Blaker & Granet LLP

"It's October 3rd..." 👚 📣 💄 ...Which means the Green Card Lottery is officially open and will remain open through November 5, 2024! 🎉 This is a fantastic opportunity for those looking to pursue a new life in the U.S. 🇺🇸 Each year, the Green Card Lottery (Diversity Visa Program) randomly selects eligible applicants, promoting diversity within the U.S. immigrant population and providing opportunities for those seeking a new life in America. The Green Card Lottery offers 55,000 visas each year to individuals from countries with low immigration rates to the U.S. If you are eligible, now is the time to submit your application! 📝 Here are a few key points to remember: - Eligibility requirements vary, so be sure to check if you qualify. - Applications must be submitted online during the registration period. - It's crucial to follow all guidelines to ensure your entry is valid. If you have any questions about the green card lottery, please do not hesitate to reach out to Blaker & Granet LLP! 🌟 #GreenCardLottery #DiversityVisa #Immigration #Opportunity #AmericanDream #GlobalCitizenship

Have you ever wondered what the difference between an embassy and a consulate is? The purpose of both types of facilities is to interact with other nations as they are located in foreign territories and act as a representation of the countries. They also maintain the policies, jurisdiction, and stances of the country they represent. 🌍🛬 An embassy serves as a representation of a foreign nation within a host country. Embassies tend to be located in capital cities and are typically staffed by diplomats, officers, and a head Ambassador. Embassies are responsible for international relations, promoting foreign policy, preparing treaties, and assisting their nation’s citizens abroad. Some embassies also have a consular section where they assist with visa processing. There is only one (1) embassy per country. 📃🏢 Functioning as a smaller branch of an embassy, a consulate also represents a foreign nation’s citizens within a host country. Consulates mainly focus on providing services relating to visa/passport services and issuance, recording births, deaths and marriages, and emergency assistance. Consulates regularly handle visas for their represented country and typically promote trade and business between the host country and the represented nation. Depending on the size/population of the host country, there may be multiple consulates within a country. For example, there are nine (9) U.S. consulates in Mexico. 🏛️📝 If you have any questions about the difference between an embassy and a consulate or any other inbound U.S. immigration matters, please do not hesitate to contact Blaker & Granet LLP. 📞

Our Partners Stephen Blaker, Esq. and Jacki Granet are known at Blaker & Granet LLP for being movie buffs. As we all gear up for cozy fall movie nights, our team wants to know: what's your ultimate theater snack?

Each month, the Department of State (“DOS”) posts the #VisaBulletin on its website. The DOS has now issued the October 2024 Visa Bulletin, which is the first of the new fiscal year. USCIS has determined that applicants in all family-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart and applicants in all employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart for October 2024. 📌📇 ✍️Some updates include: - EB1: China moves forward to November 8, 2022. India’s cutoff date remains set at February 1, 2022. The EB1 category remains current for all other countries of chargeability. - EB2: China’s cutoff date moves forward to March 22, 2020. India’s cutoff date remains unchanged at July 15, 2012. The EB2 cutoff date for all other countries remains set at March 15, 2023. - EB3: India’s cutoff date advances to November 1, 2012. China’s cutoff date retrogresses to April 1, 2020. The EB3 cutoff dates for all other countries of chargeability move forward to November 15, 2022. - In the EB3 other workers category, India’s cutoff date is November 1, 2012. For China, the cutoff date is still January 1, 2017. The EB3 other workers' cutoff date for all other countries of chargeability remains at December 1, 2020. - EB4: The cutoff date for all countries remains January 1, 2021. - EB5: China’s unreserved cutoff date moves forward to July 15, 2016. India’s unreserved cutoff also moves forward to January 1, 2022. EB5 remains current for all other EB5 categories and countries of chargeability. If you have any questions about the Visa Bulletin or any other inbound U.S. immigration matters, please do not hesitate to contact Blaker & Granet LLP. ☎️

The 2024 Presidential election is approaching… have you ever wondered how naturalization applications impact the 2024 #election? 🤔 The New York Times reports that the federal government is processing naturalization applications at the fastest pace in a decade (😲) clearing a backlog that accumulated during the Trump administration and the COVID-19 pandemic. In Savannah, Georgia, people from 19 countries recently took the oath of allegiance, completing the process in record time. For many green card holders, voting rights are a major incentive to pursue citizenship, especially in an election year. 📜 Every week, thousands of immigrants are becoming Americans at ceremonies across the country, allowing these new Americans to vote in the upcoming presidential election. 🗳️ While it’s unclear precisely how many of these new citizens live in battleground states like Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, it is certain that many of these states are seeing growing numbers of voting-age naturalized Americans. These states are crucial in the upcoming 2024 election. 🫏🐘 As the election nears, naturalization applications are soaring, a typical trend in election years. Processing speeds have returned to levels seen in 2013-2014 with over 3.3 million immigrants earning citizenship during President Biden’s time in office. 📈 In 2021, President Biden pushed for quicker naturalization processing times. Since then, the administration has implemented new technology, more staff, a streamlined application, and targeted fee adjustments to encourage green card holders to apply for naturalization. These changes have significantly reduced waiting times, allowing more green card holders to become U.S. citizens in time to vote. ⏳ As these new Americans join the electorate, they could play a decisive role in the upcoming election by bringing fresh voices and perspectives to the American political landscape. If you are interested in applying for naturalization, please do not hesitate to reach out to Blaker & Granet LLP. 📞

A frequent question we hear from Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs/green card holders) is: “How will my trips outside the U.S. affect my green card status and reentry process?” 🤔💭 While a green card provides foreign nationals with the opportunity to live and work in the United States, there are several requirements that green card holders must comply with in order to maintain their green card. 🏡🪪 To preserve lawful permanent resident status, a green card holder must file and pay taxes, obey U.S. laws, and establish and maintain sufficient ties to the U.S., showing that it is considered his/her permanent home. With respect to residency,  the U.S. government will evaluate various factors to determine a green card holder’s demonstrated intent, including, but not limited to: - The length of your absence from the U.S.; - The reason for your travel; - Whether or not you have a fixed return date to the U.S.; - Your tax filing status as a resident alien; - Maintenance of bank accounts, property in the U.S, and a U.S. driver’s license.; - Where your family lives; and  - Your employment location and nature (U.S. vs. foreign employer, permanent vs. temporary employment abroad). If you plan to travel abroad for one (1) year or more, an approved reentry permit is essential for reentry into the U.S. This permit requires an application filed while the green card holder is within the U.S. before departure and attendance at a biometrics appointment. In urgent travel cases, expedited processing for the application may be available. An initial reentry permit is valid for two years and you may apply for discretionary new permits if necessary. ✈️ It is also important to note that extended trips outside the U.S. can affect one’s eligibility for naturalization. Typically, LPRs must reside continuously in the U.S. for five years and be physically present in the U.S. for at least 30 months to be eligible for naturalization. Therefore, extended absences from the U.S. may count as breaks in the continuity of permanent residence for naturalization eligibility purposes. 🇺🇸 Certain permanent resident spouses of U.S. citizens may be exempt from the continuous residence and physical presence requirements for naturalization. This exception applies to accompanying spouses of U.S. citizens who are assigned abroad by a qualifying employer for at least one year. 🌎 Remember: maintaining your green card status involves more than just an annual visit to the U.S. If you have questions about maintaining your status, need assistance with reentry permits, naturalization, or any other inbound immigration matters, please do not hesitate to contact Blaker and Granet LLP today. 📲

This upcoming Labor Day, we will reflect on and honor the hard work, dedication, and contributions of workers across the country. From bustling cities to quiet towns, it's the labor force that keeps our nation moving forward. 🇺🇸 💼 At Blaker & Granet LLP, we celebrate the opportunities that working in a new country brings for immigrants. Our mission is to support and guide immigrants on their journey to achieve their professional dreams in the United States. Whether you need assistance with work visas, green cards, or any other immigration-related matters, our dedicated team is here to help every step of the way. 🏛️🌐 👉 Ready to take the next step in your immigration journey? Contact us today to discuss! 📞

At Blaker & Granet LLP, we stay sharp by keeping up with society's most pressing issues, like immigration law updates, global affairs, and, of course, the debate over the best Oreo. Help us settle this delicious dispute!

Congratulations to the B&G Founders/Partners, Stephen Blaker and Jacki Granet, for earning their spots in the latest edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for their expertise in Immigration Law! 🎉 Since the launch of Ones to Watch, nearly fifty thousand lawyers have participated in the voting process. Best Lawyers reports that this year alone, around 13,000 participants provided 1.2 million new evaluations. 😲 Cheers to this well-deserved achievement! 🥂

Happy National Joke Day from all of us at Blaker & Granet LLP! Since immigration law can be a serious and complex field, we believe that a little humor goes a long way in lightening the load and connecting with our community. 😂 🤝 Why did the scarecrow become an immigration lawyer?  Because he was outstanding in his field! 🌾 A man sued an airline company after it lost his luggage. Sadly, he lost his case. 💼 Why did the lawyer make coffee? There were sufficient grounds. ☕ At Blaker and Granet LLP, we understand the importance of both professionalism and a positive attitude in navigating the complexities of immigration law. If you have any questions about U.S. immigration, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. 📲 📆