USCIS UPDATE: As of March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has suspended routine in-person services until at least April 1 to help slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This includes any scheduled appointments, interviews, InfoPass appointments, asylum interviews and fingerprint appointments (Application Support Center). USCIS will send notices to any scheduled appointment that was […]
With new reports of individuals infected with the virus on the rise daily, the immigration system at large has begun to feel the effects. USCIS has started shutting down offices, causing further delays in case processing. USCIS closed its Seattle Field Office on March 3rd after learning one of its officers visited a Care Center […]
The Supreme Court ruled on Monday to allow the Trump Administration’s public charge rule to go into effect. Under this new approved policy, immigration officials can deny green card applications for immigrants who have used public benefits. Immigrants applying for lawful permanent resident status must now show they wont be a public charge – or […]
the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that Iranian nationals are no longer eligible for E-1 treaty trader and E-2 treaty investor changes or extensions of status based on that treaty. This change comes due to the October 3, 2018 termination of the 1955 Treat of Amity, Economic Relationship, and Consular Rights with […]
The Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) Act was passed December 2019 as a small subsection in the national Defense Authorization Act. The LRIF Act has opened a one-year window for eligible Liberians to apply for adjustment of status. This window closes December 20, 2020. Due to the civil war that broke out in Liberia in […]
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new regulation that would drastically change eligibility for asylum seekers to obtain employment authorization. PROPOSED NEW RULE 1)A person seeking asylum will be denied a work permit if they entered the U.S. without inspection at a port of entry. This rule would apply not only to new […]
EMAILS SENT BY Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials expose how ICE used social media information gleaned by for-profit data brokers to track down and arrest an immigrant in Southern California. In the emails, which were disclosed in federal court filings, officials discussed the relationship status of the person, noting that he was “broken hearted,” according to Facebook […]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual to clarify the effect of travel outside the United States by Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries who are subject to removal proceedings – specifically those with final orders who depart the U.S. and return with an advanced parole travel document. TPS beneficiaries in removal proceedings who […]
USCIS recently issued a policy alert expanding the guidance on unlawful acts that determine an applicant’s eligibility for good moral character (GMC) for naturalization purposes. These changes can greatly affect an applicant meeting the GMC requirement for naturalization. The expanded policy went into effect on December 13, 2019. Policy highlights include: Expands existing guidance on […]
USCIS has announced a new electronic registration process for H-1B visas for fiscal year 2021. The new e-registration now comes with a $10 online processing fee. Employers and Organizations looking to file H-1B petitions must first electronically register and pay the processing fee before filing for the visa. USCIS is hoping this online registration will […]
