On April 27, 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was reinstating its guidance to immigration officers to defer to prior nonimmigrant petition approvals when adjudicating
Continue Reading USCIS Issues Guidance Reinstating Deference Policy for Prior Approved Nonimmigrant Petitions
As part of the U.S. government’s response to the pandemic, entry to the U.S. has been restricted for certain foreign nationals who have been physically present during any part of
Continue Reading Issues with Visa Issuances from Countries Subject to PP10143
The Department of State (DOS) has announced that it will extend until Dec. 31, 2021, its expanded visa interview waiver eligibility policy for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa in
Continue Reading State Department Extends Revised Interview Waiver Eligibility Criteria Through Dec. 31, 2021
The Biden administration has revoked Presidential Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020 -Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market During the Economic
Continue Reading Biden Administration Revokes Trump’s ‘Green Card Ban’ In Another Step Towards Restoring the Functioning of the U.S. Immigration System
A complex combination of the pandemic and USCIS’s ever-increasing processing times has chained E-3 visa holders in the United States to their current employers. The E-3 visa is a special
Continue Reading Change of Employer for E-3 Visa Holders Effectively Barred Due to Pandemic and USCIS Processing Times
Late on Dec. 31, the Trump administration issued a proclamation that has the effect of extending the duration of two proclamations from 2020 that restricted immigrant and non-immigrant visa issuance
Continue Reading President Extends Proclamations Restricting Nonimmigrant and Immigrant Visa Issuance
The U.S. Senate passed by Unanimous Consent an amended version of H.R. 1044, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives
Continue Reading Senate Passes Per-Country Cap Elimination Bill that Affects Employment-Based Visa Programs Such as EB-5
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has granted class certification in MadKudu Inc. v. USCIS, et al., to a group of employers who claim that the
Continue Reading Class Certification Granted in H-1B Lawsuit
On July 16, 2020, the Department of State provided updated information on the availability of exceptions to the June 22 Presidential Proclamation 10052, which extends Proclamation 10014 through Dec. 31, 2020,.
Some travelers and visa applicants who are affected by the Proclamation may qualify for an exception if the purpose of their travel to the United States is for humanitarian reasons, public health response, or national security. Other exceptions include: (1) applicants who are subject to aging out of their current immigrant visa classification; (2) certain H and J visa applicants who are traveling to the United Sates to work in support of a critical U.S. foreign policy; and (3) dependents of applicants who are excepted from, or not subject to, the Proclamations.
Continue Reading Exceptions to Presidential Proclamations – Department of State Guidance
The U.S. Department of State announced on July 13, 2020, via Twitter, that U.S. embassies and consulates are entering a “phased resumption of routine visa services” beginning July 15, 2020.
Continue Reading U.S. Embassies and Consulates Expected to Resume Visa Services Beginning on July 15