Yesterday, the proposed regulation to terminate the program that allows certain H-4 spouses to obtain employment authorization was submitted to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is one of the required steps in the formal rulemaking process, and signals that the...
President Trump indicated today that he will sign a spending bill that funds the federal government through September 30, 2019, despite the fact that it does not include the funding he demanded to build a wall on the U.S. / Mexico border. The bill will...
A federal district court judge in New York has blocked the Trump Administration from adding a controversial question regarding citizenship status on the 2020 census. The Administration claims the question is needed in order to protect minority-voting blocs. Critics, however, argue that the question is...
Answer Normally, to be eligible for a K-1 visa, the couple must have met physically within two years prior. There are exceptions in which this is impermissible culturally, but these cases generally are difficult to get approved by the USCIS. (04.Feb.2019)In frequent sessions of our Chat,...
President Trump has agreed to support a bill that would reopen the government through February 15, 2019. Congress is expected to quickly pass the bill, perhaps as soon as sometime this evening. The bill would not include any funding for President Trump's proposed wall on...
A new online fee calculator has been added to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website to help stakeholders properly calculate the amount owed when applying for certain immigration benefits. This calculator is designed to help reduce the number of applications and petitions the...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a policy memorandum that provides USCIS officers with guidance on when the in-person interview requirement may be waived for the beneficiary of a petition to remove the conditions on residency (form I-751). Background on I-751 Petition to...
Answer There is no need to "add" one's wife to the I-140 in this situation. When the priority date is current, both spouses generally are eligible to file their I-485 applications, regardless of whether the current spouse is listed in the I-140. (14.Jan.2019)In frequent sessions of...
Answer There is no automatic extension of work authorization based on a pending H-4 EAD extension. If the H-4 EAD has expired, one is no longer permitted to work until the new EAD is received. One who works after the EAD has expired likely is working...
Answer If one's H1B I-94 has not yet expired, this may be possible, depending upon the circumstances. However, this is a complex question, so one in this situation should talk to a qualified attorney for individualized advice. (07.Jan.2019)In frequent sessions of our Chat, Sheela Murthy and...
