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January 25, 2009

Tips on how to post an immigration bond in Boston, Massachusetts

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Congratulations! An Immigration Judge in Boston just ordered the release of your friend or loved one with an immigration bond. He or she will be released from the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement soon after you post your immigration bond. As an attorney specializing in deportation defense, I routinely represent detained immigrants in Immigration Court in Boston. I can offer you the following suggestions to help make the process of posting an immigration bond a more hassle-free experience.

1. Call the immigration bond officer first at (781) 359-7670.

Before you drive to the immigration office in Burlington, Massachusetts to post your immigration bond, I strongly suggest that you call and speak to the immigration bond officer in charge of your friend or loved one. 781-359-7670 is a phone number that Immigration and Customs Enforcement has dedicated exclusively to immigration bond inquiries. All other immigration questions should be directed to the main phone number at 781-359-7500. By calling in advance, you're putting the immigration bond officer on notice that you plan to post the bond. This extra step will give the immigration officer time to locate the file of the person detained and to do other preliminary work. As a result, the immigration bond will be confirmed faster and your friend or loved one will be released with less delay.

2. Who can post an immigration bond?

An immigration bond can only be posted by someone with U.S. citizenship, legal permanent resident (green card) status or other valid US immigration status.

3. What information do I need to post an immigration bond?

You will need the A number (alien registration number) of your friend or loved one and the address where he or she will live after being released from custody.

4. Where do you post an immigration bond in the Boston, Massachusetts area?

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Office of Detention and Removal Operations (DRO)
10 New England Executive Park
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803
Main number: 781-359-7500
Immigration Bond Inquiries: 781-359-7670

5. When can I post an immigration bond in the Boston?

Monday - Friday from 9:00 AM to 2:45 PM (EST). I recommend that you arrive early in the day.

6. What form of payment are accepted for posting an immigration bond?

Immigration bonds must be posted using a bank check or money order made payable to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Do not abbreviate or use acronyms. Immigration and Customs Enforcement must be spelled out in full in your check or money order or your payment will not be accepted. You cannot pay an immigration bond using cash or a personal check.

7. What forms of ID are required for posting an immigration bond?

In order to post an immigration bond, you will need a driver's license, passport, or other government-issued photo ID. You will also need to bring your original Social Security Card or Social Security Form SSA-2458. If you are a US citizen, bring your original certificate of naturalization or US passport. If not, you must bring your alien resident card (green card) or valid, unexpired work permit (EAD card, Employment Authorization Document).

Posted by Joshua L. Goldstein, Immigration Lawyer Boston | | Email This Post

Posted In: Deportation , Immigration Bond , Immigration Court Boston , Immigration Tips , Removal

January 13, 2009

Immigration and Citizenship Documentary on the History Channel

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Citizenship, naturalization and the immigration experience will be the subject of a new History Channel featured-film documentary.  The immigration film will be called The Naturalized.  It is currently being filmed in Boston, Massachusetts and nationally across the United States.

The immigration documentary tells the story of several immigrants as they follow their diverse paths to U.S. citizenship.  The film highlights aspects of the US immigration system including asylum, marriage, children, deportation, Immigration Court, military service, and denaturalization.

The filmmakers are currently looking for people who would like to be featured in the documentary and are willing to share their immigration and citizenship stories.  More specifically, the filmmakers are hoping to speak with people with the following types of immigration cases:

Marriage-based Green Card:  the filmmakers would like to film an adjustment of status interview, where a married couple is looking to gain permanent residency for the immigrating spouse.

Immigration and Military Service:  Someone on active duty in the military who is currently going through, or about to go through the naturalization process.

Asylum:  An asylum seeker going through some part of the asylum or green card process, or someone with asylum status who has applied for a green card or U.S. citizenship.

If there is going to be some action on your immigration case soon and you want to be involved in this immigration documentary, contact Julie Almendral at "Julie at flcikerflacker dot com" or by phone, 718-222-1776.   

Posted by Joshua L. Goldstein, Immigration Lawyer Boston | | Email This Post

Posted In: Citizenship , Green card , Immigration News Boston , Naturalization

January 7, 2009

Green Card Mandamus Victory in Boston

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been ordered by a federal judge in Boston, Massachusetts to adjudicate the I-485, application for permanent residence of Mohamoud Abdi, a Somalian with asylum status.  Mr. Abdi's I-485 green card application was pending with USCIS for more than four years because of a delayed security clearance from the FBI.

To resolve this frustrating delay, Boston immigration attorney Joshua L. Goldstein filed a writ of mandamus law suit against USCIS, the Director of the FBI, the Attorney General of the United States, and various officials of USCIS asking the court to force the government to process the necessary background checks and adjudicate Mr. Abdi's application for permanent residency.

Judge Tauro of U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts allowed immigration attorney Goldstein's motion for summary judgment, finding that:

"[w]hile it would be difficult to identify with any precision a 'boundary between reasonable and unreasonable time for adjudication of permanent residency applications,' the four-year delay here is clearly not reasonable. Accordingly, Defendants are hereby ordered to adjudicate Plaintiff's application for adjustment of status and render a decision by February 17, 2009."

With a successful mandamus decision, Attorney Goldstein is now preparing to ask the Court to award attorney's fees and other costs under the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).

If you have experienced a delay with your citizenship, green card, or other immigration application, call the immigration law firm of Joshua L. Goldstein today at 617-722-0005 and find out whether a writ of mandamus law suit would be appropriate to resolve your immigration delay.

Posted by Joshua L. Goldstein, Immigration Lawyer Boston | | Email This Post

Posted In: Immigration News Boston , Writ of Mandamus

January 2, 2009

USCIS shifts from Boston to Lawrence in 2009

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As a citizenship and deportation attorney based in Boston, I'm sad to report that 2009 could mark the beginning of the end of the JFK Federal Building as the "immigration building." According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly the INS) Boston District Director Denis Riordan, USCIS tentatively plans to move the Boston Office from the JFK Building due to space constraints. Director Riordan told the New England Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) that new potential sites for the USCIS Boston Office include Quincy, Brockton, and South Boston. However, Director Riordan suggested that the move may not happen if USCIS can arrange more space at the JFK Federal Building.

In 2009, a new USCIS Field Office in Lawrence, Massachusetts will open its doors. USCIS broke ground on the facility in April 2008.

The address for the new USCIS Lawrence Field Office will be:

USCIS Lawrence Field Office
2 Mills Street 
Lawrence, MA
USCIS Lawrence Office will employ 40 people, including a USCIS Director, 2 immigration supervisors and 16 immigration adjudicators. The goal is for USCIS Boston to move about 30% of the immigration caseload to Lawrence, Massachusetts.  An immigration interview will be assigned to USCIS Lawrence Office based on the applicant's zip code. Director Riordan seemed particularly enthusiastic that USCIS was locating its new office in Lawrence, given this city's large immigrant community.

I understand that the increasing Boston immigration caseload would require USCIS to seek additional office space. But the USCIS Lawrence Office runs counter to the clear logic of having all immigration facilities in a one centrally-located facility. Apparently and astonishingly, the new USCIS immigration office in Lawrence will not even have parking!

As a Boston immigration lawyer, it seems odd to me that USCIS would even consider not locating its primary Field Office in Boston. I'm holding out hope that USCIS will remain at JFK Federal Building, given that it is prominently situated in City Hall plaza in Government Center, the heart of Boston's legal community. The current immigration is served by excellent MBTA public transportation. Another excellent reason to remain at the JFK Federal Building is that my immigration law firm is located in Boston only two blocks away.

Continue reading "USCIS shifts from Boston to Lawrence in 2009" »

Posted by Joshua L. Goldstein, Immigration Lawyer Boston | | Email This Post

Posted In: Immigration News Boston