Making The American Dream Come True

The firm is pleased to announce that Karen-Lee Pollak has been named to the list of D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas for 2019.  “We are grateful and humbled to be acknowledged by our peers and to be included in this elite list which includes some of the best and brightest attorneys in Dallas, Texas.” Said Pollak PLLC’s Managing Attorney Karen-Lee Pollak.  Our immigration team is passionate about what we do.  We know how critical and life-changing it is to move employees, investors, entrepreneurs and family to the United States in the most cost-effective and timely manner.  We pride ourselves on our excellent client service and this recognition illustrates both our dedication and talent and our firm’s commitment to immigration law.”

On February 2015, DHS published a final rule providing employment authorization to spouses of certain H-1B nonimmigrants who are seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. 

Can you believe that H-1B Season is upon us!   Each year, I say it seems like yesterday we filed last year’s H-1B Cap Cases. This year is particularly true as we are still responding to Requests for Evidence and waiting for decisions on April 2018 H-1B Cap Cases. USCIS issued the most requests for evidence and denials it has ever issued on H-1B Cap cases. In fact, USCIS has stated that it issued requests for evidence in 70 percent of the H-1B Cap cases filed. So, what have we learned?

The United States government was built on a philosophy of checks and balances. Our founding fathers created three branches of government so that no one branch could grow too powerful. The Judicial branch (the Court) was created to interpret laws. The legislative branch (Congress) was created to make the laws. The executive branch (President) was created to implement the laws. However, in recent years, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a part of the executive branch, has essentially usurped Congress’ power by taking an unacceptably excessive amount of time processing the applications of immigrants seeking legal status and benefits.

Many people will remember 2018 as one of the most restrictive years for immigration to the United States. As explained by Frank Sharry, head of pro-immigrant group America’s Voice, “This is our generation’s sort of existential moment… Are we going to continue to be a nation that practices ‘e pluribus unum’and welcomes people from around the world to make this country better?  Or are were going to continue to shut the door?”  Throughout the past year, the answer seems to be the latter.

President Trump’s refusal to sign a bill to keep the government running that does not include border wall funding has caused a government shutdown.   Since midnight December 21, 2018, approximately 25 percent of government functions have shut down.