On April 26, the Department of Homeland Security launched its new Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) office. According to DHS, VOICE will “assist victims of crimes committed by criminal aliens.” DHS Secretary John Kelly said in a statement, “All crime is terrible, but these victims are unique—and too often ignored. They are casualties of crimes that should never have taken place—because the people who victimized them often times should not have been in the country in the first place.” I suppose the same might be said of crimes committed by children born of unplanned pregnancies, but I digress.
The fact is, most credible reports show that immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate than U.S. citizens. But never mind that. Today, I am concerned with another group whose below-average crime rate masks its otherwise sinister nature. You guessed it, I’m talking about America’s grandmothers.
To shed light on this menace, I’ve decided to create a new website called VOGUE – Victims Of Grandmothers’ Unscrupulous Ethics. The website will track crimes committed by mommoms, babas, memoms, geemas, and savtas throughout our great country. And I’m not just talking about the Little Old Lady from Pasadena, though her reckless driving certainly terrified everyone on Colorado Boulevard. Rather, I want the public to know that America’s bubbies are a real threat to our society. So in the spirit of disproving statistics with anecdotes, I present to you the Top 5 nana-related crimes of recent memory. Be afraid. Be very afraid:
(1) In 2010, a 64-year old Long Island woman was arrested for stealing boxes of jello, replacing the contents with sand and salt, and then returning the boxes for a full refund (of $1.40 each!). According to authorities, Christine Clement disposed of the evidence by cooking up and eating the contents of the boxes she had emptied. Ms. Clement’s husband of 40 years served as her get-away driver.
(2) Griselda Blanco was a drug lord (drug lady?) from Colombia who relocated to Miami where she dominated the violent cocaine-trafficking scene in the 1970s and 1980s. She was supposedly responsible for over 200 murders, including the murder of at least one of her husbands. Ms. Blanco was finally deported to Colombia where she was assassinated at a butcher shop in 2012. Catherine Zeta-Jones is slated to play her in an upcoming movie called The Godmother (fittingly, Ms. Blanco’s youngest son is named Michael Corleone Blanco).
(3) Velma Barfield, also known as “Death Row Granny,” used arsenic as her weapon of choice. She confessed to killing four people, including her mother and a boyfriend. It seems likely she also killed at least one of her two husbands. In 1984, she became the first woman executed by lethal injection and the first woman in the United States executed since 1962.
(4) Another killer who preferred poison was Nannie Doss, known as the “Giggling Granny.” All together, she killed four husbands, two children, her two sisters, her mother, a grandson, and a mother-in-law. The first murders took place in the late 1920’s and the last occurred in 1953, when she killed her fifth husband by poisoning his sweet-potato pie (given my own feelings about sweet potatos, I am unlikely to die this way).
(5) Career criminal Doris Payne has been a jewel thief for more than six decades. Her most famous theft involved a $500,000.00, 10-carat diamond ring, which she stole from a jewelry store in Monte Carlo in the 1970’s. More recently, in 2015, she allegedly stole another diamond ring valued at $33,000.00 from a store in North Carolina (at age 84!). Her modus operandi is to pretend to be a well-to-do person looking to buy jewelry. She has the clerk take out various pieces, and then somehow causes the clerk to lose track of a piece or two, which she carries away.
So as you can see, America’s grannies are a notorious bunch. Whether they’re clandestinely replacing our jello with sand, murdering rival drug lords and annoying husbands, or walking away with large diamonds, they clearly represent a danger to us all. But hopefully, VOGUE will help. By shining a light on a few bad (Granny Smith) apples, we’ll soon have you convinced that the whole barrel is spoiled. At least that’s what they tell me at DHS.
Hi,
Jason Many thanks for your great work. God bless you.
My case is still pending at the immigration court in Newark. And I got a job from LA, is it ok if I leave my case in Newark court and can I work in LA?
Or if I transfer to LA, how long does it going to take time get a hearing in LA?
Thanks
If you move, and it is a permanent move, you need to inform the court about the move. The court might then transfer your case, or it might keep the case (it depends on the judge, the government lawyer, and you). My guess is that LA is slower than Newark, but I am not sure, but if the case moves to LA, you will need to attend another Master Calendar Hearing before you are scheduled for an Individual hearing, so that might be slower – especially if you already have a date for your final hearing. Take care, Jason
Hey Jason,
Can I go to Canada for a visit, While my application on the immigration court? And how?
Does it going to effect me on my case, that I travelled to a country while its on pending?
Thank you!
I think if you do that, it will be considered a deportation order. Maybe it is possible with the permission of DHS, but I have not ever tried that for a client, and I would highly recommend against it. If you want to try, talk to a lawyer to research whether it is possible befor eyou go. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
Thank you and hope you are doing great!
This coming Thursday, there are going to be new laws targeting immigrants- documented and undocumented. One of the clause is civil offense. Include in civil offense is overstaying your visa. I suspected that most quite a few asylum applicants (pending applications) will be targeted by these new laws. Asylum applicants with pending applications and who have no criminal record are already targeted. According to Immigration Equality, applicants with pending applications should not travel locally or domestically, even if you have an unblemished record.
What I find puzzling is that USCIS gives you permission to stay and work in the US legally, but ICE is detaining and deporting you. I am completely confused as I believe that, though they are separate entities, they fall under the same umbrella.
Would you also discourage asylum applicants with pending immigration benefits, who filed when they are out of status, from traveling domestically, whether by train, air or bus?
Maybe my reasoning is flawed, but if you can’t travel domestically, it stands to reason that ALL asylum applicants with pending applications and who filed when they are out of status, are at risk for deportation or detention. If this is this case, then this kind of approach should be fought out in court and settled once and for all so everyone can know what the hell is going on and be on one accord.
Please let me know what you think. Everyone is welcome to share their views.
“We need you to provide the receipt notice for the extension to apply. What you have attached is not able to be used as it is not a receipt notice. Please forward to me ASAP so that we can reinstate your employment. As of this time ******has terminated your employment”. I sent them my fee waiver approval notice, which was the only notice I got.
What do I even believe? Anyone had a similar experience?
I have not heard about any such laws, which is surprising since I try to keep up with such things. Maybe you can provide a link? Thank you, Jason
That was an email from my employer,sir.
Dear Shawn,
Let see on Thursday morning, Until then we hope things are fine and nothing to worry about. My advice to follow asylum seeker is not to be over speculative as that will create stress and ruin your life!
Good advice, Jason
Hi Jason,
I got my work permit through OPT while I was on F1 visa, and now I’m about to apply for EAD through my husband’s asylum case, so it’ll be under a new class this time. The question is do I have to pay the usual fee, or the fee would be waived because it’d be the first time I’m applying under this class? Also should I enclose our marriage documents since the main applicant on the asylum case is my husband?
Thanks in advance,
It would not hurt to include your marriage certificate; check the instructions to the I-765 form for all the documents you need to include. If this is your first EAD application based on asylum pending, there is no fee. Take care, Jason
Hi Everybody,
Jason Many thanks for your great work. God bless you .
I just want to ask ifnthere is anybody who has filled with California office before and was called for interview recently…The aim is to see which year they are currently dealing with right now.
Thank you guys.
You can also check the Asylum Office Scheduling Bulletin – a link is at right. It is pretty accurate. Take care, Jason
Thank you Jason,I have checked it
I would be glad and more comfortable to hear from individuals too.
I submitted my case last year on November as a skeleton and then this year on May i sent full evidence and put my name on the short list.I heard that the short list reduces the waiting time frame and so i’m curious to hear individuals who have gone through the same procedure, so i know how much time could be reduced ,how soon were they called for their interviews and stuff like that.
Thank you
I wrote a bit about the short list on February 26, 2015 – maybe that would help. The short list can make it faster, but not necessarily. These days, since the asylum offices are speeding up, I suspect that they will be calling more short list cases. The only disadvantage of the short list is that they might call you today for an interview tomorrow, but if you are ready to go, this should not be a problem. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason
My friend and I applied for asylum at the same time and we got letters notifying us that they had received the applications. Two weeks letter he received a letter for his biometrics and and been 76 days since they got the applications and I still haven’t received my biometrics letter. I am not from the 7 countries. Do you have any advice? We use the same address so I don’t know if my letter got lost or they just haven’t sent it yet
Contact the local asylum office and tell them that you did not receive the biometrics. Maybe they can help. You can find their contact info and email if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Hello Jason
I applied for asylum with my 2 children in sept 2016
Both are above 21, my question is
1. All of us would have a separate interview?
2. What if one of us do not get approval?
3. My 2 kids live in Pakistan, can I bring them here after approval?
Regards
1 – If you each filed your own I-589, then you will each have your own interview. You can email the asylum office once your interviews are scheduled and ask them to put you all with the same asylum officer. You can find their email if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. 2 – If one loses, it potentially makes it more difficult for the others to win, but sometimes one family member can win and another can lose, but at least in my experience, that is not common. 3 – If they were under 21 at the time you filed for asylum, and if they are unmarried, you can file an I-730 form for them as soon as you are granted asylum. If they are married or were over 21 when you filed, the process takes much longer – you have to wait until you have a green card or – if they are married – until you are a US citizen, and even then it takes years. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
My asylum case pending since 2015. I supposed to go my interview in October.
I didn’t have overstay and filed my case within 1st Year.
My employer wants to file EB2 green card for me under advanced degre. Looks like I can do adjustment of status under INA 245 k.
Have you ever dealt with such cases?
Thanks
Unless you are lawfully here on some other status (H1b, for example – if you only have asylum pending status, it is not enough), you will probably need to leave the US to get your green card. If you leave, try to get Advance Parole (form I-131, available at http://www.uscis.gov) before you go, as a back up plan if the EB2 fails. Anyway, maybe you can adjust without leaving – talk to a lawyer about the specifics of your case to see if that is possible. Take care, Jason
But INA 245 k says that even if I’m out of status, I can do adjustment of status
The exception in INA Section 245(k) permits individuals to obtain approval of the adjustment of status to permanent residence in most employment-based green card categories, even if the applicant has been out of status, worked without authorization, or otherwise violated the terms and conditions of the admission IF the aggregate period of such violations does not exceed 180 days. – immigration thru employment takes much longer than 180 days. Only request for prevailing wage takes 180 days now! My husband wanted to apply but we got our asylum first.
Thank you – It is not my area, and so I would recommend anyone who thinks they qualify talk to a lawyer who knows about immigration through employment. Take care, Jason
You would have to check with a lawyer about that, but I believe 245(k) is quite limited. Anyway, it is worth checking, as I am not sure. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
A blessed day.
Our schedule for interview is on May 23, 2017, however our EAD will expire on July 29, 2017. I would like to ask if it is okay to renew our EAD because its already less than 90 days due to renew or it is better to wait for the result of the interview?
2nd question- what if they deny our case and referred to IJ, are we still allowed to renew our EAD?
Please pray for us that our case will be approved.
Thank you Json for all the help.
God blessa
Is your interview in NY?
When did you apply for asylum ( which year)
Praying for you
Hi Luli,
Our case is under Los Angeles office.
We filed last Feb.2016.
Thank you for including us in your prayers.
Praying for all of us here.
God bless.
Dear Jr
My god be with u in your interview . I would like to ask you if u had applied for short list or expedite as I fill in June 2015 LA and didn’t call for an interview yet .
your answer is highly appreciated .
Probably it is better to renew now, though you will have to pay for the renewal. The problem is, you do not know how long it will take to get a decision, and even if you are granted, you will still need to wait for the new EAD based on asylum granted (and since it will be your first EAD in that status, there is no automatic extension of the old EAD). In other words, if you do not renew, you risk a gap in your employment eligibility. If your case goes to the Judge, you can renew your EAD as before, until your case is complete. Good luck, Jason
Thank you so much Jason.
Youre a blessings to us asylum seekers.
God bless.
Dear Jason Thanks a lot for all your effort .
According to Bulletin it shows that LA office is interviewing now March 2013 , any explanation from your side will be appreciated regarding that Jr is interviewed now and he applied in FEB 2016 .if we assumed that he didn’t apply for short list or expedite .
Short list or expedite are the main reasons. Also, certain cases, like unaccompanied minors, are given priority. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
Many thanks for your great work. God bless you! I received an approval for I-131 with a notice which states that “although this application or petition has been approved, USCIS and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reserve the right to verify this information before and/or after making a decision on your case so we can ensure that you have complied with applicable laws, rules, regulations, and other legal authorities. We may review public information and records, contact others by mail, the internet or phone conduct site inspections of businesses and residences, or use other methods of verification. We will use the information obtained to determine whether you are eligible for the benefit you seek. If we find any derogatory information, we will follow the law in determining whether to provide you an opportunity to address that information before we make formal decision on your case or start proceedings.”
Is there anything to get concerned about here or do all approval for I131 asylee travel documents come with this notice?
Many thanks for your help.
Sammth,
Congratulations for your I-131 approval!!!
Do you mind sharing your timeline?
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Postponed
Sent application on Nov 16, 2016
Application received on Nov 18
Biometrics done on Jan 11, 2017
April nothing was forthcoming, feared my travel plans would be interrupted
Contacted the congressman of my District on April 27 who helped expedite
May 9 the application approved
Oh awesome! I do see that USCIS is indeed processing apps as of November. Thank you for sharing your timeline! Hope you have a safe trip 🙂 enjoy!
congrats!!! I’ve also placed my application around that time and requested for expedite on April 28th! but still waiting for the outcome of the request. can you please share to which office you made the application?
Hello Allen
I applied to Texas office and then they transferred it to Nebraska office on Dec 15. The approval came from Nebraska office
I am not familiar with that – maybe it is new, or maybe I just have not looked closely at the AP document. But if you have the approval, you should be ok to travel as long as you do not have criminal convictions, a pending immigration court case, or a deport order . Take care, Jason
Thanks so much Jason.
Hi,
May I ask how long did you wait to get to be interviewed and how long was your interview? Many thanks!
I-131 (application for travel document) does not have interview, but I had been interviewed for asylum in November 2015, my interview took about 2hours
When did you apply for asylum?
Hey sammth,
If you don’t mind, I have a question for you.
What about your asylum case?
Is it still at the court?
Thanks
I applied for asylum in Nov 2014 in LA and then moved it to Arlington in Mar 2015, interviewed in Nov 2015, got asylum approval in Dec 2015
Hi everyone,
I got robbed today, I had EAD card in my wallet with others stuff, I checked online for EAD replacement they have fees for replacement card!! Is there any way I can get waiver for EAD replacement? I have police report of robbery!!
Thanks
You can file a fee waiver – form I-912, available at http://www.uscis.gov. If accepted, this will allow you to avoid the fee. Follow the instructions for the replacement card – I think you need to give USCIS a copy of the police report. Take care, Jason
Thank you Jason,
Should I talk to an attorney for that issue and start process for green on assault? Thanks
I doubt you would qualify, but it is not my area, so talk to a lawyer and see what the lawyer thinks. Take care, Jason
My EAD based on initial pending asylum was ordered today. In how many business days should I expect it to arrive? I’m from NY and sent the application to Arkansas service center. Thank you!
it should take no more than 10 days. can you share your timeline please?
Applied for asylum: octuber 18th 2016 ( NY)
Applied for initial work permit: match 17th, 2017
Received by USCIS march 22. My application was updated April 11. And card ordered march 13. I’m so anxious to get it!!
It could take a few weeks to get the card. Take care, Jason
Hello jason
I have a question. Can my family join my asylum application later ( one year later ). They are now in my home country and they have valid us visa.
If they come to the US, they can join your case (spouse and unmarried minor children). Contact the local asylum office for the procedure. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Sometimes, it is difficult to do this due to the bureaucracy, but it is allowed. Once they are joined, they can get work permits immediately (assuming you have your work permit already). Take care, Jason
Thank you Very Much Jason……..
Thanks Jason as usual.
I want share my timeline for my EAD.
This was my 3rd EAD! And hopefully this will be my last one.
1. Applied on Jan 27/2017
2. They received on Jan 30/2017
3. They transferred my application to Potomac VA. Originally I sent it to Phoenix and I received notice of receipt from Texas center. And I am pending asylum in Los Angeles.
4. April 24/2017 they approved my EAD.
5. April 26/2017 they sent my EAD.
Good luck everyone.
Thank you for sharing Haweken, we are in the same situation. It is my third EAD also, and I received the End of March, 2017. It will be good to 2019… Hopefully this is the last EAD I would ever need. Good luck to you too.
Hello Jason,
I am going to apply for a new EAD (my existing one expires in August) and going through the list of required documents. It states:
— A copy of the USCIS acknowledgment mailer, which was mailed to you
— Other evidence that Form I-589 was filed with USCIS
— Evidence that Form I-589 was filed with an Immigration judge at the Executive office for Immigration Review
or
–Evidence that your asylum application remains under administrative or judicial review.
I only have the first paper. What should I provide to USCIS as ‘other evidence’ and as the third document from this list?
Micheal,
I am not Jason, but I would like to tell you what I did to renew my EAD.
1.Old card/copy
2. Photos/2
3. Application form/ signed
4. Application fee/$410
5. Notification of receipt of i589 or bio-metrics.
All these are the same materials for your first EAD except the $410 and copy of current EAD.
Wish you good lucck
Haweken,
Thank you, it’s helpful; seems like a straightforward process.
Thank you. People should just be aware that sometimes different documents are needed (if the case is in court, if there are criminal or immigration issues) and so it is good to check the instructions. Take care, Jason
Haweken,
Do you remember how long it took you to get a new EAD after you submitted the docs?
Micheal, I am assuming you have pending asylum.
Yes, exactly.
You can use your fingerprint appointment letter or a copy of your I-589 form. You can also email the local asylum office and ask whether they can give you any document to show that your asylum case is still pending. You can find their contact info if you follow the link at right called Asylum Office Locator. Take care, Jason
Jason,
A quick follow-up question: if I’m represented by an attorney, but am filing my EAD renewal documents on my own, should I be including a signed G-28 form?
You only need the G-28 if the attorney is representing you in the EAD renewal (as opposed to the asylum). Take care, Jason
Great, thank you!
Hi Jason!
I have applied for asylum case in Feb-2016, obviously it’s still pending, but I got my EAD and I’m working in IT industry, is it going to be good a idea to adjust my status to H1-B and then based on that apply for GC. I have employer who wishes to sponsor me. Is that process will be longer than waiting for interview?
Thanks!
Movses
It could be longer or shorter, depending on how the asylum process advances, but there is no reason that you cannot do both at the same time. One point – you may need to leave the US to collect your H1b visa. If so, I recommend that you get Advance Parole (form I-131, available at http://www.uscis.gov) as a back up plan. That way, if you leave, and the H1b does not work out, you can still return. Otherwise, talk to a lawyer about whether you can get the H1b visa without leaving the US, as that is safer. Take care, Jason
Thank you Jason!
Dear jason
I got my travel document ( am from the 6 countries) and my passport still valid with visa to 3rd countries to meet my family can i travel by my natipnal passport which i have visa to 3rd country and carry with me the travel docoment to enter agaoin to US or i need to have visa too in my travel docoment ????
Using your home passport can create problems for an asylum case, but normally, it does not (especially if you are not afraid of your home government, but are instead afraid of a terrorist group in your country). You will need the Advance Parole travel document to re-enter the US when you come back. Take care, Jason
Jason,
You said Joe needs an AP? even though he said he has an RTD?
Thanks!
Maybe I misunderstood – if he has a RTD, he does not need Advance Parole. Thank you, Jason
Hi Jason,
When an asylee (someone already granted asylum) travel outside the U.S having a valid I131 travel document, do you need to use the passport from your country of origin when entering the country that you are travelling to and does that have any problem? What do you do if the embassy insist you should have a Passport?
Some countries accept the Refugee Travel Document; others do not. You have to check with the country. It is better not to use your passport, as that potentially creates problems for you with US immigration, especially if your asylum case was based on fear of your home government (as opposed to fear of a terrorist group in your country, for example). Take care, Jason
Dear Jason,
I have given interview at New York few days back, I have submitted all the evidence but due to my attorney bad health we haven’t submitted few pictures! My interview went okay officer was trying to confuse me in couple of questions, almost I have given him correct information as I have written in my statement. I am minority from Muslim county and the same time I am activist for good human case. I also gave him recent articles of my country situations. Officer was young looks unexperienced little bit rude. I am confused what criteria do they have to make decision on asylum case! I talk to my attorney at the end of interview, what her experience says on my interview, she told me I went very well, but if my case referred to Judge it won’t because of my interview performance but it would be because of officer. Please guide me what measures officers take after conducting interview. Thanks
When did you apply for asylum? What month-what year ?
I hope you getting good news & approved
Good luck
I am not sure how to guide you. They evaluate whether they think you are telling the truth and, if so, whether the situation you describe warrants a grant of asylum. Whether they grant or deny, their supervisor will need to approve the decision. Good luck, Jason
Hi, Dear Jason,
I would like to ask if a dependent of an asylum seeker left the USA (with no advance parole granted) before any interview or court processing, will the dependent be banned from entering the USA for 10 years or so?.
Thanks for your help.
It depends on whether that person overstayed his visa and whether there was an asylum case pending at the time. He might be banned for 10 years and he might not. If you talk to an immigration lawyer who can review the facts of the case, you should be able to get an answer about that. Take care, Jason
Hi Jason,
It is a pending asylum case. No over stay. No misdemeanors.
Thanks.
hi Jason
thanks for the help
Today I received my approval letter from Arlington USCIS for the interview I had before two weeks.
I wanted to share this good news with you! I’ve no words good enough to appreciate the help u render to everyone who request it.
may God bless you and ur family.
Congrats! Can you share your time line, please.
June 2014 …shortlist
Congrats
How long did it take to finsih interview ( hours)
3hours and 47 minutes
You had a stopwatch?
hi Jason
I timed it when the officer called the Monitor(the automated system was telling the current time) and then checked the time on my watch when done with the interview.
Congratulations and welcome to America! Jason
Jason,
Thank you so much for helping asylum seekers!!
Do you know how likely it is for a Syrian asylum seeker to be approved in an individual hearing (court)?
Also, if the asylum seeker’s sibiling case has been approved before.. do they bring up anything about the sibiling’s case in the asylum seeker’s court session?
Thank you so so much!!
It is a good idea to submit evidence of the sibling’s case to the Immigration Judge. That will help the case. How likely the person is to win depends on the case and the judge. I do not know your case, but you can look up your judge if you Google “TRAC Immigration” and you will see the asylum grant rate. Take care, Jason
Thank you so much for your quick answer!!
Hi Jason, thanks for all your great work. Wld like to inquire smething take an example my 150 days expired on Tuesday, is it okay if i send in my first EAD application on wednesday or its better to wait like a week after the 150 days have expired.
Thanks again
If the 150 days have passed, you can file it. There is no reason to wait longer. Take care, Jason
One of these grandmas is not like the others…
Hello Jason ,
I m 1 year from my asylum approval and I have to apply for GC , I was reading about the process and I know about form i-485 , i-693 , photos and etc . but I couldn’t find the list of supporting documents ? could you please explain what other documents should we submit along with the application ?
How long this process will takes ? ( from the day you apply till you get the card ) ?
Is there an interview ? if yes how is the interview ?
Have you seen any issue for people from 7 countries applied for GC ?
Thanks a lot for your help.
The documents you need depend on the case, and I cannot give that type of specific advice here. If the instructions do not make it clear, you should talk to a lawyer about your case. The whole process usually takes 5 to 9 months, but some cases take longer (and a few are faster). Normally, there is not an interview, but sometimes, there is. I have not seen any issues for people from “banned” countries, but potentially that could change if courts allow the ban to go into effect. Keep an eye on the news for that. Take care, Jason