USCIS may place certain immigration cases on hold through an adjudicative policy, temporarily pausing final approvals or denials while continuing case processing. This policy affects applicants from travel-ban or high-risk…
Recent guidance from the U.S. Department of State has introduced a pause in immigrant visa issuance for nationals of certain countries. This development has raised questions for individuals applying for…
There is breaking news concerning E-2 visa applications that significantly impacts where applicants can attend their visa interviews. The government has issued new guidance restricting the ability of individuals to…
Scott Legal, P.C. is issuing an important alert regarding a major change in U.S. immigration policy. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published an Interim Final Rule, effective today, October…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that lawful permanent residents now have the option to receive their temporary evidence of status by mail rather than having to physically visit a…
Beginning November 30, 2023, Israeli nationals will be able to utilize the Visa Waiver Program to travel to the United States as B-1 (temporary business) or B-2 (tourism) visitors.
On July 12, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security added eight new degree fields to the F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program in hopes of appealing to foreign STEM…
We had previously reported on a Texas U.S. District Court order vacating the detailed guidance on prosecutorial discretion issued in late 2021 by DHS secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
USCIS once again extended the deadline to respond to certain requests such as a Request for Evidence or Notice of Intent to Deny through October 23, 2022.
In a policy alert published by USCIS on November 12, 2021, USCIS expanded the ability of E, H-4, or L dependent spouses to receive automatic extension of work authorization, and…
On February 6, 2020, a federal district judge has issued a permanent injunction to prevent USCIS from implementing the May 2018 Unlawful Presence Rule for students and exchange visitors. On…
The State Department is working to expedite their new public charge rules in an effort to implements the rule on February 24, the same day as the Department of State’s…
One of the requirements for naturalization be become an U.S. citizen or other immigration benefits is good moral character (GMC). An applicant for naturalization must show that he or she has been,…
One of the requirements for naturalization be become an U.S. citizen or other immigration benefits is good moral character (GMC). An applicant for naturalization must show that he or she…
The Department of Homeland Security and Department of State have announced the planned publication dates for proposed changes to several different visa categories. Here is what we can look forward…
The Department of Homeland Security proposed a new rule to collect five years of social media history from applicants of certain immigration benefits, including the following applications: ESTA (Electronic System for…
If you are a U.S. citizen and your child was born outside the U.S., your child may acquire U.S. citizenship at birth. However, simply being born to a U.S. citizen…
The Trump Administration have announced on May 16, 2019 that it has created a plan to reform the U.S. immigration system. Specific details of the plan has not been announced…
On May 18, 2018, USCIS issued a memorandum announcing that it will radically revise how unlawful presence is accrued for students and exchange visitors who fail to maintain their F,…
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” and prevented them from starting basic…
USCIS announced today that the agency has expanded the types of applications that can be issued a notice to appear if the application is denied, a policy that was originally…
On Friday, the House of Representatives passed the Community Safety and Security Act which addressed the federal definition of a “crime of violence” under immigration law which would prompt the…