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...
This afternoon, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that enough initial registrations were submitted to the fiscal year 2023 (FY21) H1B cap, including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap). The online accounts now will show one of the following for each registration:Submitted...
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...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) again is expanding its credit card payment pilot program, this time for all form types, except for petitions for nonimmigrant workers (form I-129) filed on behalf of H1B or H2A workers. To pay by credit card, an applicant,...
Following the release of the April 2022 Visa Bulletin, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its website to indicate that foreign nationals may use the more favorable dates for filing chart (i.e., Chart B) in April for purposes of applying for adjustment of...
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...
Congress is poised to pass an omnibus spending bill that would include a provision to reauthorize the EB5 regional center program. Assuming the bill is signed into law, it would also make a number of important changes to the EB5 program. Overview of Proposed Changes In addition...
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...
