When Time Is Not on Your Side: Standing With a Mother in Detention During her Son’s Death

Earlier this year, Silmi Law’s attorney Sarah Takyi-Micah represented a Maryland mother who was taken into ICE custody while her teenage son was critically ill with cancer. Within days of her detention, his condition worsened rapidly. What followed was a race against time that no family should ever have to endure. The Human Impact of […]

A Major EB-1A Court Win Brings New Hope for High-Skill Professionals Facing Long Green Card Delays

If you’re a highly skilled professional working in the U.S.—in software, AI, semiconductors, energy, data, or advanced engineering—you may feel like you’ve done everything right and yet your future still feels uncertain. You’ve built real expertise. You’ve contributed to innovation. You’ve helped move technology, products, or systems forward. And still, year after year, immigration delays […]

2026 Immigration Outlook: What USCIS Strategy Really Requires Now

As 2025 came to a close, immigration uncertainty did not slow down, it intensified. In a year-end YouTube live session, immigration attorney Sharif Silmi addressed what many highly skilled professionals are quietly experiencing: More scrutiny. More unpredictability. And more pressure,  even for individuals who have followed every rule. The key takeaway from that discussion was […]

Does My Salary Meet EB1A Criteria? Here’s the Real Answer.

Almost every single day for nearly a decade, I’ve received the same question from clients and prospective clients alike: “Does my salary meet the EB1A criteria?” At first glance, this might seem like a simple question. But the truth is, the answer is much more nuanced. USCIS doesn’t just look at a number. Instead, they compare […]

USCIS Announces New EB-1A Policy Updates: Key Changes as of October 2, 2024

On October 2, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released new policy guidance on the types of evidence considered for EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability) petitions. This update is particularly relevant for applicants seeking to demonstrate sustained acclaim in their field, as it clarifies several aspects of evidence evaluation. Here’s what you need to know […]

Extending Your Stay Beyond L-1 Visa Maximum: Options for Extending Your Status

The L-1 Intra-Company Transferee visa is a non-immigrant work visa. It allows qualifying foreign employees of multinational companies to be temporarily transferred to a parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or branch of the same company in the U.S. There are two main categories under the L-1 visa: 1. L-1A Visa for managerial or executive roles within the […]