Raquel Michelena

Raquel is the Director of Marketing and Business Operations at Weinstock Immigration Lawyers. She comes from a culturally diverse background: Raised in the Dominican Republic, US citizen, a direct descendant of 2 Spanish families, working with different ethnicities around the world, and fluent in English and Spanish languages.

USCIS Fee Increase April 2024

Act Now to Save on Immigration Costs: USCIS Fees Set to Increase in April 2024

In a significant development, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing substantial fee increases for various immigration applications effective April 1, 2024. This marks the first major adjustment since 2016, addressing the agency’s operational challenges. To ensure you don’t incur higher immigration fees, submitting your complete application before the impending deadline is crucial. …

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Enhancing Equity in Employment-Based Immigration: A Closer Look at Family Reunification in the U.S.

Introduction:The United States immigration system places a strong emphasis on family reunification, even within the employment-based (EB) green card categories. In comparison to other OECD countries, such as Japan, Spain, and Ireland, the U.S. stands out with a higher proportion of immigrants entering on visa categories as workers rather than family members. However, a unique …

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Afghans Temporary Immigration Protected Status Extended by the US.

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended Afghans’ temporary immigration protected status on Wednesday, bringing praise from immigration advocates and calling for a permanent solution for those who have fled the crisis-racked country. The temporary immigration protections, which will last for 18 months, will only apply to Afghans who were residing in the …

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2023 H-1B Cap Lottery Season: It’s Time to Prepare!

2023 H-1B Cap Lottery Season: It’s Time to Prepare! Now is the time for US employers to prepare for registration in the 2023 H-1B Cap Lottery. H-1B Temporary Worker status is for professional workers. Electronic Registration of all proposed H-1B workers for the FY2023 H-1B quota in March is an absolute must. USCIS will charge …

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U.S. Immigration Options for Ukrainians in Crisis

Over a few days, more than one million Ukrainians have fled their country, heading westward as refugees from Putin’s war on Ukraine. The Biden administration is facing mounting pressure from lawmakers and advocates to allow thousands of Ukrainians who are temporarily working or studying in the United States to remain, rather than force them to return …

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Six Countries added to Travel Ban

Six Countries added to Travel Ban On Friday, Jan. 31, 2020, President Trump added six countries to his list of nations facing stringent travel restrictions, a move that will virtually block immigration from Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, and from Myanmar, where the Muslim minority is fleeing genocide. Beside Nigeria, three other African countries, Eritrea, …

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