Joe Biden wins the 2020 Presidential Election

Photo Credit: AFP via Getty Images

What a week it has been in U.S. politics!

We here at Schwartz & Sheehan celebrate the victory of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris in the recent national election. It has been a difficult past four years for many immigrant communities and their allies, and it is our hope that the Biden-Harris Administration will actively work to support immigrants and to end inhumane detention and family separation policies.

Joe Biden will officially become the 46th President of the United States during the inauguration day ceremonies on January 20th, 2021. The President-Elect has pledged to issue executive orders and recommend policy changes during his first few days and weeks in office. He will also nominate individuals to lead several federal agencies, including a new head of the Department of Homeland Security.

Those actions could lead to changes to, among other things, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, asylum policies, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS). While there are no changes to report at this time, we will be closely monitoring the news before, during, and after Inauguration Day and we will keep you informed of any important immigration changes in the coming months.

We welcome this new leadership at the national level and look forward to the creation of new legislation and policies that better reflect the values of compassion, justice, and human rights. Immigrants contribute great things to their communities and this nation, and they deserve to be treated with respect, fairness, and inclusion.

If you are undocumented or have another immigration-related matter and are in need of legal representation, we encourage you to call our office today at (425) 374-1681.

In response to COVID-19 safety recommendations, attorneys Brittan and Mary Beth are currently available for telephone or video consultations.

Update on COVID-19 and Immigration Offices

The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused lockdowns, closures, and general disruptions in many parts of the country. Immigration offices at both the local and national level have been impacted.

What is the current status of the various immigration offices and what does it mean for your case?

USCIS Applications

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is still accepting and processing many types of applications. The processing times for cases may be longer than usual because of the disruptions caused by COVID-19.

Biometric Appointments

Were you scheduled for an appointment to have your biometric information (this often includes your fingerprints, photograph, and signature) collected, but that appointment was canceled because of COVID-19 restrictions in Washington State? Be sure to check your mail regularly and keep an eye out for a new appointment notice. Appointments that were canceled due to COVID-19 closures are currently being rescheduled. If you were expecting an appointment and have not yet received a reset date, we recommend checking your case status at https://egov.uscis.gov/casestatus/landing.do or calling USCIS customer service at 1-800-375-5283. We also recommend checking in with your attorney as things can change quickly.

ICE Check-Ins

If you have been attending regular check in appointments with an ICE officer, you are expected to comply with all conditions, including speaking with an ICE officer on the day of your appointment. The Seattle ICE office has resumed many activities, including in person check in appointments. If you cannot attend your appointment in person due to COVID-19 concerns, contact your attorney as soon as possible.

Immigration Court

Is your case currently in Immigration Court? Do you have an upcoming hearing or other court date? Hearings that were supposed to happen when the Seattle Immigration Court was closed will be rescheduled for a future date. Some immigration courts have reopened, but the rapid spread of COVID-19 may cause them to temporarily close again in the future. If you have a hearing that is scheduled in the coming months, we encourage you to check your mail regularly and to contact your attorney with any questions about the status of your hearing. You can also check your next hearing date by calling 1-800-898-7180 or online at https://portal.eoir.justice.gov/InfoSystem.

Have an appointment with Immigration? Don’t forget your mask!

Please be aware that in order to enter a USCIS Field Office, you must be wearing a face mask that covers both your nose and mouth. Be sure to observe social distancing and follow any signs or floor markings instructing you to keep a safe distance away from other people. You may bring your own pen (with black or blue ink) to avoid touching pens at the office, which may be used by many people.

You should NOT attend an appointment at a USCIS office if you have any symptoms of COVID-19 (such as a fever, cough, trouble breathing, or the loss of your sense of smell or taste), have recently been in close contact with someone who has, is suspected to have, COVID-19, or you have been told by a healthcare professional within the past two weeks that you should quarantine or self-isolate.

If you are unable to attend an upcoming appointment because you are sick or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you may ask to have your appointment rescheduled. Please contact your attorney as soon as possible if this happens.

Have other questions?

If you have other questions about your case, or you are in need of an immigration attorney, please call our office at (425) 374-1681.

In order to help avoid the spread of COVID-19 and keep our clients safe, attorneys Mary Beth and Brittan are available for appointments via telephone or video conferencing at this time.

We encourage everyone to wear your masks, practice good hand hygiene, and avoid crowded areas. Together, we can help to slow the spread of this new coronavirus.

Attorneys Mary Beth Sheehan and Brittan Schwartz

Election Day is November 3rd

The next presidential election is happening soon and we’re here to answer your questions about voting and U.S. citizenship!

Our attorneys, Brittan and Mary Beth, have years of experience submitting successful applications for U.S. citizenship. If you or someone you know would like to schedule a consultation to discuss your immigration status, please call our office at (425) 374-1681.

Voting is a fundamental part of our democracy, but when it comes to immigration and naturalization the rules about who is eligible to vote, and when, can be confusing. With an important election right around the corner, we’d like to share some answers to commonly asked questions about citizenship and voting:

Who can vote?

Are you, or is someone in your family, a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old? If so, then you may be able to vote in the upcoming election.

In order to be eligible to vote in the State of Washington ALL of the following statements must be true:

- You are a U.S. Citizen

- You are at least 18 years old

- You are a legal resident of Washington State*

- You do not currently have a legal issue that would disqualify you from voting, such as a court order stating that you may not vote, or a felony conviction that places you under the supervision of the Washington Department of Corrections

*Meaning that you have lived in Washington for at least the past 30 days, that you are currently attending college in another state but lived in Washington just prior to going to college, or that you currently live abroad but your last residential address was in Washington State.

If you do not meet all of the criteria, then unfortunately, you are most likely not able to vote in Washington State at this time.

How can I register to vote?

If you meet ALL of the criteria listed above and you are certain that you are eligible to vote, you can register to vote online, by mail, or in-person at your county elections office.

The deadline for online or mail-in registration for the upcoming election is Monday, October 26th 2020. The deadline for in-person voter registration at a local county elections office is by 8:00 pm on Tuesday November 3rd, 2020.

Note: Voting rules vary by state. If you are a U.S. citizen who lives in another state then you should consult your state’s official election offices for information about the rules and deadlines that apply in your state.

Can I vote if I have a green card or work permit?

No. Only people who are U.S. citizens are eligible to vote in federal and state elections in the United States.

If you are not a U.S. citizen it is very important that you do NOT register to vote or vote in any U.S. elections. Voting when you are not a U.S. citizen is against the law and can have extremely serious consequences for your immigration case.

If you or someone you know has registered to vote or has voted in a U.S. election when they did not have U.S. citizenship, we strongly recommend that you discuss the situation with an immigration attorney.

I am a U.S. citizen, but my husband or wife is not. How can my spouse become a U.S. citizen?

Many factors influence whether a foreign spouse of a U.S. citizen may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship, including where the marriage took place, how long the couple has been married, and the prior immigration history of the non-U.S.-citizen spouse. The first step in determining whether or not your husband or wife may be eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship or another immigration benefit would be to speak with an immigration attorney about your case. Every situation is unique, and we recommend that you speak with a professional to make sure that you meet all of the requirements before submitting an application for an immigration benefit.

What if I have other questions about my immigration status?

We understand that this election season can be a stressful time for many families. If you have concerns about your immigration status or how your situation may be affected by changes to national policy or laws, we encourage you to contact our office. Our immigration attorneys are ready to answer your questions, and our entire staff works to ensure that every case is treated with care, respect, and personal attention.

Attorneys Brittan Schwartz and Mary Beth Sheehan are currently available for consultations via phone or video conferencing.

Please call us at (425) 374-1681 if you would like to schedule a time to discuss your case.