The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated Afghanistan for temporary protected status (TPS). This was done based on the ongoing armed conflict and other problems in the region, including economic crisis, drought, food and water insecurity, and lack of access to healthcare.Effective March...
Yesterday, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would be issuing a final rule to make premium processing available to all form I-140 petitions, and most form I-539 and form I-765 categories. Today, the rule was published in the Federal Register, and...
Today, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced multiple initiatives to help streamline the adjudication of benefit requests and reduce significant backlogs. Most importantly, the agency announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has finalized the rule expanding premium processing to additional application...
Answer No, there normally would be no need to withdraw a family-based case for someone who is applying for an H1B visa. A pending family-base case typically would have no impact on the H1B visa process. (23.Mar.2022)Sheela Murthy and other senior attorneys provide guidance that clarifies...
Answer Ordinarily, if a person in H-4 status gives birth to a child in the U.S., that child automatically becomes a U.S. citizen. Applying for an Indian passport for her would not impact her status as a U.S. citizen. In order to return to the U.S.,...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a proposed rule that, if implemented, would reaffirm long-standing guidance applicable for determinations of whether an individual will become a public charge. In its announcement, the DHS calls the rule "fair and humane," in contrast to...
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has completed its review of a final rule that would make premium processing available to additional categories of immigration benefits. The text of the rule has not yet been released, but, if implemented, the rule may make premium...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated Ukraine for temporary protected status (TPS), due to the Russian invasion, which has resulted in a humanitarian crisis.Effective November 21, 2014, nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone living in the United States are eligible to...
The U.S. Department of State has posted the following updated instructions regarding consular services currently available for Ukrainians: The U.S. Mission to Ukraine is not currently offering visa services. Beginning immediately, Ukrainian immigrant visas (IVs) other than adoption cases will be processed at Consulate General Frankfurt,...
Ur M. Jaddou, the Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), recently announced the agency's new mission statement. The Trump Administration had previously changed the USCIS mission statement to shift the agency's attention toward enforcement, rather than providing immigration services. This mission statement...
