The State Department announced an update to the USCIS Policy Manual. Now, children born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen married parent will be considered a U.S. citizen at birth as long as there is a genetic or gestational tie to either of the parents.. [ read more ]
The U.S. Consulate General in Ciudad Juarez has resumed routine immigrant visa operations… [ read more ]
DOS provided an update stating that consular appointments are scheduled using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications and consular sections, where possible, are scheduling some appointments within all four priority tiers every month… [ read more ]
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants.. [ read more ]
USCIS has created a new Lockbox Filing Location Updates page on their website for customers to keep track of updates they make to lockbox filing locations… [ read more ]
USCIS recently cut production of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD’s) and Green Cards after its contract ended with a third-party printing company… [ read more ]
USCIS is providing additional time to respond to notices such as Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny when such notice has an issuance date between March 1 and July 1, 2020, inclusive… [ read more ]
USCIS has suspended routine in-person services like biometrics appointments and interviews through June 3rd. to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)… [ read more ]
Certain embassy and consular posts abroad have signaled that services may soon begin in the coming months, while others have begun rescheduling upcoming visa appointments… [ read more ]
On May 24th, President Trump imposed new travel restrictions on Brazil… [ read more ]
On March 27th, President Trump signed the CARES Act into law… [ read more ]
On April 3rd, the U.S. State Department announced that it is prioritizing in-person passport services for those who need a passport for a life-or-death emergency related to immediate international travel within 72 hours… [ read more ]
On March 18th, USCIS temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19)… [ read more ]
USCIS has extended the agency’s temporarily suspension of in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and Application Support Centers to help slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)… [ read more ]
On March 20, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced the immediate and temporary suspension of premium processing service for all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions until further notice due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)… [ read more ]
On Wednesday, March 18th, President Trump announced that the United States and Canada had agreed to close their border to most travel as the two countries seek to blunt the spread of the coronavirus… [ read more ]
Please note that effective today, March 18, 2020, USCIS is suspending in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers… [ read more ]
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has announced on March 9, 2020 that SEVP-certified schools may need to update their policies and procedures to address the evolving nature of the COVID-19 crisis… [ read more ]
On January 31, 2020, President Trump issued a Proclamation extending the existing “travel ban” to six (6) additional countries.. [ read more ]
White House issues Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus.. [ read more ]
On December 20, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new policy that requires most asylum.. [ read more ]
USCIS recently posted a policy memorandum that provides guidance to USCIS adjudicators regarding their discretion to deny an application.. [ read more ]
On May 17, 2018, the U.S. Attorney General ordered that immigration judges must make decisions on cases in front of the court, barring them from using “administrative closures.”.. [ read more ]
On May 22, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”), under Nepal’s designation… [ read more ]
USCIS reminded F-1 students on Optional Practical Training that transferring to another school or beginning study at another educational level automatically terminates their OPT.. [ read more ]
On May 11, 2018, USCIS published a policy memorandum related to the calculation of unlawful presence for those individuals in F, J and M status in the United States… [ read more ]
On May 14, 2018, USCIS will begin recalling approximately 8,543 Permanent Resident Cards due to a production error… [ read more ]
USCIS has announced that it will begin phasing in use of the U.S. Postal Service’s Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery service to mail Permanent Resident Cards and other secure documents beginning April 30, 2018… [ read more ]
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced on May 7, 2018 that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is creating a new program to refer all unauthorized border crossers to the U.S. Department of Justice for prosecution, ramping up his previous “zero tolerance” enforcement policies along the U.S.-Mexico border… [ read more ]
USCIS has announced that it has updated its policy on the acceptance of DNA evidence supporting sibling relationships… [ read more ]
President Donald Trump announced that he would end a work authorization program known as Deferred Enforced Departure for a small group of Liberians.. [ read more ]
The new mission statement is: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services administers the nation’s lawful immigration system, safeguarding its integrity and promise by efficiently and fairly adjudicating requests for immigration benefits while protecting.. [ read more ]
On January 9th, an Order was entered by a U.S. District Court, directing the government to maintain the DACA program on a nationwide basis, in part.. [ read more ]
The Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification has announced that on January 1, 2018, the earliest date on which an employer seeking an employment start date of.. [ read more ]
On Monday, January 8, 2018, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that it will terminate a temporary protected status program for nearly 200,000 Salvadorans in September 2019.. [ read more ]
DHS announced the termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Nicaragua with a termination date of January 5, 2019… [ read more ]
USCIS issued a policy memorandum entitled “The Significance of a Prior CIS Approval of a Nonimmigrant Petition in the Context of a Subsequent Determination Regarding Eligibility for Extension of Petition Validity.”.. [ read more ]
The acting director of U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced that he has given instructions to “ramp up” immigration enforcement at workplaces by four to five times current levels.. [ read more ]
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from implementing the latest version of the President’s newest travel ban.. [ read more ]
President Trump signed H.R. 601, Continuing Appropriations Act, 2018 and Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2017, into law on September 8, 2017… [ read more ]
Submissions for the 2019 Green Card Lottery must be submitted electronically between Tuesday, October 3, 2017 and Tuesday, November 7, 2017… [ read more ]
USCIS has announced the implementation of a new interview requirement for employment-based adjustment of status applications… [ read more ]
On September 18, 2017, USCIS resumed premium processing for all H-1B filings that are subject to the Fiscal Year 2018 cap… [ read more ]
It has been reported that USCIS investigators have been conducting an increased number of worksite visits in the L-1B context likely due to the Trump administration’s increased scrutiny of employment-based/business visas… [ read more ]
On September 5, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security announced its initiation of the winding down of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (“DACA”) program… [ read more ]
On August 2, 2017, Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue joined President Donald Trump at the White House to introduce The Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy Act (RAISE Act)… [ read more ]
We are proud to announce that our firm, with the ingenious help of Attorney, Laura Klosowski, saved a Haitian man from deportation… [ read more ]
Attorneys Shannon Shepherd and Rabindra Singh recently published articles in the Illinois State Bar Association’s Employee Benefits Newsletter (June 2017 Edition) on the topics of the likely increase of immigration enforcement in the workplace and the impact of the family relationship in PERM Labor Certification cases, respectively… [ read more ]
On March 6, 2017, the President signed a new Executive Order entitled, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States.” The new Executive Order will take effect on March 16, 2017 and expressly revokes the January 27, 2017 Executive Order of the same title… [ read more ]
Starting April 3, 2017, USCIS will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions. According to USCIS, this suspension may last up to 6 months… [ read more ]
Recently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published Form I-765V, Application for Employment Authorization for Abused Nonimmigrant Spouse… [ read more ]
Last night, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Temporary Restraining Order against one of the President’s Executive Orders… [ read more ]
The White House clarifies via Chief of Staff Reince Priebus that the entry ban found in the Executive Order issued on Janaury 27, 2017, for foreign nationals from certain named countries does not apply to returning lawful permanent residents or immigrant visa holders although these groups of individuals can anticipate being subjected to additional security and enhanced security measures. That said, during these uncertain times, we recommend that you consult with an attorney to discuss the risks associated with international travel prior to departing the United States… [ read more ]
Late in the day on Friday, January 27, 2017, President Trump signed another Presidential Executive Order entitled “Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals.” This Executive Order suspends the refugee resettlement program for 120 days; it indefinitely suspends the admission of Syrian refuges; and it suspends entry by non-citizens from certain named countries for at least 90 days, among other things… [ read more ]
President Trump has taken significant steps with respect to setting immigration policy just days into his presidency by issuing two Presidential Executive Orders on January 25, 2017. We will be providing analysis of the directives contained in these Executive Orders and will also be providing you with information about implementation and impact as the days unfold and this information becomes available… [ read more ]