Brenda L Seal

I am an attorney licensed in both Texas and Mexico, with a focus solely on U.S. immigration law. My background allows me to offer a unique cross-border cultural and legal perspective to each case I handle. As my client, you will receive direct attention from me rather than from paralegals. Being bilingual in English and Spanish, I am dedicated to providing clear, personal, and responsive legal guidance. It is my honor to assist you throughout your immigration journey.

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Texas

State Bar of Texas

ID Number: 24142239

Since 2024

Washington University in St. Louis

LL.M. (2019) | Legal

State Bar of Texas  # 24142239

Member

2024 - Current

Q. Is Consulate General of India marriage certificate enough for USCIS green card petition?

July 10, 2025

A: You need to make sure that the document you have corresponds to the one requested by the U.S. Department of State. You will need a Marriage Certificate, and the proper issuing authorities are the religious authorities and the Government Registrar of Marriages, which is usually located at the district headquarters.

The specific registration requirements may vary depending on your religion. Even if it was not required to register the marriage at the time, it may now be necessary to do so. You should visit the U.S. Department of State’s website, under the Visa Reciprocity and Civil Documents section, to confirm the type of marriage certificate required for your case. Here is the link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/India.html

Please note that joint bank accounts are not a substitute for a properly registered marriage certificate. However, they can help support evidence of a bona fide marriage.

Good luck! ... Read More

Q. Denied U.S. immigration application after administrative processing.

July 2, 2025

A: More information is needed to properly assess the case. The next step will depend on whether your spouse was applying for an immigrant visa (to permanently reside in the U.S.) or a nonimmigrant visa (such as a work, student, tourist visa, etc).

After a visa denial, the U.S. Consulate typically provides a brief notice with the reason for the decision. These notices are often vague, so it’s important to identify the specific ground of inadmissibility. Once we understand that, we can determine the best next steps.

U.S. consular officers have broad discretion to deny nonimmigrant visas, and in some cases, reapplying may be the best option—but not without first evaluating your case to understand what went wrong.

If the denial involved an immigrant visa, there may be other legal options available. Reviewing the denial notice and asking further questions is essential in order to move forward effectively.

Disclaimer: This message is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Each case is different. ... Read More

Q. How long for I-130 to reach NVC after filing?

June 16, 2025

A: Once your I-130 petition is approved, it typically takes between four to eight weeks for USCIS to forward it to the National Visa Center (NVC). After the NVC receives the petition, a “Welcome Letter” will be sent to the email address provided on the I-130 form, or to your mailing address if no email was listed. This letter contains your Case Number and Invoice ID, which you’ll use to log into the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC).

If your I-130 has been approved and you haven’t received any communication from the NVC after eight weeks, it's important to contact them. Your case may not have been forwarded due to one of the following reasons:

1.An administrative error by USCIS

2. The consular processing option was not selected (or left blank) on the I-130 form. If this happened, the USCIS may keep the petition. The I-130 approval notice will state if the petition was kept at USCIS or sent to NVC.

3. The file was lost in transit between USCIS and the NVC

Do not allow more than one year to pass after your case is created with the NVC. If there is no activity within that time, the NVC may begin the process of terminating your I-130 petition.

Good luck! ... Read More