Students coming to study in the United States are often excited at the prospect of many years of hard work and preparation finally coming to fruition. If you are attending an Illinois university this fall, you may have many questions about what your student visa allows you to do now that you are here. If you have not yet applied to an Illinois university, you likely have questions about student visas and perhaps even what your options may be once your studies are through. Whatever your situation may be, you can get help from an Illinois immigration attorney who knows the law and can answer your questions.

F-1 and M-1 Student Visas

An F-1 student visa allows a student to come to the U.S. and attend an accredited college or training program and work towards a degree or certificate. An M-1 student visa is similar to an F-1 student visa, except that it allows students to attend non-academic programs, such as vocational training in mechanics, cosmetology, or a similar non-academic field.

F-1 student visa holders can usually only work for their university during the first year. Even with on-campus work, not any job will do; the job must generally be located on the university’s campus and the student must be paid from their university’s payroll. Students cannot work more than 20 hours per week during the school year, but they may work more than 20 hours between semesters or during summer vacation. Any off-campus work must usually be related to the student’s area of study and needs to be authorized beforehand.

Research suggests that almost half of everyone who turns 65 after the year 1990 will live in a nursing home at some point before their death. Unfortunately, the research on the prevalence of nursing home abuse and neglect also suggests that these are very common, especially for older adults who have limitations on cognitive and physical functioning (such as Alzheimer’s disease or mobility issues).

If you have a loved one in an Illinois nursing home, it is especially important to be on the lookout for the following signs of abuse if he or she is highly dependent on staff for their daily needs. If you notice any of these apply to your loved one, contact an Illinois personal injury attorney right away.

Warning Signs of Nursing Home Abuse

Abuse comes in many forms, and it is important to be aware of the types of abuse that commonly occur in nursing homes. These include:

Just two months after the Supreme Court authorized the Executive Branch’s authority to do so, the Biden administration made an announcement early last month that it would be ending an immigration policy that required individuals from Central and South America seeking asylum in the United States to stay in Mexico while their cases waited for a chance to be heard in court.

Moving forward, no further applicants will be enrolled in the so-called “Remain in Mexico” program and applicants will no longer have to go back to Mexico in between hearings. Officials stated that the policy imposes “unjustifiable” costs to both human rights, as well as limited border security resources.

What is the Policy for U.S. Asylum Seekers Now?

People seeking asylum in the United States come after being persecuted because of their political opinions, religious beliefs, race, nationality, or membership in social groups. Asylum seekers face real harm, including extrajudicial torture and killings in many high-risk areas. The United States recognizes that people sometimes need protection and offers that protection to legitimate victims of persecution or potential persecution.

A divorce is often a time of serious contention between parents of underage children. Despite the parents’ history of disagreements and distrust, they must find a way to work together to co-parent their children after the divorce. Sometimes, parents can do this. Other times, it is simply not possible.

When parents cannot cooperate and negotiate a parenting plan themselves, a judge will intervene and make decisions for them. Parents may be understandably wary that a judge, who has no previous history with the family and is encountering each parent’s narrative for the first time, will be able to make decisions that are truly in a child’s best interests. In situations like this, it is important to understand the criteria Illinois judges are required to use as they collect information about families and try to determine an optimal outcome.

Does a Judge Have Full Discretion in Custody Cases?

If parents cannot create a parenting plan and the matter comes before a judge, the judge is the person with final say over the outcome of the case. Whether parents agree with a judge’s decisions or not, court-ordered parenting plans are legally binding. Unless a parent believes a judge misapplied the law or seriously misunderstood the facts, a decision cannot be appealed.

Immediately after a serious car accident with injuries, it can be very difficult to think clearly. Your first priority has to be getting off the road and out of harm’s way. You may not yet feel the pain from your injuries due to the natural painkilling effects of adrenaline. Calling the police, getting medical care, exchanging insurance information, and contacting an attorney are all high priorities.

Another top-level priority in the immediate aftermath is making contact with bystanders who saw the accident so that they can corroborate your side of the story. Neutral eyewitnesses can provide very convincing testimony or statements that support your efforts to recover compensation. It is important to get contact information from anyone who saw the accident as soon as possible so that your lawyer can get in touch with them.

Approaching Bystanders Who Saw Your Crash

Not all eyewitnesses are happy to stick around and help out. There are a variety of reasons that passersby may not be interested in making a statement. They could be in a big rush that day and unwilling to stop. Or, they could have an arrest warrant and be more interested in getting out of there before the police arrive than they are in your claim. This is to be expected.