Cheryl David Hosts Webinar on NTAs and Removal Basics

On January 13, 2026, immigration attorney Cheryl David presented a timely webinar titled “NTAs 101: Removal Basics for Employment-Based Practitioners” with the Latin America and Caribbean Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. The session was geared toward employment-based immigration lawyers and practitioners who have been grappling with a noticeable uptick in Notices to Appear (NTAs) in recent months.

The webinar responded to a trend that has caught many in the field off guard: NTAs being issued in situations that previously did not commonly trigger removal proceedings, including for lateral hires caught in the post-termination 60-day “discretionary” grace period, and for Adjustment of Status applicants who are waiting on a decision but lack an underlying nonimmigrant status. For many employers and foreign national employees, those scenarios can feel like they should be “safe” interim periods. The event tackled why the reality can be more complicated and higher-risk than people assume.

Framed as both an academic and “in-the-trenches” deep dive, the presentation walked attendees through the what, why, and how of the NTA process, with an emphasis on practical planning. Topics included the distinction between having a status that allows someone to extend, change, or adjust, versus being considered removable, even when a timely filing is pending with USCIS. Cheryl also covered the NTA timeline from receipt to court hearing to disposition, including an important question many clients ask right away: Does receiving an NTA automatically mean someone is already in removal proceedings?

Other key discussion points included what happens if a new I-797 approval is issued before a court date is set, how discretionary vs. regulatory grace periods work across visa types, and the consequences of an overstay, even for individuals with a pending Adjustment of Status. The webinar also addressed NTAs involving F-1 and J-1 status holders, along with dual representation and ethical considerations that can arise when employers and employees both have stakes in the outcome.