Surin & Griffin, P.C.
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Becoming a lawful permanent resident of the United States presents immigrants with opportunities for a better life, freedom, and education or career advancement that may not be available in their countries of origin. Applying for a lawful permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card, can be a long and challenging process, and often…

Immigrant workers have made a profound and significant contribution to the United States, helping to establish the country as a world leader in technical progress and innovation since the early twentieth century. However, that influence has been waning in recent years, due in part to visa backlogs. Studies of immigration patterns throughout United States history…

According to a recent article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia seeks to join the 15 other locations in the United States that have been designated as a “Certified Welcoming” community. Philadelphia has a reputation for welcoming immigrants and recognizing the contributions that the immigrant population makes, both locally and nationally. In fact, the city has…

Immigration is a polarizing topic in this country. Some people believe that immigrants take jobs from native-born citizens, and that they have a negative impact on job prospects for locals. Evidence suggests that this is simply not true. According to a recent study that took a comprehensive look at the impact that immigrants have on…

Even the mere threat of deportation can be terrifying. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can come knocking at any moment and if you do not have proper paperwork or documentation showing you are legally allowed to be in the country, you could face deportation. Read further for the answers to common questions about deportation to…

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government body that issues visas, which are then used to allow a citizen of another country entry into the United States temporarily. There are many different kinds of visas, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. The “L visa,” or L-1 visa, is used specifically by…

In early May, President Joe Biden’s administration announced a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) increasing the automatic extension period to immigrants with expiring work visas for hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals working in the United States. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), said the agency…

Surin & Griffin, P.C. is proud to announce that Elizabeth C. Surin and Thomas M. Griffin have been selected to the 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list for their work in immigration law. Elizabeth C. Surin is a top-rated immigration attorney with over 20 years of experience. At the firm, she focuses her practice on immigration,…

The K-1 fiancé visa is a nonimmigrant visa allowing a foreign fiancé of a United States citizen to enter the country for the purpose of marriage, particularly if the citizen cannot travel to marry abroad. Marriage offers a more direct path of immigration and eventual citizenship; however, the fiancé visa process is a much quicker…

More than one million international students throughout the world travel to the United States each year to earn college degrees. Optional Practical Training (OPT) programs allow these students to obtain valuable hands-on experience and use their education in America immediately. Without an OPT, most international students must leave the United States upon completion of their…