Earlier today, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) advised the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) that, in recent weeks, certain applicants for permanent residency who have already successfully completed biometrics were inadvertently scheduled for a second biometrics appointment. Through AILA, the USCIS stated that...
Since May 2012, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has endeavored to create a secure and paperless work environment allowing for the online submission of requests for immigration benefits. The system is known as the USCIS Electronic Immigration System, or ELIS. A July 2014 report...
During a public teleconference held this afternoon (14.Aug.2014) by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS), Director Leon Rodriguez provided a brief update on the status of the proposed rule to make certain H-4 spouses eligible for employment authorization. Director Rodriguez could not provide any...
On July 11, 2014, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigrant Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum that provides updated guidance to adjudicators to determine whether a particular nursing position meets the H1B category's specialty occupation requirement. This issue was last addressed by the USCIS in 2002. The...
In March 2014, the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman recommended a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy change regarding the narrow interpretation of a provision in the law that impacts J-2 spouses of J-1 physicians. Under the USCIS interpretation of the law, these...
Leon Rodriguez was sworn in as the new Director of the U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on July 9, 2014, following his confirmation by the U.S. Senate in June. Director Rodriquez is the fourth USCIS Director, since the agency was created in 2003. New...
The Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) 2014 Annual Report was submitted to Congress on June 27, 2014. The report details various deficiencies found within the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), according to the Ombudsman's office, including problems with H1B and L-1 processing...
The U nonimmigrant category provides immigration benefits to foreign nationals who have been the victims of certain serious crimes. These individuals may be able to obtain immigration benefits under the U nonimmigrant category by assisting U.S. law enforcement in its efforts to prosecute the perpetrator/s...
The U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center (VSC) has announced a pilot program to use two-sided printing for certain types of notices. The purpose of this initiative is to reduce costs and waste. Stakeholders should be careful to review both the...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has provided instructions regarding the process for renewing enrollment in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA provides temporary immigration relief to eligible undocumented foreign nationals who entered the United States as children. Beneficiaries of the program...
