Insights
Articles, legal updates and videos on immigration, business and international law, with dates and official sources. Newest first.
Type
Practice area
Visa or form
109 items
- INTERPOL Silver Notices: the 2025 Pilot, Asset Tracing and What Comes in 2026How the Silver Notice pilot works, who can be named, what the reported numbers mean, and the safeguards for a person whose assets are traced.
- Overcoming the 3 and 10-Year U.S. Immigration BarsWho the law protects from the 3 and 10-year unlawful presence bars, and what those exceptions do not cover.
- I-485 vs. DS-260: The High-Stakes Green Card Choice for Children of Permanent Residents With an OverstayWhy a past overstay can block adjustment of status for a green card holder's child, and why consular processing before age 18 is often the safer route.
- Important Notice: Tax Payment History May Affect Your U.S. Citizenship ApplicationWhy unfiled returns and unpaid taxes matter on Form N-400, what the USCIS Policy Manual says, and what to check before you apply for citizenship.
- U.S. and Virginia Elections: A Short AssessmentA short assessment for our neighbours: the results of the 3 November 2026 midterms and the likely agenda for the next two years.
- Getting paid by U.S. buyers: a guide for Turkish exporters and sellersGetting paid by U.S. buyers: pick payment terms that fit the risk, use a U.S.-ready contract, screen the buyer, and act on unpaid invoices.
- Extradition vs. deportation in U.S. law: who decides, what is tested, where the person goesA side-by-side comparison of U.S. extradition and removal (deportation): who starts each process, what the decision-maker tests, detention, appeals and protection claims.
- Why extradition requests are denied: grounds for refusal in treaties and U.S. practiceThe grounds on which an extradition request is refused, compared across the 1979 U.S.-Turkey treaty and the 1957 European Convention, and why a refusal does not always end the matter.
- U.S. extradition treaties: which countries have them?U.S. extradition treaties: how to check whether one exists, what it covers, what the 1979 U.S.–Turkey treaty says, and what can happen with no treaty.
- Extradition request: your rights and the main defensesExtradition rights and defenses: what a person named in a request can do in the U.S., which defenses the law recognizes and who decides each one.
- How extradition works in the U.S.: steps, deadlines and who decidesHow U.S. extradition works: the steps from the foreign request to the Secretary of State's decision, and what the person sought can do at each step.
- DHS fixed admission period rule for F and J: what it says and where it standsWhat the 2026 DHS final rule on fixed admission periods for F and J nonimmigrants says, and its status after the 14 September 2026 court order.
- Copycat Brands Online: Why Trademark Protection Matters More in the AI EraTrade Dress Protection in the U.S., and How Certification Marks Differ
- How ECtHR judgments are enforced: the Committee of Ministers and Article 46How a final European Court of Human Rights judgment is executed: Article 46, the Committee of Ministers, communications from the applicant and the infringement procedure.
- Form I-589: how to apply for asylum in the U.S. (2026)Form I-589: who files where, the one-year deadline, the fees in force from 16 October 2026, and how to fill in the parts that decide a case.
- Don't Lose Your Investment: Why E-2 Visas FailE-2 for Turkish investors
- Getty v. Stability AI: Trademark and Copyright LessonsGetty v. Stability AI: the UK High Court's November 2025 decision, where the California case stands, and what the watermark findings mean for users.
- How to Remove an Unjust Interpol Red NoticeINTERPOL Red Notice: how to find out and how to ask for deletion
- You've Started Trading with America... But Will You Get Paid? (in Turkish)Getting paid by U.S. buyers: a guide for Turkish exporters and sellers
- When Can Extradition Be Denied? | U.S. & International Law ExplainedHow extradition works in the U.S.: steps, deadlines and who decides
- MANDAMUS vs HABEAS CORPUSDelayed USCIS case (mandamus)
- Important Cap-Gap Update for F-1 StudentsFrom F-1 and OPT to H-1B: cap-gap, the 2026 student rule and the H-1B lottery
- Deported Without Seeing a Judge? Here's How to Stop It!In absentia removal orders: what they mean and how to reopen one
- In absentia removal orders: what they mean and how to reopen oneIn absentia removal order: what happens when you miss an immigration court hearing, the two ways to reopen, deadlines and fees from 1 October 2026.
- Federal Court Blocks Trump's $100,000 H-1B Visa FeeH-1B
- How to Get Turkish Citizenship by Investment (Avoid Costly Mistakes!)Turkish citizenship by investment: the 2026 rules and the E-2 question
- Turkish citizenship by investment: the 2026 rules and the E-2 questionTurkish citizenship by investment: the seven routes in the regulation, the steps, and why a new Turkish passport does not itself open the E-2 route.
- What Amazon Doesn't Tell You About Account SuspensionsAmazon and Etsy Account Suspensions: What the Seller Terms Say and How to Appeal
- Is a Will Prepared in the US Valid in Turkey?Family & Estate
- Counterfeit Check Scams: How to Protect Your BusinessCounterfeit check scams: how overpayment scams reach businesses, why a deposited check can be fake after funds show as available, and what to do.
- How to Maintain Your Nonimmigrant Status in the U.S.Nonimmigrant status: the habits that keep a visitor, student or worker in lawful status, and what can end it.
- May 2026 Visa Bulletin: Is EB-2 NIW Really “Current”?EB-1A and EB-2 NIW
- Divorcing Before Your Asylum-Based Green Card Is ApprovedDivorce before an asylee green card: what changes for a derivative asylee spouse with a pending application, and which routes remain.
- Affirmative Asylum Interview: Frequently Asked QuestionsAffirmative asylum interview questions: family, interpreter, attorney, documents and what happens next, answered before a USCIS interview.
- How to Stop an Illegal Arrest: Your Ultimate "Habeas Corpus" GuideICE detention and habeas
- Prenuptial Agreement: Do You Need One?Texas premarital agreement: what it can cover, what it cannot change and what to settle before you sign.
- Is a U.S. divorce valid in Turkey? (in Turkish)Turkish-law matters
- Marital Settlement Agreement: How to Draft It WellTexas divorce settlement agreement: how it is reached and approved, and the terms that most often cause trouble after the decree.
- ECtHR Rule 47: what makes an application form complete and what happens if it is notWhat Rule 47 of the European Court of Human Rights' Rules of Court requires of an individual application, how the Practice Direction applies it and what follows if a form falls short.
- BIA Appeal Deadline: 30 Days After 2026 Rule Was VacatedBIA appeal deadline today: why the 2026 change to 10 days is not in effect, and what to check before appealing to the Board of Immigration Appeals.
- Asylum Application in the US: How a Turkish Law Report Can Strengthen Your Case (in Turkish)Asylum evidence and support letters: what to gather and how to write them
- EB-1A Final Merits Ruling: Mukherji v. Miller (Nebraska)EB-1A final merits ruling: what the Nebraska federal court decided in Mukherji v. Miller, what it does and does not change, and what followed.
- H-1B FY 2027 cap registration: dates, selection rules and what happened nextWhat the FY 2027 H-1B cap registration period was, how selection worked under the weighted rule, and what has happened since, as of 3 November 2026.
- From F-1 and OPT to H-1B: cap-gap, the 2026 student rule and the H-1B lotteryF-1 OPT to H-1B: how cap-gap bridges OPT to an H-1B start date, where the postponed 2026 student rule stands, and how H-1B selection now works.
- Common Clauses You’ll Find in Commercial ContractsBusiness Contracts in the U.S.: A Practical Guide for Owners
- Flagged by a Private Risk Database? What It MeansPrivate risk-intelligence database: why a name can appear in one, how to ask what is listed and how this differs from a government sanctions list.
- State Department Immigrant Visa Pause: Who Is AffectedImmigrant visa pause: what the January 2026 pause covered, which countries were listed, and where it stands after the August 2026 ruling and appeal.
- Applying to the European Court of Human Rights from the U.S.Applying to the ECtHR from the U.S.: who can apply, the four-month deadline, the Rule 47 form, the first step for Turkey and what follows a judgment.
- Family-Based Petition and Priority DatesFamily-based green cards
- USCIS Photo Requirements for EAD (Form I-765)USCIS photo requirements for an Employment Authorization Document application, and how to check your photos.
- L-1 Visa to Green Card TransitionL-1 intracompany transfer
- Human Rights Cases at ECHR & UN: Seeking Justice Beyond National CourtsHuman rights (ECtHR / UN)
- Do I need a will? U.S. and Turkey rules for families in both countriesDo you need a will? What a will does, what happens without one in Texas, which assets it does not control, and how Turkish law treats property there.
- Why You Need a Will: Protect Your Loved Ones & Plan for the Future | Estate Planning BasicsDo I need a will? U.S. and Turkey rules for families in both countries
- TN Visa for Canadians & MexicansTN (Canada / Mexico)
- How to Start an LLC in the U.S. | Company Formation Made Simple with Merit LawU.S. company formation
- Red Notice or INTERPOL Diffusion and a Delayed Background CheckWhy a case can stay pending while security checks run, what is and is not documented about the effect of a Red Notice or diffusion, and the lawful options.
- INTERPOL Red Notice: how to find out and how to ask for deletionINTERPOL Red Notice: how to learn whether INTERPOL holds data on you, the grounds the CCF uses to delete a notice, and the deadlines it works to.
- Extradition & Interpol Red Notices: Your Rights and Legal Defenses ExplainedExtradition and INTERPOL
- How to Write a Support Letter or Declaration for an Asylum ApplicantHow a relative, friend, employer or community member writes a support letter or declaration for someone who is applying for asylum.
- Asylum evidence and support letters: what to gather and how to write themAsylum evidence: corroboration, translations, country reports and letters from people who know you, organised the way officers read a file.
- Trademark Basics: How to Legally Protect Your Brand Name, Logo, or SloganTrademark and copyright
- Green Card to U.S. Citizenship: Your Complete Immigration Path ExplainedCitizenship
- Strong Agreements for Lasting Business Protection | Merit LawContracts and partnerships
- What is OFAC? U.S. Sanctions Explained SimplyOFAC and sanctions
- E-1 & E-2 Investor Visas: Start or Trade with a U.S. Business — Here's HowE-1 / E-2 treaty investor
- E-1 & E-2 Investor Visas: Start or Trade with a U.S. Business — Here's HowE-1 Treaty Trader Visa: Who Qualifies and How to Apply
- H-1B, H-2, O-1, L-1, P-1 & R-1: Find the Right PathO-1
- Seeking Asylum in the U.S.? Know Your Rights and the Process ExplainedAsylum and removal defense
- Employment-Based Immigration: How Your Skills Can Help You Work & Live in the U.SEmployment green cards: EB-1, EB-2 NIW and PERM compared (2026)
- EB-2 National Interest Waiver: The Dhanasar Test in DetailHow USCIS decides an EB-2 national interest waiver petition and what each of the three Dhanasar prongs asks the petitioner to show.
- PERM Labor Certification: How the Employer's Process Works Step by StepWhat the employer must do and document in a PERM labor certification, and what happens after the Labor Department decides.
- EB-1 Green Card: Extraordinary Ability, Outstanding Researcher and Multinational Manager ComparedWhat separates EB-1A, EB-1B and EB-1C, who files for each, the evidence each needs and how the categories differ from other routes.
- Employment green cards: EB-1, EB-2 NIW and PERM compared (2026)Employment-based green card: three routes (EB-1, EB-2 NIW, PERM), who can file each, what it costs and how long government steps take in 2026.
- E-2 Treaty Investor Visa: Requirements, Costs and StepsE-2 visa: what consular officers and USCIS test, what the government charges in 2026, and how to build an E-2 file from Turkey or inside the U.S.
- Can banks close your accounts without giving a reason? Can you object? (in Turkish)Data removal (AML)
- I-730 Asylee Relative Petition During Removal ProceedingsForm I-730 in removal proceedings: how an asylee's spouse or child can receive derivative asylee status, and how the removal case can end.
- REAL ID for Immigrants and Asylum Seekers: A GuideREAL ID for noncitizens: which IDs work for domestic flights, how to spot a REAL ID, and what to bring to the DMV.
- Trademark, Copyright or Patent: Which U.S. Right Protects WhatWhat trademark, copyright and patent each protect in the U.S., how each right starts, and what a registration or a grant changes.
- How to Expedite an Asylum Interview With a Mandamus ActionExpedite an asylum interview: the legal timelines, how USCIS schedules interviews, how to ask for an earlier date and when a delay suit is considered.
- Principal Register vs Supplemental Register: What a Trademark Registration Gives YouHow a Supplemental Register registration differs from a Principal Register one, who can use it, and what the five-year route to the Principal Register requires.
- How to Choose a Strong Trademark: Distinctiveness, Conflicts and Common PitfallsHow to pick a brand name that the USPTO can register and that you can defend, using the distinctiveness scale and the checks that come before filing.
- Non-Competes and Other Contract Restrictions Under Texas LawHow Texas decides whether a non-compete or similar restriction in a contract is enforceable, what a court can do with an overbroad clause, the 2025 health care changes and why the federal FTC rule no longer applies.
- Ending a Contract: Termination Clauses, Material Breach and NoticeThe practical routes for ending a business contract, what a Texas court asks when one side ends it for breach, and the notice steps to check before sending a termination letter.
- USPTO Trademark Search: How to Run a Clearance Search with the Current SystemHow to search for conflicting marks in the USPTO's current Trademark Search system, which replaced TESS, and which other sources a clearance search needs.
- Group Registration of Unpublished Works (GRUW)GRUW group registration: who can use the Copyright Office's option for unpublished works, what it costs today, how to file and points to check.
- Interpreter Rules for USCIS and Immigration InterviewsUSCIS interview interpreter rules: who may interpret, who may not, how Form G-1256 works and how asylum, naturalization and credible fear differ.
- F-1 Statement of Purpose for a Change of StatusF-1 statement of purpose: how to write the optional letter that explains who you are, why you chose this school and why your stay is temporary.
- F-1 Student Visa: Requirements and How to ApplyF-1 student visa steps, from school acceptance to the visa interview, and what to do if you are already in the U.S. in another status.
- H-1B Visa Requirements for Working in the U.S.H-1B visa requirements for worker and employer: the cap, registration and weighted selection for fiscal year 2027, cap-exempt employers and 2026 fees.
- Bona Fide Marriage: Writing a Support Letter for FriendsBona fide marriage support letter: what the term means to USCIS and how a friend or relative can write a clear, truthful letter for a couple’s case.
- Surrendering a Trademark Registration: Process, Effects and AlternativesHow a trademark owner surrenders a federal registration for cancellation, what it ends and keeps, and the different rule that applies during a cancellation proceeding.
- Certification Marks: Who Owns Them, How to Register and How They EndWhat makes a U.S. certification mark different from a trademark or collective mark, what the USPTO requires to register one, and the duties that continue after registration.
- Fraud in Contract Law: The Texas Elements, Fraudulent Inducement and RelianceWhat a party must show to prove fraud in a Texas contract dispute, how fraudulent inducement works, when written terms or warning signs defeat a fraud claim, and the time limit.
- Copyright Infringement and the Substantial Similarity TestCopyright infringement under 17 U.S.C. 501: how courts test substantial similarity, how fair use differs and the registration step before a lawsuit.
- Bail Bond Cosigner: Your Role and Your RisksBail bond cosigner in Texas: what the role is responsible for, what happens if the defendant misses court and how the role can end.
- Green Card for the Spouse of a Green Card Holder: StepsGreen card for a green card holder's spouse (F2A): how the petition works, how the visa-number wait works, and when a U.S. spouse can file at once.
- Citizenship for Green Card Holders: What to Do NextCitizenship for green card holders: when to apply, residence and physical-presence rules, N-400 fees, the 2025 civics test, children and travel.
- Common Law Trademark Rights: What Use Alone Gives You and Where It StopsHow trademark rights arise from use without registration, how far they reach, how federal registration changes the picture for earlier users, and when the rights end.
- Airbnb Dispute: Legal Options for Guests and HostsAirbnb dispute: how a dispute with Airbnb, a host or a guest is handled under Airbnb's Terms, and which deadlines to watch.
- Business Contracts in the U.S.: A Practical Guide for OwnersBusiness contracts: formation, decisive clauses, restrictive covenants, ending a contract and fraud, Texas rules and U.S.–Turkey deals.
- Green Card for the Spouse of a U.S. Citizen: StepsGreen card for a U.S. citizen's spouse: the steps in the U.S. and abroad, and what changes for K-3 visas, stepchildren and conditional green cards.
- E-1 Treaty Trader Visa: Who Qualifies and How to ApplyE-1 treaty trader visa for companies already trading goods or services between their treaty country and the U.S.: the tests, evidence and 2026 fees.
- Etsy Account Suspension: Reasons, Rules and How Appeals WorkWhat Etsy's own Terms, Seller Policy and help pages say about suspended accounts, removed listings and appeals, and which Etsy entity and law govern the contract.
- Amazon and Etsy Account Suspensions: What the Seller Terms Say and How to AppealAmazon seller account suspension: why accounts are deactivated, what Amazon's Business Solutions Agreement and Etsy's Terms allow, and how to appeal.
- Copyright Registration Benefits for Your Original WorksCopyright registration benefits: what copyright gives you without registration, what registration adds, why timing matters for damages and the fee.
- Trademark Renewal: Section 8, Section 9 and Section 15 FilingsHow to keep a U.S. federal trademark registration alive: the filing windows, what each declaration must say, the fees as of November 2026 and what happens after a missed deadline.
- U.S. Trademark Registration: A Guide for Brand OwnersU.S. trademark registration: choosing a mark that can register, searching it, filing with the USPTO and keeping the registration alive.
- Trade Dress Protection in the U.S., and How Certification Marks DifferTrade dress protection: when packaging, product shape or a shop's look can be protected, what you must prove, and how certification marks work.
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