U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Attorney General Warns of Scams as Immigrant Youth Apply for Deportation Relief

As undocumented youngsters across America line up today to try to legally avoid deportation, state officials warm them to watch out for potential scams that could put their applications to remain in the United States in jeopardy. California Attorney General released a vague warning today, saying oft ... More >>

Cindy Chang, Sunday School Teacher, Released After Three-Week Detention at Arizona Immigration Checkpoint

​Cindy Chang was driving from San Jose to Phoenix for a friend's wedding early this month when she was stopped at an immigration checkpoint in Eloy, Ariz. These structures are common this close to the border. Chang, a 26-year old Sunday school teacher who has lived in the Bay Area since her f ... More >>

Anthony John Makk, Bradford Wells, Gay Binational Couple, Win DOMA Visa Fight

​Anthony John Makk -- the gay Australian national who has been fighting separation from his San Francisco spouse after his marriage visa petition was denied, won't be deported after all. The news came today when Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi told Makk and his partner of 19 years, Bradford Wells, that ... More >>

San Francisco Gay Binational Couple to Appeal DOMA Visa Denial

Anthony Makk, left, with husband Bradford Wells in happier times.​Anthony John Makk -- the gay Australian national fighting separation from his San Francisco spouse after his marriage visa petition was denied last week -- is not giving up yet. Makk will now appeal the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrat ... More >>

How to Tell if Your Boss Plans to Replace you with an H1B Immigrant Worker

Ulp!​This week my column describes how San Francisco employers are looking to hire thousands of workers under the H1B visa program. It's reserved for companies needing to hire technical specialists that can't be found stateside.But critics say the program is abused by employers who'd like to dismi ... More >>

H1-B Visa Program Creates Caste System for Silicon Valley

U.S. Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill To Help Same-Sex Couples Sponsor Foreign Partners

A new push to change the law for same-sex binational couples. ​U.S. lawmakers reintroduced a bill Thursday that would allow gay Americans to sponsor their same-sex partner for a visa, just as straight married couples can. At the same time, Congress members wrote a letter to Attorney General Eric H ... More >>

U-Visa: Illegal Immigrants Become Legal Residents Via Crime Victimization

The Education Trap

In California, many undocumented immigrants are offered cheap college tuition, only to find they can’t get jobs after they graduate.

What's a Little Marriage Fraud Between Amigos?

It's a felony, sure, but in the absence of real immigration reform, some young, assimilated illegal immigrants see it as their best path to citizenship.

Nigerian Scam: Now the Fraudster Claims He's Married To You

Uh, guess what?​Everyone knows about the notorious Nigerian Internet scam. Lesser known is the old Nigerian wedding scam. Well, actually it was just one guy (from Nigeria) named Emmanuel Ejike Anyanwu who claimed he was married to a U.S. citizen who was none-the-wiser in order to get a green card. ... More >>

SFPD Moving to Help Crime Victims in the Country Illegally Get a Visa

By Lauren SmileyThe San Francisco Police Department has stalled for the better part of 2008 in signing U-visa applications for immigrants in the country illegally who have become the victims of crime. (Read our piece on the wait in this week's paper.) Police said they were just waiting to approve ... More >>

No Sanctuary

Police slow to help crime victims who are here illegally.

Border Crossers

Long rap sheet? No problem. Transgender Latina hookers in S.F. are successfully fighting deportation by asking for asylum.

Home of the Broke -- USCIS announces fee hike

An Army of Uno

Struggling to find homegrown recruits, the military is persuading immigrants to enlist by dangling promises of U.S. citizenship