Good news for H-1B and other visa applicants and others stuck in consular backlogs. The U.S. State Department has extended the authority of consular officers to waive in-person interviews for certain nonimmigrant visa categories through December 31, 2023, on a case-by-case basis for certain first-time and/or renewing applicants. For more information, contact our firm.
The new rule goes into effect on December 23, 2022. On Dec. 23, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule will go into effect. This final rule, which was previously announced, provides clarity and consistency for noncitizens on how DHS will administer the public charge ground of inadmissibility.... View Article
Be sure to file correctly, or your application will be rejected. On December 13, 2022, USCIS published a draft of the new version of Form I-485 to its website. The new edition has been published for preview only. USCIS notes that the new version of Form I-485 will not be accepted until December 23, 2022.... View Article
The current wave of worker terminations gives rise to significant legal issues for everyone involved. The uncertainty created by the current wave of layoffs in the U.S. technology sector exposes the chaos at the heart of U.S. immigration policy for the tech industry, and these layoffs have the potential to turn tech-specialized immigrants off from... View Article
Green Card applicants must provide proof of vaccination. Individuals submitting Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, on or after October 1, 2021, must provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19. If you have any questions, we encourage you to contact our office for assistance.
Judge says it did not rationally serve to protect public safety. On 11/15/22, a U.S. district court struck down Title 42. The program will end on 12/21/22. Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia vacated the directive, which has allowed border agents to expel millions of migrants without... View Article
Is your priority date current? The U.S. government is confident it will process all employment-based green cards by the end of this fiscal year, avoiding a repeat of last year when it let thousands of green cards go to waste. Typically, about 140,000 employment-based green cards are given to foreign employees and their families a... View Article
USCIS has sent out non-selection notifications to registrants’ online accounts. On August 23, 2022, USCIS announced that they had received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2023.... View Article
On May 3, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new rule that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days. The increase, which was effective immediately on May 4, 2022, will help avoid gaps in employment for... View Article
On May 3, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a new rule that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days. The increase, which was effective immediately on May 4, 2022, will help avoid gaps in employment for... View Article
