Over the past two years, USCIS has enacted several immigration policies related to the Trump Travel Ban Countries – a list of 39 countries that the Trump Administration has used to restrict entry or suspend admission of foreign nationals from those countries.  Stemming from those executive orders, USCIS instituted four policies that not only restricted […]

Clic Aquí para Español On May 22, 2026, USCIS announced a significant policy memorandum regarding Adjustment of Status (AOS) under section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), signaling a potentially major shift in how Green Card applications filed within the United States may be adjudicated. USCIS issued a policy memo asserting that Adjustment […]

On March 23, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents began working at some airports around the country, to assist the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) which has been struggling with staffing due to the partial government shutdown and TSA agents not receiving their pay. It is unclear what duties ICE agents would perform since they […]

For those planning to travel internationally, many will opt to renew their U.S. passport online so long as they meet certain eligibility requirements. However, once a passport application has been filed online, the old passport will be automatically cancelled and cannot be used for travel. So, if you plan on renewing your passport online, be […]

Starting in February 2026, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin charging a fee of $45 to air travelers who do not have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification. The fee is intended to cover the cost of alternative identity verification. Earlier this year, we wrote that the REAL ID Act went into effect. As […]

Our office previously wrote about changes that USCIS would be making to the Naturalization Civics Test that applicants are required to pass in order to become a U.S. citizen. That updated citizenship test is now in effect, as of October 20th, 2025. Applicants who submitted their Form N-400 prior to October 20th will be subjected […]

Clic Aquí para Español IMPORTANT NOTE - October 1, 2025: While the U.S. government is currently shut down, there is no funding for the Department of Justice lawyers who are advocating for the government in the DACA legal case. As a result, deadlines that were previously scheduled in the case have been postponed. Once the […]

The United States Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) has announced that it will implement a new civics test for those applying for naturalization. Beginning in the middle of October 2025, those applying for citizenship will be required to correctly answer 12 out of 20 questions that are randomly selected from an updated bank of 128 […]

Clic Aquí para Español The state of California provides stronger protections for undocumented immigrants than many other states. But it’s still critical to know your rights and be prepared. Here’s what you and your loved ones need to know: 1. Know Your Rights – Regardless of Immigration Status Stay Silent: You have the right to remain silent. You […]

The demand for immigration lawyers has grown significantly over the past few years, and the trend is only expected to continue with a shortage in the marketplace. As law students prepare for their legal career, selecting a law school is one of the most important decisions a future lawyer has to make. Recently, immigration attorney […]

After years of delays and push backs, the REAL ID Act will finally be in effect on May 7, 2025. This new law will have a significant impact on how Californians and all U.S. travelers use their identification for domestic travel and federal access. What is a REAL ID? The REAL ID Act is a […]

Clic Aquí para Español If you are in California and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (known as ICE) comes knocking or you spot them on the streets, stay calm and know your rights! Here’s what you need to do to protect yourself and your loved ones: ICE at your door? On the streets? Important Tips […]

Clic Aquí para Español On November 7, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a final judgment striking down the Biden Administration's "Keeping Families Together" program. The judge ruled in favor of the 16 Republican-led states on the day following the presidential election that resulted in Americans putting President-Elect Donald […]

Clic Aquí para Español If you've recently completed the naturalization process to become a U.S. citizen and your child is under the age of 18, your child may be eligible to gain citizenship derived through your citizenship. Once you have become a naturalized citizen, your children under the age of 18 generally become citizens automatically. […]

IMPORTANT! On November 7th, 2024, a Texas district judge issued a final ruling blocking the Keeping Families Together program. You can read the latest on this decision here. Clic Aquí para Español We have written previously about the Biden Administration's Parole in Place program, known as "Keeping Families Together". This program would apply to spouses […]

IMPORTANT! On November 7th, 2024, a Texas district judge issued a final ruling blocking the Keeping Families Together program. You can read the latest on this decision here. Clic Aquí para Español On August 26, 2024, a federal judge paused Biden’s new Parole in Place (PIP) program for 14 days. As we expected, there is […]

IMPORTANT! On November 7th, 2024, a Texas district judge issued a final ruling blocking the Keeping Families Together program. You can read the latest on this decision here. Click Here for Spanish On June 17, 2024, the Biden Administration's Department of Homeland Security announced a new parole process for spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens who […]

Earlier this month, Spojmie appeared as a guest on the Love Thy Lawyer podcast, where she spoke about her experience with refugee crisis after the Taliban took over Afghanistan following the U.S. troop withdrawals. She also spoke about her commitment to giving back to her communities, and why it is so important for lawyers to […]

The Pleasanton-based Law Office of Spojmie Nasiri, PC has opened a new satellite office in downtown Modesto for serving immigration clients throughout the Central Valley. As a firm that serves clients in English, Spanish, Dari, and Pashto, the new Modesto office provides a convenient space to serve immigration clients. By establishing the new office, the […]

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, more commonly known as ICE, is the agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws. In situations where a person has entered the country illegally or has overstayed a visa, ICE is the agency that would detain and possibly deport the person. In response to the failed and highly immoral […]

Immigration attorney Spojmie Nasiri took some time to reflect on the story of just one of her clients, who she successfully helped coach through the process of becoming a U.S citizen. Read the heartwarming reflection below, which showcases exactly why our firm works so hard for our clients: One of my female Afghan clients truly […]

Lawful permanent residents receive a permanent resident card, most commonly known as a green card, to prove their immigration status. Once issued, a green card expires after 10 years, upon which time the resident must either renew their green card or apply for citizenship. To remain a lawful permanent resident in the United States, residents […]

In order to apply for citizenship, there are several requirements that an applicant must meet. They must be 18 years of age, must demonstrate continuous permanent residence in the United States for at least 5 years, and must be a green card holder, among other requirements. During the application and review process, the United States […]

On December 9th, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would be automatically extending the validity of green cards for up to 24 months for those applying for naturalization. These green card holders who have submitted a Form N-400 Application for Naturalization receive the extension without having to submit a Form I-90 […]

On September 26th, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) implemented a rule change that automatically extends the expiration date of green cards by 24 months for those who have a pending Form I-90. Lawful permanent residents must file a Form I-90 Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card in order to renew their expiring […]

The United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) requires biometric information as part of certain immigration applications. While the word "biometric" might sound complicated or scary, it just means a biological characteristic that can be captured, digitized, and added to a database. Biometrics are used by USCIS to verify the identification of applicants and to […]

On July 1, 2022, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rescinded a decision in the matter of Z-R-Z-C. This rescission overturned a decision made by the former Trump administration. Now, immigrants with temporary protected status who travel abroad on advance parole can use that parole to satisfy a requirement for adjustment of status. […]

When the United States decided in 2021 to pull military operations out of Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly reassumed power throughout the country. The shift in power triggered a mass evacuation and severe refugee crisis, as hundreds of thousands of Afghans fled the violence and tyranny of the new regime. Over 76,000 of those refugees came […]

Marijuana and cannabis has been a popular topic in the media recently. As some states have legalized some forms of medicinal or recreational use, the cannabis industry has been booming, generating billions of dollars in tax revenue. Other states are considering updates to their laws or have questions for voters to answer in upcoming elections. […]

In 2011, the United States Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) created a new type of Employment Authorization Document, or EAD, for green card holders. This new EAD was called a "combo card", which served dual purposes: an authorization to work in the United States and an advance parole authorization for traveling outside the United States […]

The aftermath of the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan triggered a mass evacuation of Afghan refugees seeking to flee from Taliban rule. Amid the confusion, panic, and urgency, it was imperative for immigration law practitioners to band together, so they could provide answers, resources, guidance, and help to those most vulnerable. In response, the American […]

On March 3rd, the US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the country of Ukraine is designated for Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, because of the war and ongoing violence in the country caused by the invasion of the Russian army. TPS is a temporary immigration status for those residing in the United […]

Written by: Spojmie Nasiri Published by: American Immigration Lawyers Association "Think Immigration" Blog As I sat down in my seat on the plane, I closed my eyes to reflect on my seventh and final trip to the various military bases housing 85,000 Afghan refugees over the course of the last five months. I and so […]

Immigration attorney Spojmie Nasiri has been intimately involved in the situation with Afghanistan. As a former child refugee herself, Spojmie knows the challenges that thousands of families have faced in trying to find a new place to restart their lives. As an immigration attorney with this unique background, Spojmie has been a frequent speaker and […]

Attorney Spojmie Nasiri has been a relentless advocate for Afghan refugees fleeing the crisis in Afghanistan. As many Afghan families have fled to the United States seeking resettlement, they were housed at military bases across the country until more permanent accommodations can be established. However, several months after the fall of Afghanistan to Taliban control, […]

We are now fully-immersed in the holiday season. And as we celebrate the season with gratitude for all of our blessings, we reflect on how important community is. Through all the challenges of this past year, it is community that helped so many pull together and overcome. During the worst months of the pandemic, front-line […]

As the dust settles from the crisis in Afghanistan, many Afghan refugees have come to the United States. There is an estimated 25,000 - 30,000 Afghans who live in the Fremont, California area, and it is anticipated that hundreds of refugee families would come to the area. Fremont, and the larger Bay Area, provides a […]

On November 2nd, 2021, immigration attorney Spojmie Nasiri was recognized in the Congressional Record of the United States House of Representatives. The Congressional Representative from California's 15th Congressional District recognized Spojmie with the proclamation. After the US troop withdrawal in Afghanistan and subsequent military takeover by the Taliban, Mrs. Nasiri worked tirelessly to help connect […]

Reposted from the Think Immigration Blog, produced by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, on September 27th, 2021 In this blog post, AILA member Spojmie Nasiri shares insights and information about the situation facing Afghan evacuees and how we can help. She was interviewed by Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee Chair Ban Al-Wardi. Please share your […]

On Friday July 16th, a Federal District court judge in Houston ruled that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program was illegal and prevented new applications from being approved. Judge Andrew Hansen wrote in his opinion that then-President Barack Obama violated the Administrative Procedures Act by not engaging in a general comment process […]

When Joe Biden assumed the presidency, he issued an executive order on his first day in office that pledged to reinstate and expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. In the first quarter of 2021 following that executive action, over 50,000 people have applied for DACA for the first time. However, data […]

On May 24, 2021, the State Department announced in conjunction with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that U.S. citizens can return to the United States with expired passports under certain circumstances. Beginning May 24, 2021, U.S. citizens will be able to return to the United States on an expired U.S. passport through December 31, 2021, […]

Newly-elected President Joseph Biden aggressively campaigned on a promise of restoring the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. And on his first day as President, he quickly moved to issue an executive order that preserved and strengthened the original DACA program that he helped champion while Vice President to Barack Obama. The former Trump […]

The U.S District Court of Maryland ruled on July 17th that the Trump Administration must accept new DACA applications, after the Supreme Court decision in June that struck down efforts to end the program. Over 600,000 people have received deportation protection under DACA, which also grants eligible individuals certain benefits such as work authorization, a social […]

Over the past 18 months, there has been a general increase in the processing times by the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services. The most recent national average data comes from the previous US Government fiscal year, which ran from October 2017 through September 30th of 2018. This data, released as of September 2018, shows […]

What is the U Visa? The U visa is a non-immigrant visa for individuals who have been victims of certain qualifying crimes. These victims have suffered substantial physical or emotional harm; they are allowed to remain in the United States by cooperating with law enforcement and continuing to help with the investigation. A victim may […]

Assistance with naturalization and citizenship application can be challenging to handle on your own, especially in 2015 which has been a year of sweeping policy changes. As the immigration specialist in Pleasanton and the surrounding area, Nasiri Law has compiled the most relevant potential changes to keep you informed, as follows: 1. Adjustment of Status […]