Congress Passes FY 2019 Spending Bill, Avoiding a Second Government Shutdown
Last night Congress passed an appropriations bill that will fund the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and other federal agencies through to [...]
Biometrics Now Required for Certain Foreign Nationals Seeking a Change or Extension of Nonimmigrant Status
On March 11, USCIS will introduce a new Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. This revised version of the form will be implemented [...]
Unsecured Loan EB-5 Class Action Lawsuit: Potential Members Can Now Have Their Denials Reconsidered By USCIS
Zhang v. USCIS is a November 2018 Class Action Lawsuit that challenged USCIS’ denials of EB-5 investment petitions that had investment funds sourced solely [...]
FY 2020 H-1B Cap Season Starts April 1, 2019: Things You Should Do and Know
H-1B cap season for fiscal year 2020 will begin on April 1, 2019. Employers should start preparing for cap petitions now as applications not [...]
Canadian Marijuana Investors are Being Barred from Entering the U.S.
Four months after Canada became the second country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana use and certain commercial activities, Canadian travelers who are [...]
USCIS to Close Moscow Field Office
Due to low workload, USCIS will permanently close the Moscow field office on March 29, 2019. The last day the field office will accept [...]
State Department Eliminates Two Interview Locations in China for H and L Visas
Starting on March 1, 2019, H visa and L visa interviews in Mainland China will only be conducted at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, [...]
What is the Process for a Green Card if I Marry a U.S. Citizen? How do I get a Green Card through Marriage? What are the ways to get a Green Card?
There are three common ways to get a green card through marriage to a U.S. Citizen. This post summarizes the three different options. Obtaining [...]
H-1B Cap Registration Lottery to be Postponed Until Next Year
The Department of Homeland Security has announced in an advanced copy of the new H-1B regulation that the cap registration system will be postponed [...]
H-1B Cap Registration Rule Clears Federal Review
On January 14, 2019, USCIS sent the final version of the new H-1B cap registration rule to the Office of Management and Budget. Today, [...]
You Can Now Check Your Asylum Application Status Online
USCIS has announced today that applicants who have a pending asylum application with USCIS can now check their case status online here. Only asylum [...]
U.S. State Department Suspends Visa Services in Caracas, Venezuela
Routine visa services at the U.S. mission in Caracas have been suspended indefinitely as tension between the United States and Venezuela rises. Foreign nationals [...]
USCIS Resumes Premium Processing For H-1B Cap Applications
USCIS has announced that it will resume premium processing on January 28, 2019 for all pending FY 2019 H-1B cap petitions, including those eligible [...]
Government Reopened for Three Weeks
President Trump announced on Friday, 35 days after the initial shutdown, that a continuing resolutions bill has been tabled to reopen the government for [...]
What is the Citizenship Question on the 2020 Census?
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge George Hazel began trial on lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 census. [...]
DHS will Continue to Accept DACA Renewal Applications
Last November, the Trump Administration requested the Supreme Court to expedite and consolidate review of challenges to its decision to terminate the Deferred Action [...]
Will the definition of public charge change under the current administration? What does this mean for green card applicants?
On October 10, 2018 a proposed rule was published by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), which seeks to change the definition of [...]
What is Continuous Residence and Physical Presence? Do I need to satisfy both of them to apply for U.S. citizenship?
Two requirements that you need to satisfy to become a U.S. citizen are continuous residence and physical presence. Even though these requirements may sound [...]
What if I am a derivative beneficiary in a green card application and I age out before the green card application is approved? Am I still eligible for a green card?
Let’s analyze the following scenario: Your uncle is a United States citizen and you want to immigrate to the United States. You cannot file [...]
Are my spouse and children eligible for green cards if I did not include them on my green card application? What are follow-to-join benefits?
If you were married or had children at the time your green card application was approved and your spouse or children did not apply [...]
USCIS Sends Final Version of New H-1B Cap Registration Rule to OMB
USCIS has sent the final version of the new H-1B cap registration rule to the Office of Management and Budget, moving the proposal closer [...]
February 2019 Visa Bulletin: Minor Advances and the Expired EB-5 Program
In the newly released January visa bulletin, EB-2 and EB-3 visas remain current for most countries. EB-2 in China have advanced two months to [...]
What is Administrative Processing? What Does Administrative Processing Mean? How long can I Stay in Administrative Processing? Why was I placed in Administrative Processing?
When you apply for a visa (For example, E-2, B-1, H1-B, O-1) at a Consulate, there are several possible outcomes. The visa can be [...]
Three Weeks into the Government Shutdown: An Update on Immigration Services
We are three weeks into the government shutdown since December 21, 2018 and the following is an update on different immigration agencies and services. [...]
Can An E-2 Visa Denial be Appealed? What Happens if My E-2 Visa is Denied? What can you do if your E-2 visa has been Denied?
Scott Legal, P.C. has processed hundreds of E-2 visa applications and the firm has an approval rate of approximately 97%. (past results do not [...]
Have there been any Changes to the E-2 visa under Trump? Is an E-2 visa harder to get now? Have E-2 Visas Changed? Are there New Rules for E-2 Visas?
An E-2 visa is a visa that allows foreign nationals to come to the U.S. to either purchase or start a business. The visa [...]
House of Representatives Approves Legislation granting E-3 Visa to Irish Nationals
On November 28, 2018, the House of Representatives approved a legislation that will allow Irish nationals to apply for an E-3 visa. The legislation [...]
Is there any difference between Change of Status and Adjustment of Status?
In plain language, the phrases ‘change of status’ and ‘adjustment of status’ may sound like they are describing the same process. However, in immigration [...]
January 2018 Visa Bulletin: Minor Advances for EB-2 and EB-3 for China and India
In the newly released January visa bulletin, EB-2 and EB-3 visas remain current for most countries. EB-2 in China have advanced for one month [...]
Potential Government Shutdown
Congress passed a bill on December 7 that funded the U.S. government until December 21. On or before December 21, Republicans and Democrats have [...]
EB-5 Program Extended without Change Until December 21, 2018
On December 7, 2018 Congress has passed a short-term spending bill through until December 21, 2018. The previous extension was passed on September 27, [...]
Planned Proposal to Charge Fee for Asylum Applications
News on Tuesday reports that the Trump Administration is considering charging a fee of $50 to asylum applications submitted while the applicant is already [...]
E-2 Visa approval for High Quality Furniture Refinishing & Repair Company at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto for a National of Albania
We just had an E-2 investor visa approval at the U.S. Consulate in Toronto. The business is a high quality furniture refinishing and repair company based [...]
USCIS Moves Closer to Implementing Pre-Register H-1B Cap Selection System
On Monday, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved a USCIS proposal altering the H-1B Cap procedure, the new proposal is expected to [...]
Federal Judge Removes Military Roadblock for Immigrants
On Friday U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a policy that treats non-citizens in the military as “second-class recruits” [...]
