Immigration Updates

By: Norka M. Schell In an increasingly mobile world, international child custody disputes have become a critical area of concern for parents with global ties. When a parent removes a child from their home country without the other parent’s consent—or refuses to return them after a scheduled visit—the legal landscape shifts from local family court…

For global entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program remains the most direct path to a United States Green Card. However, as we move through 2026, the landscape has been fundamentally reshaped by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA). Investors can no longer rely on outdated advice. Successfully navigating the…

For many Brazilian nationals and dual citizens living in New York or Westchester, a divorce involves more than just a family home in the U.S. Often, there are significant interests abroad: apartments in São Paulo, beachfront property in Rio de Janeiro, or family-owned businesses in Minas Gerais. The mistake most New York divorce lawyers make…

By: Norka M. Schell, Esq. Strategic Insights from the Law Offices of Norka M. Schell, LLC When you are divorcing a foreign national, securing a favorable judgment in a United States court is a significant milestone—but it is only half the battle. If your spouse resides in another country or holds significant assets overseas, your…

Strategic Counsel from the Law Offices of Norka M. Schell, LLC In a high-conflict divorce involving a foreign national, the fear that a spouse may take your children out of the country without your consent is a heavy burden. International parental abduction is a complex legal crisis that is far easier to prevent than it…

By: Norka M. Schell, Esq. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially finalized a transformative rule that fundamentally changes how H-1B work visas are awarded. Effective February 27, 2026, the long-standing random lottery system will be replaced by a weighted selection process designed to prioritize higher-skilled and higher-paid foreign professionals. This change is a…

Effective January 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has expanded its pause on the adjudication of immigration benefits. Under Policy Memorandum PM-602-0194, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing an immediate “hold and review” for applications from an expanded list of high-risk countries. This directive follows Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10998, which…

As an immigration and criminal attorney in New York, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact of a New York conviction on the lives of individuals, particularly, on noncitizens’ lives. I’ve also seen the devastating impact of deportation on the lives of individuals, and the lives of their family members. Under the Donald Trump second term…

#### HISTORY The Alien and Sedition Acts were a set of four laws enacted in 1798 that applied restrictions to immigration and speech in the United States. The Naturalization Act of 1798 increased the requirements to seek citizenship, the Alien Friends Act of 1798 allowed the president to imprison and deport non-citizens, the Alien Enemies…

#### HISTORY The Alien and Sedition Acts were a set of four laws enacted in 1798 that applied restrictions to immigration and speech in the United States. The Naturalization Act of 1798 increased the requirements to seek citizenship, the Alien Friends Act of 1798 allowed the president to imprison and deport non-citizens, the Alien Enemies…