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 […]
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) released a memo about the role’s attorneys in immigration court. Specifically, about the role attorneys can have when assisting individuals in court but not fully representing them. The EOIR memo, Legal Advocacy By Non-Representatives in Immigration Court, released on November 21, 2019, specifically addresses the agencies that provide […]
The Trump administration has begun deporting migrants who seek refuge in the U.S. to Guatemala. This comes as part of an agreement with the Guatemalan government aimed at requiring asylum-seekers from other countries to request protection in the Central American country. Guatemala is a country known for having one of the highest rates of poverty […]
November 14, 2019 the Trump Administration proposed increasing the cost of applying for many types of immigration benefits. Under the new proposal, which is the latest in a series of rule changes by the government to restrict legal immigration, low-income immigrants will have difficulty affording the cost. The fees for citizenship would increase by more […]
