Jacob Sapochnick

The Trump administration is considering implementing travel restrictions to 36 more countries, including some major U.S. partners such as Egypt and Djibouti, according to an internal memo. The memo, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and sent to U.S. diplomats on Saturday, says the governments of the listed nations have 60 days to meet new requirements established by the State Department. #travelban #immigration #greencard #travel #africa #immigrationlawyer #statedepartment #sdimmigrationlawyer

The Dignity Act of 2025 (H.R. 4393), introduced by Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) on July 15, 2025, is a bipartisan immigration reform bill aimed at addressing border security, legal status for undocumented immigrants, and modernizing the U.S. immigration system. * Dignity Program: * Creates a seven-year deferred action program granting employment and travel authorization to undocumented immigrants in the U.S. since December 31, 2020 (estimated 10.5 million eligible). * Requires participants to pay a $7,000 fine over seven years, pass criminal background checks, pay taxes (including some back taxes), enroll in health coverage, and avoid federal benefits. * Participants must report to DHS every two years and remain employed or enrolled in education for at least four years. * Funds collected from fines go to the American Worker Fund for retraining U.S. workers. #dignityAct #immigrationlawyer #immigrationreform #trump #amnesty #greencard

The USCIS policy guidance issued on August 1, 2025, doesn’t introduce entirely new rules but consolidates and clarifies existing processes for family-based immigrant visa petitions, with a focus on improving vetting, fraud detection, and national security. If a U.S. citizen files a Petition for Alien Relative (Form I-130) for their spouse, the guidance emphasizes that they must provide strong proof of a genuine marriage, such as joint bank account statements, photos together, or affidavits from friends and family. The update incorporates existing rules into one clear policy to ensure USCIS officers consistently check for authentic relationships. #immigrationlawyer #greencardmarriage #sdimmigrationlawyer #immigrationnews #uscis #jacobexplains

Recently #iceagent , the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) paused processing green card applications for refugees and asylees to conduct additional vetting, per Trump’s January 2025 executive order. this is not a review of all green cards approved over the last five years but a targeted suspension for specific groups. #greencard #citizenship #immigrationlawyer #greencardinterview #sdimmigrationlawyer

These raids are breaking our communities and spreading fear. Stop ICE!!! #immigration #stopice #immigrationlawyer #losangeles #raids

Replying to @Raul Nunez is it safe to travel with the green card outside of the United States? It is safe to travel if you don’t have any criminal violations, misrepresentation any fraud issues or if you’ve left the United States for more than a year then you should not travel with the green card. Any other green card holders are safe to travel. #immigration #greencard #travel #immigrationlawyer #trump #tsa

CBP, ICE, & USCIS tighten visa overstay enforcement after Boulder attack. National security measures under sharp review. #ImmigrationNews #VisaPolicy #NationalSecurity #USImmigration #HomelandSecurity #BoulderAttack #ICE #CBP #USCIS #TerrorismAlert #StayInformed #PolicyUpdate #PublicSafety #BreakingNews #LawEnforcement #ImmigrationReform #USAnews #GovernmentUpdate #immigrationlawyer #trump #sdimmigrationlawyer

Yes, green card holders can travel outside the United States and re-enter, but there are important considerations regarding the duration of their trips and required documentation. Generally, they can travel multiple times and stay outside for less than a year without significant issues. However, trips longer than six months require careful planning and may necessitate a re-entry permit #greencard #immigration #travel#tsa #immigrationattorney #immigrationlawyer #immigrationnews #lawfulpermanentresident #sdimmigrationlawyer

What is the Family Purposes Visa? This 90-day visa builds on the earlier announced 90-day visitor visa, offering a tailored option for relatives to visit the U.S. for family-related purposes. Unlike the standard B-1/B-2 visitor visas, which can raise concerns about immigrant intent (potentially leading to denials for those with close U.S. family ties), this visa is explicitly crafted to support family visits, potentially mitigating those issues by clarifying the temporary nature of the stay. Who is Eligible? The visa likely targets immediate family members of U.S. citizens and LPRs, including parents, siblings, spouses, and children. Eligibility may require proof of the family relationship (e.g., birth or marriage certificates) and documentation of the significant event (e.g., wedding invitations, funeral notices). Applicants will likely need to demonstrate intent to return home post-visit, supported by ties to their home country and financial stability. #immigration #dignityact #immigrationnews #immigrationlawyer #sdimmigrationlawyer #trump

The bill introduces a new fee structure for immigration processes, shifting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from a primarily fee-funded model with waivers to one with significant financial barriers, particularly for humanitarian programs. Fees are indexed to inflation for ongoing increases. Key fees include: * Asylum Applications: * Initial Fee: A $1,000 fee for asylum applications, a first in U.S. history, creating a significant barrier for those fleeing persecution. The Senate reduced this to $100 after the Senate parliamentarian ruled the $1,000 fee non-compliant with reconciliation rules. * Annual Fee: A minimum $100 annual fee for pending asylum applications, non-waivable, adding ongoing costs for applicants awaiting decisions (often years). * Employment Authorization: A $550 fee every six months to maintain work permits, burdensome as asylum seekers are not initially work-authorized #immigration #bigbeautifulbill #trump #immigrationlawyer #sdimmigrationlawyer #uscis #immigrationnews

The House passed a bill that would allow the immediate deportations of illegal immigrants who drive under the influence. The bill was introduced by conservative Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., and passed by a 246 to 160 vote. No Republicans voted against the bill but 160 Democrats opposed the bill. The legislation would have to be taken up by the Senate and then signed into law by President Donald Trump to go into effect. #immigration #greencard #dui #dwi #undocumentedimmigrants #immigrationlawyer #sdimmigrationlawyer

Derogatory info is anything like criminal records or fraud that pops up after you file for a visa or green card. It could mess with your application! Plan ahead and stay safe !! #immigration #greencard #immigrationlawyer #uscis #marriagegreencard #sdimmigrationlawyer

Green card holders may be sent to **secondary inspection** if: - They have been outside the U.S. for a long time. - Their green card is expired (though technically still valid if conditions apply). - There are discrepancies in travel history. - Officers may ask about: - Ties to the U.S. (job, home, family). - Purpose of travel. - Length of stay abroad. #cbp #immigration #travel #greencard #tsa #sdimmigrationlawyer #trump

When USCIS might contact your landlord: To verify information: If you are applying for certain immigration benefits, USCIS may contact your landlord to verify details on your lease or to confirm your residency. To investigate potential fraud: In cases of suspected fraud, such as providing a fake lease, USCIS might contact your landlord to verify its authenticity. #landlord #immigration #greencard #uscis #immigrationlawyer #marriageinterview

Replying to @Ang Dom For a mother giving birth in Texas, the Supreme Court's recent decision allows the Trump administration's birthright citizenship proposal to move forward in states that did not sue to block it, including Texas. This means that if the mother is undocumented or on a temporary visa and the father is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, her child may not be granted automatic citizenship under the executive order. This could result in the child being ineligible for a U.S. passport, Medicaid, or other citizen-only benefits. The mother might face bureaucratic obstacles, such as delays in obtaining citizenship documents, and the child could potentially be considered stateless, complicating access to healthcare and education. However, legal challenges and potential class-action lawsuits could alter this outcome, so the situation remains fluid. #birthrightcitizenhip #immigrationlawyer #immigration #sdimmigrationlawyer #birth #undocumentedimmigrants

The Dignity Act of 2025, if passed, includes a provision allowing certain individuals to pay a premium processing fee to expedite their green card application.  Here's how it would work: * Eligibility: The option to pay the $20,000 fee would be available to individuals who have been waiting in the family or employment-based green card backlog for over ten years. * Purpose: The fee would allow these eligible individuals to receive their visa and thus potentially speed up the process of obtaining a green card. * Goal: The Dignity Act aims to reduce the green card backlog to a maximum of ten years and aims to clear out the backlog of individuals waiting over 10 years by 2035.  In essence, the $20,000 fee acts as a premium processing option for those who have been waiting in the green card backlog for a prolonged period, allowing them to potentially receive their visa sooner. #dignityact2025 #immigrationlawyer #immigrationnews #sdimmigrationlawyer #trump #greenscreen

Why it matters for DACA or immigration changes: This could affect how immigration policies are challenged. For example, if a future president tries to end or change DACA, it will be harder for a single judge to block that change for the entire country. #daca #immigration #dreamer #dreamact #undocumentedimmigrants #immigrationlawyer #sdimmigrationlawyer #birthrightcitizenhip

The recent ICE raid at Buona Forchetta in San Diego’s South Park (May 30, 2025) sent a clear message: non-compliance with I-9 regulations can devastate your business. With ICE audits on the rise, as seen in posts on X, hospitality employers face fines up to $2,789 per I-9 violation, worker detentions, and reputational damage. Don’t let your restaurant be next. Partner with Sapochnick Law Firm to stay compliant, audit-ready, and protected. #iceaudit #immigration #restaurant #deportation #greencard #trump #sandiego #immigrationlawyer

Yes, it is possible to obtain a Green Card without a physical Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) in some situations, but it can be more complex. The Form I-94 is a record of your entry into the U.S. and is generally required for adjustments of status to permanent residency. However, there are exceptions and alternative forms of proof that can be used #i94 #immigration #greencard #immigrationlawyer #immigrationnews #greencardinterview #jacobsapochnick #sdimmigrationlawyer

It's common for USCIS to take some time to reach a decision after a citizenship interview, even if you passed the interview itself. USCIS has 120 days from the interview date to make a decision. If more than 120 days have passed and you haven't heard anything, you can explore options like contacting USCIS directly, consulting an immigration attorney, or potentially filing a lawsuit. #i751 #immigration #n400 #citizenship #uscitizenship #greencard #sdimmigrationlawyer #immigrationlawyer #jacobexplains