Publications

Practical guides

Marcelo Barros da Cunha

One topic at a time, from start to finish, in plain language: what the law requires, what evidence the case calls for, which deadlines are running and where applications tend to fail. These are guides for understanding your own case before deciding the next step.

Public charge · Form I-945

The public charge bond: when the money comes back, when it is lost, and why September 18 changes everything

A person invited to post a public charge bond hands the U.S. government a sum of money that stays tied up for years. The rule that says when that money is lost changes on September 18, 2026, and what decides which rule applies to your case is the date the bond is filed. Filing by September 17 means the narrow condition in force today. Filing on or after September 18 means a considerably broader condition, for the whole life of the bond.

September 2026 · 8 min read Read the guide →
Citizenship · N-400

An investigator may knock on your neighbour's door: how to prepare for the citizenship application

Since 25 August 2026, USCIS has resumed neighbourhood investigations for U.S. citizenship applicants. It applies even to those who have already filed. This guide shows what the investigator may look into, how to seek a waiver of the investigation, and what to gather before filing the N-400.

August 2026 · 6 min read Read the guide →
EB-1A · EB-2 NIW

EB-1A and EB-2 NIW: the two routes to a green card without depending on an employer

In most employment-based green cards, you depend on a U.S. company willing to sponsor you. In these two categories, you do not: you file on your own. This guide shows which of the two fits your story, what it costs, how long it takes, and what to gather before you start.

August 2026 · 14 min read Read the guide →
Public charge · Form I-485

Public benefits and the green card: what to do before 18 September 2026

A practical guide for anyone applying for a green card who receives, has received, or is thinking of applying for a public benefit. It gives the date that decides which rule applies to you, the list of what counts and what does not, and a checklist to use before filing.

August 2026 · 12 min read Read the guide →
Green card · The queue

Visa Bulletin: how to find out whether your turn in the green card queue has come

Having your petition approved is not the same as having the green card: the queue still has to be waited out. Every month the State Department publishes how far it has moved. This guide shows how to read the bulletin in four steps, with an example for someone born in Brazil, and warns about the mistake that gets applications rejected.

August 2026 · 11 min read Read the guide →
F-1 · Duration of Status

F-1 students: from 15 September, your stay gets a fixed end date

Until now, an F-1 student could stay in the United States for as long as the course lasted. From 15 September 2026, they receive a final date on the I-94, and going past it has serious consequences. This guide shows what changes, who falls under the transition rule, how to ask for more time, and the timing mistake that costs students the right to work.

August 2026 · 14 min read Read the guide →

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