Since the last evacuation in Afghanistan, over 68,000 Afghan allies are being housed on Department of Defense bases awaiting resettlement. On October 25, 2021 the State Department announced that they were partnering with Community Sponsorship Hub to launch the “Sponsor Circle Program.” This program allows groups of five Americans to join together to provide resettlement […]
On October 20, 2021 USCIS issued a policy alert wherein they gave updated guidance as to how T-visa applications should be adjudicated. It provides comprehensive guidance on eligibility requirements, evidentiary standards, burdens of proof, admissibility, and travel considerations. Specifically, USCIS: Clarifies that the age-based exemption to the requirement to comply with reasonable requests for assistance […]
As part of the credit card payment pilot program, USCIS has extended the program to the Vermont Service Center. Now petitioners filing Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker for O and P nonimmigrants can pay filing fees using this program. In order to pay by credit card, petitioners must file Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit […]
The Biden administration is preparing to restart a Trump-era policy regarding asylum-seekers, wherein asylum seekers must remain in Mexico until their asylum hearing date in the U.S. This policy was denounced by the Biden administration and now they are looking to reinstate it as long as the Mexican government accepts. While the administration is bringing […]
The White House reported that starting on November 8 the COVID-19 travel restrictions will be lifted. This ends a historic ban on travel that barred much of the world from entering the US for around 21 months. This restriction kept millions of visitors from China, Mexico, Brazil, and Europe out of the United States amid […]
Operation Allies Welcome has finished a vaccination campaign for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and varicella for Afghan evacuees who are temporarily staying at eight military installations in the United States. In result to this effort more than 49,000 Afghan evacuees nationwide are now vaccinated. Evacuees are also receiving vaccinations at staging areas in Europe and […]
On October 12, 2021 US House Representatives Lofgren and Johnson introduced the Cameroon TPS Act of 2021, which would designate Cameroon for TPS for 18 months. This would allow Cameroonians in the United States to file applications for TPS as of the date of enactment. TPS or Temporary Protected Status is intended to protect foreign […]
The Department of Homeland Security recently formed the Law Enforcement Coordination Council (LECC). This is the department’s first unified law enforcement coordination body to assess law enforcement matters including law enforcement policies and trainings. Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas will chair the LECC. The LECC will form two subcommittees. The first one will review department-wide […]
On September 28, 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas along with Secretary of State Blinken designated Croatia as a new participant in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). The VWP is a comprehensive security partnership between the US and other designated countries that allows international travel to the US for business or tourism without a visa […]
September 17, 2021 was Constitution and Citizenship Day. USCIS celebrated this day by welcoming over 21,000 new citizens across its field offices from September 17-23. The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787 and the observance of the day began in 1940. In 1952, President Harry Truman signed into law that September 17 also […]
