#494 NIWs, the 2-Year I-130 Wait and more with Beatriz Ballerini, Esq.

On this episode of The Immigration Lawyer's Toolbox Podcast, host John Khosravi sits down with Beatriz (Trillos) Ballerini, Esq., a Houston based immigration attorney, AILA Region 4 Director, and immediate past chair of the Texas AILA Chapter, to talk about the 54% NIW denial rate and why she's stopped taking new NIW cases, the growing uncertainty around adjustment of status and I-130 processing times, how she's rebuilt her retainer agreements for this administration, what's ahead for the Texas AILA Chapter including its November 18 to 20 conference in Santa Fe, the political shift underway in Colombia, and her own family's immigration story from Cali, Colombia to holding three passports today. Timestamps: 00:00 Opening 00:33 Intro 03:58 Welcoming Beatriz to the show 04:20 Growing up in Houston and finding immigration law 04:49 Her earlier career litigating international plane crashes 06:31 Launching her own practice in 2006 08:14 From family cases to 80% business immigration 10:18 Firm size, staffing, and long-tenured team members 12:11 Why NIW cases are so stressful right now 13:04 Adjustment of status and detention risk uncertainty 16:00 Managing client expectations and putting it in writing 16:26 Retainer updates with ethics counsel Craig Dupzyk 18:08 AILA's lawsuits pushing back on policy changes 18:34 Her role as AILA Region 4 Director 19:26 Leading the Texas AILA Chapter 20:12 Texas Chapter conference, November 18 to 20 in Santa Fe 23:05 Coordinating a chapter spread across Texas, Oklahoma & New Mexico 27:44 A growing chapter and mentoring new members 29:20 What's stressing Beatriz: the 54% NIW denial rate 30:00 Worrying about approved EB-1A clients stuck in limbo 31:00 Colombia's political shift under President de la Espriella 32:13 Direct filing I-130s at consulates for exceptional circumstances 34:10 USCIS's overseas offices and the new Ethiopia unit 34:43 Deportations to third countries and the human toll 36:07 Increased ICE activity around Houston 37:14 Holding three passports and dual citizenship through marriage 38:22 Her family's immigration story from Colombia 39:15 Discovering her own immigration history through a FOIA request 40:52 Her father's decision to naturalize after being strip searched 41:13 Comparing notes on growing up in immigrant families 43:08 The unpredictability of 30 day RFE deadlines 44:33 Where to find and follow Beatriz Ballerini 44:50 Closing thoughts Spotify | iTunes | YouTube Music | YouTube Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED): E-2 Course EB-1A Course Get the Toolbox Magazine!  Join our community (Lawyers Only) Get Started in Immigration Law! The Marriage/Family-Based Green Card course is for you Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com Not legal advic