Cynthia Yializis, J.D., has practiced both family and
employment based immigration law for over five years. She discovered her
interest in this field as a law student interning at Irish Refugee Legal
Services. This experience made her realize that she wanted to use her law
degree to help those who are seeking a better life and opportunity. She has since worked in both private practice and higher education.
Cynthia is currently serving as the Assistant Director of the Center
for International Legal Education at the University of
Pittsburgh School of Law, and maintains a regular pro bono immigration
practice.
Cynthia received her law degree from the University of Pittsburgh
and her bachelor’s degree in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Arizona. In her spare time, she enjoys
travel, fitness, and writing.
Learn more about Cynthia's legal practice at Yializis Law. Cynthia can also be found on Google +.
Articles By Cynthia Yializis
Timing to plan around, both with respect to the school schedule and that of the U.S. government office with which you will be dealing.
After having been granted an F-1 or M-1 student visa, and actually entered the United States, you can stay, pursuing your studies, until the expiration date shown on your I-94.
Can you prove that you have the financial resources needed to get a student visa to the United States?
Line-by-line instructions for filling out USCIS Form I-601, used to apply for a waiver of inadmissibility.
If you are planning to take classes in the United States, the first type of visa you are likely to look into is an F-1 student visa. But it's not likely the best option for a short series of classes.
F-1 visa holders (but not their spouses or children) can work at almost any job on their school’s campus without needing to obtain U.S. government authorization. If you want to work off campus, however, you’ll need to request authorization from either your DSO or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
USCIS approval of an I-601 waiver application is anything but automatic, particularly when it involves an extreme hardship determination. Find out how to improve your chances of success.
If you have been studying in the United States, most likely on an F-1, M-1, or other temporary (nonimmigrant) visa, you may want to finish your stay with a little vacation.
Students who have fallen out of F-1 or M-1 status may request their status back using USCIS Form I-539.
You might be eligible to file a waiver for certain grounds of inadmissibility based on the extreme hardship your qualified relative will experience if you are not admitted to the United States.