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Yes. If you are applying for a green card based on family or marriage, you generally must include your foreign birth certificate as part of your application. It shows your identity, birthplace, and parentage, and helps USCIS and the Department of State confirm your eligibility.

You can still start your green card application without it. If the birth certificate is unavailable, you may need a Certificate of Non-Availability and secondary evidence, like affidavits, school, or medical records, to prove your birth details. Working with an experienced immigration lawyer can help you avoid delays or mistakes.

Yes. Under the H-1B portability rule, you can begin working for a new employer once they file a non-frivolous H-1B transfer petition with USCIS and receive a receipt notice. You do not have to wait for final approval, but you must be in a valid H-1B status when the petition is filed.

To change jobs, you must be in a valid H-1B status, your new employer must file a new H-1B petition (Form I-129), and the job must qualify as a specialty occupation. The employer also needs an approved Labor Condition Application (LCA) before submitting the petition to USCIS.

Visa denials often happen when forms are incomplete or filled out incorrectly, when supporting documents are missing, when applicants fail to prove they will return home after temporary travel, or when they perform poorly at the visa interview. These issues give consular officers reasons to refuse the application.

In many cases, yes. You may be able to address the specific reason for denial, correct errors, add missing documents, or file a waiver depending on the situation. An immigration attorney can help identify the problem, explore options, and prepare a stronger reapplication or appeal.

No. Effective January 22, 2025, USCIS has waived the requirement that adjustment of status applicants provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination with their Form I-693 medical exam. USCIS will not issue Requests for Evidence (RFEs), Notices of Intent to Deny, or deny applications solely for lacking COVID-19 vaccination documentation.

Under the updated policy, applicants no longer need to show they received the COVID-19 vaccine as part of the immigration medical exam for adjustment of status. Other required vaccinations on Form I-693 remain in place, but documentation of COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required for approval.