma y conoce tus derechos!
Aquí tienes lo que debes hacer para protegerte a ti y a tus seres queridos:
Infórmate sobre posibles cambios en las prácticas de inmigración y prepárate manteniendo todos tus documentos legales organizados y actualizados. Consulta siempre con un experto legal si enfrentas complicaciones o tienes preguntas sobre tu caso.
On November 7, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a final judgment striking down the Biden Administration's "Keeping Families Together" program. The judge ruled in favor of the 16 Republican-led states on the day following the presidential election that resulted in Americans putting President-Elect Donald Trump back in the White House.
The judgement held that the Biden Administration did not have the authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant parole to noncitizens who are already in the United States.
As a result of the ruling, USCIS is no longer accepting Form I-131F applications and pending adjudications have been halted. At a future date, USCIS will announce how they will be handing pending cases and paid application fees.
The Parole in Place program would have allowed eligible noncitizen spouses and children of U.S. citizens to apply for their green cards without having to leave the U.S. to complete consular processing.
An appeal by the Department of Justice has not been announced.
We are greatly disappointed by the decision in the case. Our office will continue to monitor updates related to the Texas decision and communicate that important information to our network. As a result of the decision, our firm will no longer be assisting with filing Form I-131F applications.
El 7 de noviembre de 2024, el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Este de Texas emitió un fallo definitivo anulando el programa "Manteniendo a las Familias Unidas" de la Administración Biden. El juez falló a favor de los 16 estados liderados por republicanos el día después de las elecciones presidenciales, en las que los estadounidenses eligieron al Presidente Electo Donald Trump para regresar a la Casa Blanca.
El fallo determinó que la Administración Biden no tenía autoridad bajo la Ley de Inmigración y Nacionalidad (INA, por sus siglas en inglés) para otorgar Permisos de Permanencia Temporal (Parole) a no ciudadanos que ya se encuentran en los Estados Unidos.
Como resultado de la decisión, USCIS ya no está aceptando solicitudes del Formulario I-131F, y las adjudicaciones pendientes han sido suspendidas. En una fecha futura, USCIS anunciará cómo manejará los casos pendientes y las tarifas de solicitud pagadas.
El programa Permisos de Permanencia Temporal habría permitido a cónyuges e hijos no ciudadanos elegibles de ciudadanos estadounidenses solicitar sus tarjetas de residencia sin tener que salir de los Estados Unidos para completar el proceso consular.
El Departamento de Justicia no ha anunciado una apelación.
Estamos profundamente decepcionados por la decisión en este caso. Nuestra oficina continuará monitoreando actualizaciones relacionadas con la decisión de Texas y comunicará información importante a nuestra red. Como resultado del fallo, nuestra firma ya no asistirá con la presentación de solicitudes del Formulario I-131F.
If you've recently completed the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen and your child is under the age of 18, your child may be eligible to gain citizenship derived through your citizenship.
Once you have become a naturalized citizen, your children under the age of 18 generally become citizens automatically. However, to ensure that your child is legally recognized as a U.S. citizen, you need to file Form N-600 in order to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship.
That Certificate of Citizenship never expires, and is an important document to have when applying for many benefits in the future. The Certificate is not, however, something that can be used for travel outside the United States. The child would need to obtain a U.S. passport.
If your child already has a valid U.S. passport, that document is generally seen as evidence of citizenship. However, it does not grant your child full legal status, and it may require additional documentation when applying for other benefits, such as state-issued identification cards, driver's licenses and permits, financial aid, passport renewals, Social Security benefits, and employment.
The Certificate of Citizenship is a valuable document for your child’s future in the U.S. — it proves their legal status and can make processes like school enrollment, work authorization, and other benefits much smoother.
If you have any questions regarding this process, contact the Law Offices of Spojmie Nasiri, PC, for a legal consultation at (925) 520-5195.
Si recientemente completó el proceso de naturalización para convertirse en ciudadano de los Estados Unidos y su hijo es menor de 18 años, es posible que su hijo sea elegible para obtener la ciudadanía derivada de su ciudadanía.
Una vez que usted se convierte en ciudadano naturalizado, sus hijos menores de 18 años generalmente se convierten en ciudadanos automáticamente. Sin embargo, para asegurarse de que su hijo sea reconocido legalmente como ciudadano estadounidense, debe presentar el Formulario N-600 para obtener un Certificado de Ciudadanía.
Ese Certificado de Ciudadanía nunca expira y es un documento importante al solicitar muchos beneficios en el futuro. Sin embargo, este certificado no se puede utilizar para viajar fuera de los Estados Unidos. El menor de edad necesitará obtener un pasaporte estadounidense.
Si su hijo ya tiene un pasaporte estadounidense válido, ese documento generalmente se considera evidencia de ciudadanía. No obstante, no le otorga a su hijo un estatus legal completo y puede requerir documentación adicional al solicitar otros beneficios, tales como tarjetas de identificación emitidas por el estado, licencias de conducir y permisos, ayuda financiera, renovación de pasaportes, beneficios del Seguro Social y empleo.
El Certificado de Ciudadanía es un documento valioso para el futuro de su hijo en los Estados Unidos: prueba su estatus legal y puede facilitar procesos como la inscripción escolar, la autorización de trabajo y otros beneficios.
Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre este proceso, comuníquese con las Oficinas Legales de Law Offices of Spojmie Nasiri, PC, para una consulta legal al (925) 520-5195.
We have written previously about the Biden Administration's Parole in Place program, known as "Keeping Families Together". This program would apply to spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens who are seeking to obtain their green card. The new program would allow qualified applicants to file a request to parole in place as part of their green card applications, which would avoid having to complete consular processing outside the United States. Approved applicants would thus not have to leave the country to complete their green card application.
• Applications for the new parole in place program were first made available on June 17th.
• USCIS began accepting applications on August 19th.
• On August 26th, a federal judge in Texas paused the program for 14 days, allowing a challenge to the legality of the program to be considered. At that time, USCIS continued accepting applications but could not approve any requests.
Most recently, on October 4th, the same court reimposed the administrative stay, with an expiration date of November 8th.
So as it stands today, USCIS is still accepting applications and scheduling biometric service appointments - but USCIS cannot issue any approvals for parole in place requests.
Our office will continue to file applications under the Keeping Families Together program, but we will have to wait and see when USCIS will be able to restart issuing approvals, or if the program will be shut down altogether.
Hemos escrito previamente sobre el programa de Permiso de Permanencia en el País de la Administración Biden, conocido como "Manteniendo a las Familias Unidas". Este programa se aplicaría a los cónyuges e hijastros de ciudadanos estadounidenses que buscan obtener su tarjeta de residencia. El nuevo programa permitiría a los solicitantes calificados presentar una solicitud de permiso en el lugar como parte de su proceso de solicitud de la tarjeta de residencia, lo que evitaría la necesidad de completar el procesamiento consular fuera de los Estados Unidos. Los solicitantes aprobados, por tanto, no tendrían que salir del país para completar su solicitud de residencia permanente.
• Las solicitudes para el nuevo programa de Permiso de Permanencia en el País estuvieron disponibles por primera vez el 17 de junio.
• USCIS comenzó a aceptar solicitudes el 19 de agosto.
• El 26 de agosto, un juez federal en Texas pausó el programa durante 14 días, permitiendo que se evaluara un desafío a la legalidad del programa. En ese momento, USCIS continuó aceptando solicitudes, pero no podía aprobar ninguna petición.
Más recientemente, el 4 de octubre, el mismo tribunal volvió a imponer la suspensión administrativa, con fecha de vencimiento el 8 de noviembre.
En la actualidad, USCIS sigue aceptando solicitudes y programando citas de servicios biométricos, pero no puede emitir ninguna aprobación para las solicitudes de Permiso de Permanencia en el País.
Nuestra oficina seguirá presentando solicitudes bajo el programa "Manteniendo a las Familias Unidas", pero tendremos que esperar para ver cuándo USCIS podrá reanudar la emisión de aprobaciones, o si el programa será clausurado por completo.
On August 26, 2024, a federal judge paused Biden’s new Parole in Place (PIP) program for 14 days. As we expected, there is a new lawsuit challenging the legality of the program.
We can still file PIP applications with USCIS, but we will not receive decisions for at least 14 days, and possibly until mid-October when the judge will consider the case further.
Several different things could happen with the PIP program:
Personally, I am optimistic that the program will go forward in October, if not sooner. However, I cannot guarantee what a federal judge will do. We will continue to prepare your case to file as soon as possible unless we hear otherwise from you. We will let you know when there is any further news about the program.
Ayar 26 de agosto de 2024, un juez federal suspendió temporalmente el nuevo programa de Permiso de Permanencia Temporal (PIP) de Biden por 14 días. Como esperábamos, hay una nueva demanda que cuestiona la legalidad del programa.
Todavía podemos presentar solicitudes de PIP, pero no recibiremos decisiones durante al menos 14 días, y posiblemente hasta mediados de octubre, cuando el juez considerará el caso nuevamente.
Varias cosas diferentes podrían suceder con el programa de PIP:
Personalmente, soy optimista de que el programa continuará en octubre, si no antes. Sin embargo, no puedo garantizar lo que hará un juez federal.
Continuaremos preparando su caso para presentarlo lo antes posible, a menos que escuchemos lo contrario de usted. Le informaremos cuando haya alguna noticia adicional sobre el programa.
On June 17, 2024, the Biden Administration's Department of Homeland Security announced a new parole process for spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens who are seeking to obtain a green card.
Currently, if an undocumented person is married to a U.S. citizen or is a step-child of a U.S. citizen, they may apply for their green card - also known as lawful permanent residence - through the I-130 process, which requires the applicant to be processed at a consulate office outside of the United States. This process, known as consular processing, requires the applicant to leave the United States and wait to have their application processed abroad in their home country, which can often take an extended period of time and can potentially be held up indefinitely.
Under this new process, noncitizen spouses and stepchildren can apply for lawful permanent residence without leaving the United States for consular processing. Instead, if the undocumented person meets certain criteria, they can file a "parole in place" request.
For undocumented spouses seeking to apply for lawful permanent residence and to parole in place under this new process, they must:
To maintain eligibility, the applying individual must not post a threat to public safety or national security and must not have a criminal history that would otherwise disqualify them.
For stepchildren to be eligible, they must be physically present in the United States as of June 17th, 2024 and have a legal step-parent relationship to a U.S. citizen as of that date.
To apply for this special parole, the applicant will need to file all of the normal forms for lawful permanent residence, along with supporting documentation to demonstrate that they meet the requirements.
Although an applicant may be eligible under the new process, USCIS will determine on a case-by-case basis whether an applicant merits this unique grant of parole in place.
Additionally, the application period for this new green card process has not yet been announced (as of June 20th, 2024), and USCIS has specifically stated they will REJECT any applications that are filed before the period begins. Once announced, the application process, forms, and fees will be included in a notice in the Federal Register.
As a result of this new process, it is estimated that approximately 500,000 noncitizen spouses would be eligible to access the new parole in place process, along with an estimated 50,000 stepchildren.
At the Law Offices of Spojmie Nasiri, PC, our immigration law team is closely monitoring updates about this new process. We are available to answer any questions you have about the process, and will be ready to assist clients seeking to apply under this process once the format process has been announced.
El 17 de junio de 2024, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de la Administración Biden anunció un nuevo proceso de libertad condicional para los cónyuges e hijastros de ciudadanos estadounidenses que buscan obtener una tarjeta verde.
Actualmente, si un indocumentado está casado con un ciudadano estadounidense o es hijastro de un ciudadano estadounidense, puede solicitar su tarjeta verde -también conocida como residencia permanente legal- a través del proceso I-130, que requiere que el solicitante sea tramitado en una oficina consular fuera de los Estados Unidos. Este proceso, conocido como tramitación consular, requiere que el solicitante salga de los Estados Unidos y espere a que se tramite su solicitud en el extranjero, en su país de origen, lo que a menudo puede llevar un largo periodo de tiempo y, potencialmente, puede demorarse por tiempo indefinido.
Con este nuevo proceso, los cónyuges e hijastros no ciudadanos pueden solicitar la residencia permanente legal sin salir de los Estados Unidos para la tramitación consular. En su lugar, si el indocumentado cumple determinados criterios, puede presentar una solicitud de "libertad condicional en lugar".
Los cónyuges indocumentados que deseen solicitar la residencia permanente legal y la libertad condicional con arreglo a este nuevo procedimiento deben:
Para mantener la elegibilidad, el individuo solicitante no debe representar una amenaza para la seguridad pública o nacional y no debe tener antecedentes penales que de otro modo lo descalificarían.
Para que los hijastros sean elegibles, deben estar físicamente presentes en los Estados Unidos a partir del 17 de junio de 2024 y tener una relación legal de padrastro o madrastra con un ciudadano estadounidense a partir de esa fecha.
Para solicitar esta libertad condicional especial, el solicitante tendrá que presentar todos los formularios normales para la residencia permanente legal, junto con la documentación de apoyo para demostrar que cumplen los requisitos.
Aunque un solicitante puede ser elegible bajo el nuevo proceso, USCIS determinará caso por caso si un solicitante merece esta concesión única de libertad condicional en lugar.
Además, el período de solicitud para este nuevo proceso de tarjeta verde aún no se ha anunciado (a partir del 20 de junio de 2024), y USCIS ha declarado específicamente que RECHAZARÁ cualquier solicitud que se presente antes de que comience el período. Una vez anunciado, el proceso de solicitud, los formularios y las tasas se incluirán en un anuncio en el Registro Federal.
Como resultado de este nuevo proceso, se estima que aproximadamente 500,000 cónyuges no ciudadanos serían elegibles para acceder al nuevo proceso de libertad condicional en lugar, junto con un estimado de 50,000 hijastros.
En las Oficinas Legales de Spojmie Nasiri, nuestro equipo de inmigración está siguiendo de cerca las actualizaciones sobre este nuevo proceso. Estamos disponibles para responder a cualquier pregunta que tenga sobre el proceso, y para ayudar a los clientes que buscan aplicar en virtud de este proceso una vez que el proceso de formato ha sido anunciado.
Earlier this month, Spojmie appeared as a guest on the Love Thy Lawyer podcast, where she spoke about her experience with refugee crisis after the Taliban took over Afghanistan following the U.S. troop withdrawals. She also spoke about her commitment to giving back to her communities, and why it is so important for lawyers to be good civic citizens.
You can listed to the full podcast here:
Love Thy Lawyer is a podcast that highlights attorneys in Alameda County, California. Hosted by attorney Louis Goodman, the podcast features practicing attorneys, legal professionals, and other people to learn about their connections to law and the justice system.
Spojmie serves as a director on the Alameda County Bar Association Board of Directors and was inducted into the 2019 Alameda County Women's Hall of Fame.
The Pleasanton-based Law Office of Spojmie Nasiri, PC has opened a new satellite office in downtown Modesto for serving immigration clients throughout the Central Valley.
As a firm that serves clients in English, Spanish, Dari, and Pashto, the new Modesto office provides a convenient space to serve immigration clients. By establishing the new office, the firm seeks to better connect with immigrant communities throughout the Central Valley and provide them with the excellent immigration service they expect and deliver the results they need.
The firm is led by Spojmie Nasiri, a nationally-recognized immigration attorney and legal expert. Immigration law is personal for Spojmie Nasiri, a refugee from Afghanistan who arrived in the United States at a young age. She understands firsthand the complexities and challenges of navigating the US immigration system, as well as the heartbreaking impact of families being separated by borders and immigration policies. During the evacuation of Afghan refugees escaping the Taliban takeover, Spojmie’s relentless advocacy for refugees garnered national attention and was featured in local and national media publications and in congressional roundtables.
“Geography should not be an obstacle for immigrant families in the Central Valley seeking effective legal representation for their immigration matters,” said Spojmie on the new Modesto office. “We’re thrilled to be joining these incredible communities that value hard work, determination, and family.”
As immigrant workers and families seek to build their futures in the Central Valley, the Law Office of Spojmie Nasiri, PC will serve as an important resource for the community. The firm offers a full suite of immigration law services, including Naturalization, Family-Based Visas, Spousal Visas, and Fiancé Visas, I-751, Removal of Conditional Resident Status, 601/601A Hardship Waivers, DACA Renewals, Advance Parole, U Visas for Victims of Crime, T visas for Victims of Human Trafficking, Parole in Place (PIP), for Family Members in the Military, Consular Processing, and Deportation Defense legal matters.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more commonly known as ICE, is the agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws. In situations where a person has entered the country illegally or has overstayed a visa, ICE is the agency that would detain and possibly deport the person.
In response to the failed and highly immoral Trump administration's family separation policy, the Biden administration released a policy directive in 2022 that instructs ICE officers on how to handle situations involving parents or legal guardians. During the course of their enforcement efforts, ICE encounters people who are parents of minor children or legal guardians of a child or incapacitated adult. This new policy directive makes it the responsibility of ICE not to abuse the "fundamental interests" of parents, legal guardians, and those for whom they are legally responsible. ICE must routinely ask those they encounter as part of their enforcement if they are a parent or legal guardian, and follow a set of instructions if they are.
These new policy directives apply for subjects who are the primary caretaker or custodial parent of a minor child under the age of 18 or an incapacitated adult in the United States. This also applies for guardians appointed through a family court, guardianship, child welfare proceeding, or probate court that involves a minor child or incapacitated adult.
The policy directive includes the following protections:
If you are the parent or legal guardian of a minor child or incapacitated adult, it is important to know your rights. If you are arrested or detained by ICE, be sure to note ICE Directive 11064.3: Interests of Noncitizen Parents and Legal Guardians of Minor Children or Incapacitated Adults. In all situations involving detention or deportation, it is very important to have an immigration attorney to advocate on your behalf and to protect the legal rights of you and your children.
