The Immigrant’s Journey: The Final Verdict 👩🏽‍⚖️

This Week’s Immigration News Highlights

• Mexico’s President to U.S. Migrants - “You are always welcomed back“

• Elon Musk Sparks Debate on “Upside Down“ Immigration System

• Emergency C-Section Leads to Texas Mother’s Deportation

It all comes down to this - the final chapter of our first "Notice to All" series, The Immigrant’s Journey. In Part I, we guided you through preparing for the path toward the American Dream. In Part II, we explored the waiting game, where patience was key. In this final installment, we arrive at the moment of truth: the outcome. What does life look like after an approval or denial?

Series: The Immigrant’s Journey

PART III: Reaching the Outcome – Life After Approval or Denial

After long waits, endless paperwork, and emotional highs and lows, the final decision arrives: approval or denial.

The Decision
An approval can mean life-changing relief: a green card granting the freedom to visit your home country after years apart or a work visa opening doors to a new career. It’s the reward for the hard-fought journey.

Denial, however, can feel like the weight of the world crashing down—frustration, confusion, and fear take over. But it’s critical to pause and ensure this is the end of the road; options like appeals or motions to reopen may still exist.

The Impact
An approval or denial doesn’t mark the end—it reshapes life as you know it. For those approved, new responsibilities follow: maintaining status, meeting deadlines, and adhering to visa terms. For those denied, it’s about seeking the next opportunity or re-charting the path.

The End… or Is It?
The immigrant journey is more like a marathon than a sprint. Approval or denial is rarely the finish line—it’s a checkpoint, a pause for breath before the race continues. The American Dream is a lifelong pursuit, and each step forward brings new possibilities.

What’s New (in paperwork 📑)?

If there’s one constant in immigration law, it’s change. Whether it’s updated forms, new filing requirements, or shifting deadlines, staying on top of these developments is critical to avoiding unnecessary delays and pitfalls.

On December 10, 2024, USCIS updated Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Practitioners should ensure they are using the most current version of the form to avoid rejections or unnecessary processing delays.

Additionally, USCIS has now clarified a long-standing point of confusion: effective December 2, 2024, Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, must be submitted at the same time as Form I-485.Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status | USCIS. USCIS has made it clear that failure to file both forms concurrently will result in the rejection of the application.

This change is a welcome clarification for practitioners and applicants alike. By requiring the medical evaluation at the time of filing, USCIS aims to eliminate delays caused by requests for missing medicals and reduce the risk of losing critical documents. 

For immigration attorneys, this update highlights the importance of preparing clients well in advance. Ensuring that the medical examination is completed and ready to file alongside Form I-485 will help maintain streamlined timelines and minimize setbacks in an adjustment of status cases.

In immigration law, change is inevitable—Stay ready, stay proactive, and keep your cases moving forward.

And our first series comes to a close!

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The immigrant journey is never truly over - it evolves with each step forward. Whether faced with approval or denial, resilience and preparation define the path ahead. Remember, every decision is a checkpoint, not the finish line. The American Dream may be challenging, but it’s always worth pursuing.

Until next time, good luck on that last minute Christmas shopping. 😉🎁