The Immigration Lawyers Podcast | Discussing Visas, Green Cards & Citizenship: Practice & Policy

In this episode, host John Q. Khosravi, Esq. sits down with business immigration attorney Jioselin Juarez Contreras, Esq. to talk about her path from a first-generation Mexican American law student to a high-volume H-1B practice — including her brief detour into nonprofit removal work before returning to the same business immigration firm, how her firm (which also handles corporate litigation and taxation, with a CPA-licensed managing partner) keeps every department aligned on fast-moving immigration changes, and the real-world impact of the new $100,000 H-1B fee on employers and change-of-status filings during this year's cap season. They also preview the upcoming AILA California Chapters Conference (November 5–7 in San Francisco), which Jioselin is helping plan, and close with a look at annual firm planning and the importance of actually taking breaks during immigration law's busiest seasons.

Timestamps:

00:00 Opening

00:33 Intro

03:16 Welcome Jioselin Juarez Contreras, Esq.

03:26 Growing up in Southern California & getting into immigration law

04:45 How she built business immigration experience early on

05:04 The detour into nonprofit removal work, and coming back

07:36 Practicing immigration inside a multi-department firm (corporate, litigation, CPA/tax)

09:41 The $100K H-1B fee: real impact on clients and filings during cap season

11:36 AILA California Chapters Conference preview (San Francisco, Nov 5 to 7)

15:01 Firm planning: annual goals and the next six months

17:08 Balancing cap season crunch with actual vacation time

20:58 How to connect with Jioselin

21:13 Outro

Get a free website (first 10 sign-ups) and special pricing on marketing for your firm from Constellation at http://immigrationlawyerstoolbox.com/Constellation

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• Get Started in Immigration Law! The Marriage/Family-Based Green Card course is for you

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This month on the Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Podcast, host John Q. Khosravi, Esq. skips the interview format for a rapid-fire rundown of the news, memos, and courtroom curveballs immigration attorneys need on their radar right now from USCIS quietly closing affirmative asylum cases without an interview and a judge denying a marriage-based green card under a new discretion memo, to the $100,000 H-1B fee proposal resurfacing for F-1 students, a biometrics-rescheduling trick that can save your client weeks, and a fresh court order pausing parts of USCIS's TPS and asylum-fee enforcement. It's the practice-management update that keeps you ahead of USCIS before your clients call you first.

Timestamps:

00:00 Opening

00:33 Intro

02:57 my.USCIS.gov website glitch (false approvals/denials)

04:10 OPT denials tied to arrests & good moral character

05:24 FT report: 80% of US embassies lack an ambassador

06:07 Join the free private attorney community (Circle)

07:14 SB-1 returning resident visa risks

08:46 USCIS closing affirmative asylum cases without interview

10:49 Ciudad Juárez getting strict on affidavit of support

13:27 Sponsor: Constellation (websites/marketing for law firms)

15:07 TPS-to-marriage adjustment withdrawal trap

16:34 Immigration judge denies adjustment citing discretion memo

17:07 WebEx possibly leaving immigration court

17:39 $100K H-1B fee may extend to F-1 students

18:01 Biometrics rescheduling trick (switch ASC location)

19:14 DC court pushes back on 75-country travel pause (EB-5 case)

19:52 New civil penalties for contempt in immigration court

20:11 Court stays USCIS TPS EAD & asylum fee policies (Venez v. USCIS)

22:37 NVC shuffling Iranian cases between embassies

23:20 Lawsuit blocks travel ban on Afghan I-730 cases

23:50 Wrap-up & how to join the community/courses

24:11 Outro

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• EB-1A Course

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• Join our community (Lawyers Only)

• Get Started in Immigration Law! The Marriage/Family-Based Green Card course is for you

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Ruby Powers, Esq. joins John to break down the detained witness case she just took over following a fatal ICE shooting in Houston, including her habeas, U visa, and parole strategy, plus a wave of changes hitting immigration law right now: EOIR's proposed rule to fine attorneys for "contempt" while exempting government attorneys, reports that Webex hearings may be phased out, asylum cases being referred without an interview, OPT/F-1 clients getting NOIDs over minor arrests, work permits now taking 5 to 6 months instead of one, rising bond amounts, and the upcoming affidavit of support changes, along with law practice management lessons from Ruby's recent AILA conference booth experience. Connect with Ruby Powers: Website LinkedIn: Ruby L. Powers Podcast: Power Up Your Practice Book: Power Up Your Practice (available on Amazon) Get a free website (first 10 sign-ups) and special pricing on marketing for your firm from Constellation at ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com/Constellation

Timestamps:

00:00 Opening

00:33 Intro

02:05 Catching up with Ruby Powers

02:36 Taking over the Houston ICE shooting case

03:22 U visa certification, habeas, and parole strategy

03:31 The ICWC v. Nome decision on detained VAWA/U applicants

05:30 Sealing habeas filings for client privacy

06:18 EOIR proposes eliminating Webex hearings

06:39 EOIR's new contempt and sanctions rule for attorneys

07:43 Flying for court and a last minute hearing cancellation

09:56 Trains vs. planes and managing travel burnout

12:18 Reading the proposed contempt rule

14:31 Judges threatening attorneys with contempt

15:07 Asylum cases now referred without an interview

16:04 OPT/F-1 clients getting NOIDs over minor arrests

17:02 A 9 year asylum case finally approved

17:52 Turning hard times into a stronger practice

19:32 Conference recap: ABA Tech Show, Neostella, AILA

21:57 Ruby's AILA exhibit booth experience

26:34 Consultation energy and being an introvert on air

28:53 Why they moved to hour long consultations

32:53 Explaining fast moving rule changes to clients

33:14 Can non-attorneys help with consultations?

34:11 The document collection grind

35:57 New I-589 edition and the affidavit of support rush

38:06 Adjustment interview delays

40:34 Work permit delays and advance parole advice

44:35 ICE detaining people at airports

45:30 Rising immigration bond amounts

46:30 A positive note: sleep, pillows, and surfing

47:23 Where to find Ruby Powers and Power Strategy Group

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Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED):

• E-2 Course

• EB-1A Course

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• Join our community (Lawyers Only)

• Get Started in Immigration Law! The Marriage/Family-Based Green Card course is for you

Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com

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What happens when the F-1 "duration of status" rule disappears overnight — and how many employers are actually paying the new $100,000 H-1B fee?

On this episode, host John Q. Khosravi talks with Anne Rowley, Esq. of Grossman Young & Hammond about her path into business immigration law, the newly finalized F-1 duration of status rule, the real-world impact of the $100,000 H-1B fee, and a behind-the-scenes look at planning the AILA California Chapters Conference (San Francisco, first week of November).

Timestamps:

00:00 Opening

00:33 Intro

01:24 Sponsor: E-Immigration Hero Spotlight

02:17 ILT mentorship & courses

03:04 Anne Rowley's Path Into Immigration Law – Wisconsin to LA to San Diego

05:10 Grossman Young & Hammond's national presence

05:48 Current immigration "insanity" & hot topics

06:09 F-1 duration of status rule explained

06:43 Advising students before the rule change

07:14 F-1/OPT/CPT nuances & DSO challenges

08:15 Community & sponsor reminders

09:37 More on the new F-1 rule (English limits, PhD students)

10:30 Firm growth – DC, Miami, San Diego expansion

11:07 Keeping corporate H-1B clients informed

11:54 The $100K H-1B fee: client experiences

12:58 AILA California Chapters Conference preview

14:11 Getting involved with AILA committees

15:40 Firm operations, KPIs & forecasting

16:55 Closing thoughts & CCC reminder

17:14 Outro

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Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED):

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• Get Started in Immigration Law! The Marriage/Family-Based Green Card course is for you

Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com

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Top 10 immigration updates practitioners need right now: a USCIS Policy Manual change targeting attorneys, I-751 receipt delays, naturalization slowdowns, a proposed visa-ban bill, the upcoming I-864 overhaul, and the end of Duration of Status for F-1/J-1 students.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Opening

00:33 Intro

01:18 Sponsor: e-Immigration by Cerenade

02:35 Courses & one-on-one training seminars

03:20 Disclaimer + show start

03:45 #1 — USCIS Policy Manual update targets attorneys

05:16 #2 — Attorneys can now file B-2/F-1 cases via myUSCIS.gov

06:17 #3 — I-751 receipt delays

07:05 #4 — Biometrics required before expedite requests

07:59 #5 — Naturalization oath ceremony delays

09:13 #6 — Nancy Mace bill to ban immigrant visas

09:52 #7 — Case return delays now 3–4 weeks

10:46 #8 — I-864 Affidavit of Support policy update (Sept 2026)

12:05 Sponsor: Constellation Marketing

13:33 #9 — N-470 alternative + I-751/N-400 timing correction

15:19 #10 — F-1/J-1/I visa overhaul (end of Duration of Status)

19:00 Private community page & wrap-up

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Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED):

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• Join our community (Lawyers Only)

• Get Started in Immigration Law! The Marriage/Family-Based Green Card course is for you

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Learn more at ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com/constellation John sits down with Patrick Carver of Constellation Marketing to talk about how immigration lawyers can build real visibility online in 2026. They cover the shift from Google-only search to AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, why consistent branding and content across your website, social media, and review platforms matters more than one-off SEO hacks, and how firms can avoid the outdated, clunky websites that turn prospective clients away. Patrick also breaks down Constellation's packages for immigration firms, including a special offer for Immigration Lawyers Toolbox listeners.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Opening

00:33 – Intro

00:41 – Patrick's background and how Constellation Marketing started

02:00 – Immigration as a federal practice: local vs. national marketing

04:15 – What "visibility" means online in 2026 (SEO, AI, search fracturing)

06:34 – How AI search transition is going / Google's shrinking share

09:47 – Consistency, brand-building, and avoiding marketing plateaus

11:12 – Helping attorneys who dislike being on camera or writing

14:16 – Special ILT listener packages (pricing, "business in a box")

15:03 – Importance of updated websites/branding (McDonald's/Starbucks analogy)

16:33 – Why to start marketing early (lag time for SEO/AI to kick in)

16:49 – How to reach Patrick, Constellation's track record

18:03 – Outro

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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

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John Q. Khosravi, Esq. and Kevin A. Gregg, Esq. (Immigration Review podcast) break down the top federal court immigration decisions of June 2026: the birthright citizenship ruling, Blanche v. Lora on LPR travel risk, and the Haiti/Syria TPS decision. 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

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• Join our community (Lawyers Only)

• Get Started in Immigration Law! The Marriage/Family-Based Green Card course is for you

Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com

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In this month's episode, John Khosravi, Esq. shares practical tips and recent case notes from his immigration law practice: catching I-130/I-485 date discrepancies before they trip up I-751 renewals, evidence tourist visa clients need for extensions, lessons from two Stokes interviews, ESTA cancellation glitches, ongoing DACA advance parole delays, the "arrest vs. detained" misrepresentation trap on DS-160s, a wave of AI-translation and AI-software outreach hitting immigration lawyers, a consular processing refusal over credit card debt/public charge, and the growing list of visa bond countries. Plus updates on the ILT magazine, the marriage green card course's new mentorship option, and sponsors eimmigration by Cerenade and Constellation.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Opening

00:33 – Intro

01:11 – ILT Magazine – call for contributor topics

01:35 – Sponsor message (case management software via Serenade)

02:40 – Marriage Green Card Course update

03:41 – Tip 1: I-130 vs. I-485 date mix-up on I-751 filing

05:17 – Tip 2: Tourist visa extensions – keep your travel evidence

06:37 – Tip 3: AOS interview inconsistencies (Stokes referral)

09:11 – Tip 4: ESTA cancellation glitches

09:43 – Tip 5: DACA advance parole delays

10:41 – Tip 6: RFEs over "arrested" vs. "detained" wording

12:52 – Tip 7: Translator spam & in-house AI software overload

14:23 – Immigrant visa refusal over credit card debt (public charge)

16:38 – Sponsor: Constellation (marketing/SEO)

18:17 – Growing list of visa bond countries

20:00 – Wrap-up & outro

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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

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On this episode of the Immigration Lawyers Toolbox Podcast, John sits down with Nicholas Mireles, Esq., who's running for re-election as AILA Regional Director for the West Coast under AILA's newly restructured governance model. They dig into the mounting stress and anxiety of practicing immigration law under the current administration, why setting cost-benefit boundaries around which cases you take is the key to protecting your sanity and your sleep, and how the always-on nature of this work demands real emotional boundaries. They also recap AILA National in San Diego, from the swag that actually lasted to the shift toward more organic, relationship-driven elections, and look ahead to next year's conference in DC.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Opening

00:33 – Intro

04:02 – Catching up with Nicholas

05:38 – Sleep, health, and managing practice-related stress

07:16 – Handling stress/anxiety as an immigration attorney

09:11 – Emotional toll of the work vs. "sociopath" leadership tangent

10:11 – Transition to AILA regional director race

10:19 – What AILA's new "Regional Director" role is

12:05 – How the new board structure works (from ~100 seats to ~26)

13:16 – Old vs. new board structure comparison

14:29 – How voting works now (XCOM, secretary, regional seats)

16:03 – Timing change: election now happens after conference

17:20 – New campaign style: meet people in person vs. mailers

20:38 – Sponsor: Constellation Marketing (free website offer) + community page plug

21:03 – Outro

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Follow eimmigration by Cerenade: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn Start your Business Immigration Practice! (US LAWYERS ONLY - SCREENING REQUIRED):

• E-2 Course

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• Join our community (Lawyers Only)

• Get Started in Immigration Law! The Marriage/Family-Based Green Card course is for you

Our Website: ImmigrationLawyersToolbox.com

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What does AI actually mean for the future of immigration law? John Khosravi sits down with Roman Zelichenko, J.D. to unpack the biggest takeaways from AILA's Annual Conference, from AI's growing role in immigration practices and the anxiety it's creating for small and solo firms, to Project Firewall audits reportedly up 40% from prior years, USCIS officer burnout straight from the source, and the surprising rise of AI generated leads for law firms even as organic content views decline. It's a candid look at where immigration law, marketing, and technology are headed in 2026.

Show Notes: Visit get.eimmigration.com/ILT

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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

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