US Visa and Green Card Forum

This article by my vigilant colleague, Brent Renison, has a poignant message regarding the rigid immigration system and its archaic interpretation of a spouse. I was inspired by Brent and went on to represent two widows who were entangled in this immigration mess, and while one was successful, the other is part of Brent’s class action. Here’s the article and link.

On November 23, 2008, CBS “60 Minutes” exposed the Widow Penalty to a national audience in a segment hosted by Bob Simon entitled “For Better or For Worse – A Loss of Love and Country.” This letter is written to the Obama-Biden Transition Team in an effort to educate the incoming Administration about the Widow Penalty, and to urge its end through administrative interpretation and through legislation. There is a way to ameliorate the Widow Penalty through a simple administrative policy change – to recognize that once an application for benefits is lawfully filed, the death of the petitioning relative does not automatically strip the survivor of the status of a spouse. There is also a way to help thoseSurviving Spouses Against Deportation Urges An End To The Widow Penalty who intended to file an application, but who did not have an opportunity to do so before an untimely death – through legislation.

Continue reading When a Widow is No Longer Considered a Spouse Under U.S. Immigration Laws