On September 4, 2021 USCIS issued a news release that they are extending the time period that receipt notices can be used to show evidence of status for conditional lawful permanent residents (“CLPRs”). USCIS extended the time CLPRs could use their receipt notices for Form I-751 or Form I-829 from 18 months to 24 months. […]
Beginning August 12, 2021, USCIS is extending the validity period for the Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. This extension is a temporary response due to the delays in processing amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. USCIS has extended the validity period of the form to four (4) years from the original two (2) […]
In the case of Vangala et al. v. USCIS et al., No. 4:20-cv-0814(N.D. Cal.). USCIS reached an agreement which allows certain individuals to receive updated receipt dates for resubmitted immigration benefit applications or petitions originally rejected under the former “No Blank Space” rejection policy. Under this policy, USCIS could reject filings with any blank fields […]
Last week, ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) announced that a new policy will be put in place that is designed to protect vulnerable immigrants. These protections are for survivors of violence, trafficking, and domestic abuse. In this policy it constrains ICE, in most circumstances, from taking actions against Individuals with pending applications for victim-based […]
Earlier this week USCIS had announced that applicants filing for lawful permanent resident status (LPR) are also able to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) or replacement card as part of their adjustment of status application process. How the system worked previously, were these individuals had to apply for a Social Security number at […]
The US Department of State has designated a US Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) Priority 2 (P-2) designation for certain Afghan nationals and their eligible family members. The objective of this designation is to provide certain Afghan nationals who worked with the US an opportunity for refugee resettlement in light of the Taliban violence. This would […]
Customs and Border Patrol (“CBP”) launched an app called CBP One in October 2020. This app was created by CBP to streamline the I-94 process at borders. The three main uses for the app as stated by CBP are to: merchants can make appointments for cargo inspection, foreign travelers can apply for I-94 records, and […]
USCIS has created a pilot program wherein they will start accepting credit card payments for certain applicants. These applicants are: U nonimmigrants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status; and Petitioners filing Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers with premium processing or when filing a Form I-907 to upgrade an […]
On July 20, 2021, USCIS issued a policy alert stating that applicants who are in the process of changing their status to F-1 no longer need to apply to change or extend their nonimmigrant status to “bridge the gap” between the two statuses. Previously, applicants who wanted to change their status to F-1 had to […]
As a part of the initial items on its legislative agenda, the Biden administration and congressional Democrats have proposed two pieces of legislation aimed at immigration reform. One proposed act is HR 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. This Act predominantly considers the reshaping of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and […]
