Author: courtofbennett

Helen S. Bennett has been practicing immigration law since 2006. She graduated at the top 10% of her law class at St. Thomas University School of Law and immediately began working for Catholic Legal Services where she represented a plethora of clients before the Immigration Court (EOIR) and Center for Immigration Services (USCIS). Services included Cuban Adjustments; I-485 Adjustments to Permanent Residence; Cancellation of Removal; I-821 Temporary Protected Status; Asylum; NACARA; I-130 Interviews; I-360 VAWA; HRIFA; FOIA. She currently heads Helen S. Bennett, P.A. and appears before the Miami Immigration Court, USCIS, and the Broward Transitional Center.

New Fingerprint Procedure between USCIS and ICE for Non-Detained Cases

Fingerprints, once taken by non-detained applicants, expired after 15 months. Previous protocol required attorneys to request new fingerprint appointment notices … Continue Reading New Fingerprint Procedure between USCIS and ICE for Non-Detained Cases

New Immigration Policy Aims to Reduce Overstays and Changes How USCIS Calculates Unlawful Presence for F-1, J-1 and M-1 Nonimmigrants and their Family

On August 9, 2018, USCIS released a Policy Memorandum describing how it has changed its policy on calculating unlawful presence for foreign students (F-1), foreign exchange visitors (J-1) and the foreign vocational students (M-1) nonimmigrants, and their dependents (F-2, J-2, … Continue Reading New Immigration Policy Aims to Reduce Overstays and Changes How USCIS Calculates Unlawful Presence for F-1, J-1 and M-1 Nonimmigrants and their Family

Expired Versions of USCIS Applications Remain Valid Due to Government Shutdown, including DACA

Due to the government shutdown, USCIS is not able to update versions of their application forms. USCIS will, however, continue to accept all those expired versions of forms until new approvals can be obtained when the shutdown is over. In … Continue Reading Expired Versions of USCIS Applications Remain Valid Due to Government Shutdown, including DACA

Federal Register Announcement: Temporary Protected Status Country Designations

Beneficiaries under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador will retain their TPS while the preliminary injunction remains in effect, provided that an individual’s TPS status is not withdrawn under INA section 244(c)(3) or 8 … Continue Reading Federal Register Announcement: Temporary Protected Status Country Designations

Press Release: Asylum History

The asylum system was established in 1968 when the United States signed the protocol to the 1951 United Nations Convention Related to the Status of Refugees, and then passed the 1980 Refugee Convention. These measures followed public outcry about the … Continue Reading Press Release: Asylum History