In a June 2023 decision, USCIS approved our client’s I-601 Waiver Application two months after filing. Our client is the derivative spousal beneficiary of an approved employment-based EB-1 petition. At
Continue Reading Practice Spotlight: Chinese Communist Party Membership I-601 Waiver ApprovalU.S. Department of Education No Longer Recognizes ACICS as an Accrediting Agency
USCIS posted a notice that as of Aug. 19, 2022, the U.S. Department of Education no longer recognizes the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as an accrediting…
Continue Reading U.S. Department of Education No Longer Recognizes ACICS as an Accrediting AgencyUSCIS Updates Policies to Improve Immigration Services
On June 9, 2021, USCIS issued three new Policy Alerts in the USCIS Policy Manual. These updates support Executive Order (EO) 14012, “Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems…
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USCIS Issues Limited Help to Employers Facing RFEs and NOIDs
On March 27, 2020 and March 30, 2020, USCIS announced limited help to employers facing requests for evidence (RFE) and notices of intent to deny (NOID) during the Coronavirus (COVID-19)…
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USCIS Continues to Increase Number of RFEs and Denials Issued
Since President Trump issued his “Buy American and Hire American” Executive Order in April 2017, USCIS has been issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) at unprecedented rates. While the…
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USCIS Finalizes Guidance on Signature Requirements – With Limited Exceptions, USCIS No Longer Accepts Power of Attorney Signatures
On Feb. 16, 2018, USCIS published the final policy memorandum on signature requirements, which changed its existing rules for signatures on written requests filed with USCIS. Effective March 18, 2018, all paper filings with the USCIS must include a handwritten ink signature and USCIS will no longer accept signatures of individuals based on power of attorney for corporate clients. The only exceptions where power of attorney signatures will still be accepted are signatures on behalf of children under 14 and individuals with disabilities. There are additional changes made by the final policy memorandum, such as a requirement that an authorized signatory must be employed by the petitioner and that USCIS may reject a form submitted with a faulty signature instead of offering the opportunity to fix the deficiency. Below is a quick summary of the key points identified by the final policy memo regarding signature requirements.
Continue Reading USCIS Finalizes Guidance on Signature Requirements – With Limited Exceptions, USCIS No Longer Accepts Power of Attorney Signatures
New Trump Administration Policy in Support of Buy American, Hire American Toughens Visa Extension Process
For over a decade, filing an extension of nonimmigrant status in visa categories such as the H-1B was a fairly routine process for cases involving the same employer and same…
Continue Reading New Trump Administration Policy in Support of Buy American, Hire American Toughens Visa Extension Process