Immigration Law & the Transgender Client was co-written by Immigration Equality and the Transgender Law Center, and published by the American Immigration Lawyer's Association through the generous support of the Arcus Foundation.  Hard copies can be purchased online from AILA.

 

Immigration Law and the Transgender Client
Transgender immigrants face a broad array of legal issues, from obtaining legal status to securing immigration documents that correctly reflect their identity.  This manual combines two dynamic areas of law – transgender civil rights, and immigration law. Immigration Equality and the Transgender Law Center are incredibly proud of the work that went into this manual and it is our hope that it will help everyone navigating this unique area of the law. 

 

Detailed Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments

Chapter 1
1 Transgender Issues 101
1.1 Definitions
1.1.1 Gender Identity
1.1.2 Gender Expression
1.1.3 Transgender
1.1.4 Transition
1.1.5 Transsexual
1.1.6 Sexual Orientation
1.1.7 LGBT
1.1.8 Intersex
1.2 Tips on Showing Respect to Transgender Clients
1.2.1 Avoid Assumptions
1.2.2 Narrow the Issues
1.2.3 Access Community Resources
1.2.4 Use the Correct Name, Gender Marker, and Pronoun in All Correspondence and Filings
1.2.4.1 File in the Correct Name as Early in the Immigration Process as Possible
1.2.5 Make Sure Your Office Has Transgender-Friendly Policies
1.2.6 Always Be Respectful

Chapter 2
2 Immigration Law 101
2.1 Nonimmigrant Visas
2.1.1 Tourist/Business Visa
2.1.2 Visa Waiver Program
2.1.3 Student Visa
2.1.4 Work-Related Visas
2.1.5 Fiancé(e)Visas
2.2 Lawful Permanent Residence
2.2.1 Family-Based Applications
2.2.1.1 Immediate Relative Petitions
2.2.1.2 Family Preference Petitions
2.2.2 Employment-Based Applications
2.2.3 Diversity Visa Lottery
2.2.4 Asylee Adjustment
2.2.5 Special Categories
2.3 Determining Whether a Potential Client Is in the United States Lawfully
2.3.1 Effect of Being in the United States Unlawfully
2.3.2 Three- and Ten-Year Bars
2.3.3 Grandfathering Under INA §245(i)
2.4 Removal Proceedings
2.4.1 Suspension of Deportation
2.4.2 Cancellation of Removal
2.5 Employment Authorization
2.6 Social Security Numbers
2.7 Freedom of Information Act Request
2.8 Permanently Residing Under Color of Law
2.9 U.S.Citizenship

Chapter 3
3 Introduction to Identity Documents
3.1 State Court-Ordered Name and Gender Changes
3.1.1 Name Changes
3.1.1.1 Procedure
3.1.1.2 Requirements
3.1.2 Gender Changes
3.1.2.1 Purpose of a State Court Order Recognizing a Change of Gender
3.1.2.2 Sample State Court Procedure—California
3.1.2.3 Statutory Standard
3.1.2.4 Proper Documentation
3.1.2.5 Amending U.S.Birth Certificates
3.1.3 Amending Foreign Birth Certificates
3.2 Changing Name and/or Gender Demarcation on Immigration-RelatedIdentity Documents
3.2.1 Source of Law
3.2.1.1 Yates Memo
3.3 Changing Name and/or Gender on USCIS Identity Documents
3.3.1 Name Change on Naturalization Application
3.3.2 Application Delays
3.3.3 Appeals
3.4 U.S.Passports
3.4.1 Name Change
3.4.1.1 Name Change with Court-Ordered Name Change Within One Year of the Date of Issue of the Passport
3.4.1.2 Name Change with a Court-Ordered Name Change After One Year from the Date of Issue of the Passport
3.4.1.3 Name Change Without a Court-Ordered Name Change
3.4.2 Gender Change
3.4.3 Temporary Passports
3.4.4 Traveling with a Passport with an Incorrect Gender Marker

Chapter 4
4 Marriage-Based Petitions
4.1 Definition of Marriage Is State-Based
4.1.1 Adamsv. Howerton
4.1.2 BIA Cases Involving Public Policy Issues
4.2 The Federal Defense of Marriage Act
4.3 USCIS Policy on Transgender Marriage Cases
4.3.1 Ridge Memo4.3.2 Yates Memo
4.4 In re Lovo-Lara
4.4.1 Facts of Case
4.4.2 Analysis
4.4.2.1 DOMA Inapplicable
4.4.2.2. Sex Change Recognized
4.4.2.3 Marriage Recognized
4.5 Non-Precedential Decisions
4.5.1 In re Widener
4.5.2 In re Oren
4.5.3 In re Ahmad
4.5.4 Florida District Director Decision
4.6 Open Questions
4.6.1 Cases Where the Applicant Has Not Had Sex Reassignment Surgery
4.6.2 Cases Where It Is Not Possible to Obtain a Corrected Birth Certificate
4.6.3 Marriage in a State That Does Not Recognize Marriages Where a Spouse Is Transgender
4.6.4 Marriage in More than One Jurisdiction
4.6.5 Marriage in State That Permits Same-Sex Marriage
4.6.6 Homosexual-Identified Couple But No Surgery
4.6.7 Dual Transgender Couple
4.6.8 Same-Sex Couple in Jurisdiction That Does Not Recognize Sex Change
4.7 Application Process
4.7.1 Adjustment of Status
4.7.1.1 Marriage to a U.S. Citizen
4.7.1.2 Marriage to a Lawful Permanent Resident
4.7.2 Consular Processing
4.8 Application Components
4.8.1 Immigration Forms
4.8.2 Bona Fide Marriage Documentation
4.8.3 Opposite Sex Documentation
4.8.4 Medical Examination
4.8.4.1 HIV Ground of Inadmissibility
4.8.5 Adjustment Interview
4.8.5.1 Problems with the Officer
4.8.5.2 Follow-Up Process
4.8.5.2.1 InfoPass
4.8.5.2.2 Supervisor Letter
4.8.5.2.3 AILA Liaison
4.8.5.2.4 BIA Appeal
4.9 Conditional Residence
4.10 Naturalization

Chapter 5
5 Asylum
5.1 Benefits and Limitations of Asylum Status
5.2 Process of Applying for Asylum
5.2.1 Affirmative Application
5.2.1.1 Recommended Approval
5.2.1.2 Notice of Intent to Deny
5.3 Immigration Court—Removal Proceedings
5.3.1 Defensive Asylum Applications
5.3.1.1 Decision of the Immigration Judge
5.4 Appeals—The BIA
5.4.1 Appeals—Federal Court
5.5 Asylum—Sources of Law
5.5.1 Published Decisions Concerning Transgender Applicants
5.5.1.1 Hernandez-Montiel v. INS            
5.5.1.2 Reyes-Reyes v. Ashcroft
5.5.1.3 Ornelas-Chavez v. Gonzalez
5.5.1.4 Morales v. Gonzalez
5.6 Elements of an Asylum Claim
5.6.1 Membership in a Particular Social Group
5.6.2 Persecution
5.6.2.1 Past Persecution
5.6.2.2 Well-Founded Fear of Future Persecution
5.6.3 Nexus
5.6.4 Favorable Exercise of Discretion
5.7 One-Year Filing Deadline
5.7.1 Changed Circumstances Exception
5.7.2 Extraordinary Circumstances Exception
5.8 Withholding of Removal
5.9 Convention Against Torture Relief
5.10 Elements of an Asylum Application
5.10.1 Form I-589
5.10.2 Notice of Appearance Form
5.10.3 Declaration
5.10.4 Corroborating Documents
5.10.4.1 Medical Records
5.10.4.2 Mental Health Expert
5.10.5 Country Conditions
5.10.6 Expert Witness Report
5.10.7 Legal Brief

Chapter 6
6 Detention
6.1 Categories of Detained Immigrants
6.1.1 Arriving Aliens
6.1.2 Criminal Detainees
6.2 Mandatory Detention
6.3 Release from Detention
6.4 Relief for Detained Foreign Nationals
6.5 Detention Conditions for Transgender Foreign Nationals
6.5.1 ICE Standards
6.5.2 Housing
6.5.2.1 Administrative Segregation
6.5.3 Medical Care
6.5.4 Grievance Procedures
6.6 General Prison Litigation
6.6.1 Housing Cases
6.6.2 Confidentiality Cases
6.6.3 Medical Care Cases

APPENDICES
Appendix A: State Law Regarding Birth Certificates and Court Orders
Appendix B: Model Physician Declaration—Court Order
Appendix C: Model Physician Declaration—Passport
Appendix D: Model Surgeon Declaration—Court Order
Appendix E: Model Surgeon Declaration—Passport
Appendix F: Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (with instructions)
Appendix G: Yates Memo Regarding Transgender Immigration Applicants
Appendix H: Medical Examinations, Vaccinations, Waivers, and Designation of Civil Surgeons
Appendix I: Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal (with instructions)
Appendix J: Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appeariance as Attorney or Representative
Appendix K: Form EOIR-28, Notice of Entry of Appeariance as Attorney or Representative Before the Immigration Court