Immigration reform is coming. We don’t know yet what form it will take, but I expect to see Congress pass comprehensive reform legislation by the end of this year. If you are planning to help undocumented immigrants apply for the law’s benefits, now’s the time to begin your study of citizenship and immigration law. The best place to start is with the CUNY Advanced Immigration Law certificate program. The CUNY School of Professional Studies program is the most comprehensive citizenship and immigration law study program available. If you successfully complete the introductory course and two out of the four advanced courses you earn an Immigration Law Certificate. You can study online or in-class in Manhattan. You’ll need at least a four-year college degree to enroll.

This Fall’s online offerings are Introduction to Immigration Law and the advanced course, Citizenship and Naturalization Law. In-classrooms this Fall, SPS is offering Introduction to Immigration Law, Family Based Immigration Law, and Business Immigration law. SPS faculty include leading immigration law practitioners, former and current government attorneys and sitting immigration judges. Registration for the Fall semester closes August 16. For more information, go to www.sps.cuny.edu/immlaw, write to information@sps.cuny.edu, or call (212) 652-CUNY (2869).

Q: My husband in our same-sex marriage is Muslim. I am a permanent resident but I will soon become a U.S. citizen. He came here on a student visa. If I petition for him for permanent residence, will his being Muslim raise any special concerns?

My husband is still in lawful student status. I want to petition for him, but he fears that the interviewer might not believe that our marriage is bona fide because of his religion. Do you think that might happen?

Name withheld, Anaheim, CA

A: I’m confident that if your marriage is bona fide or “real,” USCIS will grant your husband permanent residence. USCIS recognizes that individuals have a variety of religious beliefs. Examiners shouldn’t treat you and your husband any different from applicants in other spouse-petitioning cases. While most USCIS examiners are fair and unbiased, some let their prejudices interfere with their obligation to treat all applicants equally no matter their race, religion, sexual orientation or philosophical views. In same-sex spouse cases, the USCIS has instructed examiners to apply the same standards applied in other spouse cases. Immigrants’ rights advocates are monitoring how USCIS is handling these cases. I look forward to hearing from same-sex spouses about their marriage case interviews.