News

COVID-19

What Will Happen if USCIS Furloughs 70 Percent of Their Staff?

USCIS announced that its planning to furlough of 70% of its employees on August 31 unless Congress acts on the agency’s $1.2 billion emergency funding request. Since March, USCIS has seen a 50% drop in receipts and incoming fees and…

Jenny ZhanAugust 21, 2020

News

Rumors: Trump Administration May Impose Toll on Mexico US Border Crossing

President Trump said during a Republic convention that the U.S. may impose a toll on travelers crossing the U.S. and Mexico border. Trump claimed the toll would pay for the constructions of the border wall. There are more than 330…

Jenny ZhanAugust 21, 2020

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COVID-19

Employers can now Accept EAD Approval Notices for I-9 Employment Verification

USCIS accounted today that due to backlogs in employment authorization card productions, employers can accept work permit approval receipts when establishing employment verification in the I-9 process. In normal times, when an employee starts at a company, companies are obligated…

Jenny ZhanAugust 20, 2020

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COVID-19

I am a green card holder and have not returned to the U.S. due to COVID-19. Will this impact my green card? How can I preserve my permanent resident status?

The Covid-19 crisis has caused large disruptions in daily life and created significant difficulties for international travel. Many green card holders were outside the U.S. when the crisis hit and may be reluctant to travel back to the U.S. for…

Jenny ZhanAugust 19, 2020

News

H-3 visa: Q&A

What is the H-3 trainee visa? The H-3 trainee visa is for individuals who are coming to the U.S. to receive training in their field of endeavor (medical training is excluded). Do I need a sponsor for an H-3 visa?…

Jenny ZhanAugust 19, 2020

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COVID-19

National Interest Exceptions to Travel Ban Expended to H-1B and L-1 Employees

In July 2020, the Department of State announced that certain business and student travelers may apply for a National Interest Exception (“NIE”). The NIE allows such travelers to travel to the United States even with the travel bans remaining in effect.…

Jenny ZhanAugust 17, 2020

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COVID-19

Will my ESTA be cancelled if I try to enter the U.S. while the European travel ban is in place?

When you are a citizen of a country that is part of the Visa Waiver Program, you can come to the United States without obtaining a visa from a U.S. Consulate. However, you still have to apply for authorization to travel to…

Jenny ZhanAugust 17, 2020

COVID-19

Canadians travelling to the U.S. during Covid: Q&A

I am a Canadian national. Can I cross the U.S./Canada land border? No. The joint U.S.-Canada initiative that was first implemented on March 21, 2020 for 30 days and has since been extended (most recently to August 20) restricts all…

Jenny ZhanAugust 17, 2020

COVID-19

Travelling to the U.S. from Europe during Corona Virus: Questions and Answers

Are the Presidential proclamations banning entry from the Schengen countries and the UK and Ireland still in effect? Yes. The Presidential proclamations imposing travel restrictions on visitors who were present in Schengen area countries, the UK, or Ireland within 14…

Jenny ZhanAugust 11, 2020

Immigration News

USCIS to Increase Application Fees

The Department of Homeland Security has announced new application fees that will take effect on October 2, 2020. This new announcement will increase the application fees for most application types. USCIS is a for profit agency that uses application fees…

Jenny ZhanAugust 10, 2020

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COVID-19

What is National Interest Exception? Do I qualify for a National Interest Exception? Can I travel to the U.S. on an E-2 visa?

In July 2020, the Department of State announced that certain business and student travelers coming from Schengen countries or the U.K. (such as B-1 business visitors), treaty traders, or treaty investors may apply for a National Interest Exception (“NIE”). The…

Jenny ZhanAugust 10, 2020

News

Ian E. Scott to be Featured as a Panel Member discussing Green Card Options for Entrepreneurs

Our founding attorney Ian Scott has been selected to sit on a panel to share knowledge on green card options for investors and entrepreneurs. The AILA Education Department has scheduled a web seminar for “Green Card Options for Entrepreneurs”. Once…

Jenny ZhanAugust 5, 2020

News

Kelly R. LeGrand Weiner Received the Robert “Bob” Heiserman Memorial Young Lawyer Award from the Rome District Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association

Scott Legal P.C.’s Managing Attorney, Kelly R. LeGrand Weiner, was awarded the 2019-2020 RDC-EMEA Robert “Bob” Heiserman Memorial Young Lawyer Award by the Rome District Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). This award was given in recognition of…

Jenny ZhanAugust 4, 2020

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Immigration News

New York Federal District Court Issues Temporary Injunction on State Department and DHS Public Charge Rules

On July 30, 2020, New York District Court Judge George Daniels issued a nationwide preliminary injunction on the public charge rules. This injunction applies to both the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security. In the new public charge…

Jenny ZhanJuly 30, 2020

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News

DHS Will not Process New DACA Applicants, Limit Renewals to One Year, and Will not Process Advance Parole

DHS announced today that USCIS will not accept initial DACA filings, will limit DACA renewals to one year, and will not accept DACA applications for advance parole except in extraordinary circumstances. These measures will remain in place until DHS has…

Jenny ZhanJuly 29, 2020

News

Cities Level Lawsuit Against Trump Administration’s Omission of Undocumented Immigrants from Census

Atlanta, Paterson, New Jersey, and other cities have filed a lawsuit on Thursday against the Trump Administration’s attempt at omitting undocumented immigrants from the census. On July 22, the Trump Administration has signed an executive memorandum on Tuesday that will…

Jenny ZhanJuly 28, 2020

News

USCIS’ Planned Furlough of Employees Delayed Until August 31

USCIS announced on Friday that it has delayed it planned furlough of 70% of its employees for another month until August 31. USCIS wants to give Congress more time to act on the agency’s $1.2 billion emergency funding request. Since…

Jenny ZhanJuly 28, 2020

COVID-19

Huge Backlog in Green Card and Work Authorization Card Production

In June 2020, USCIS ended an outside contract with a company that produced secure cards such as green cards and employment authorization cards. USCIS has moved this service to its internal employees. However, given the reduced number of workers due…

Jenny ZhanJuly 23, 2020

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COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: Spanish Consulate to Resume Visa Processing

The U.S. Embassy in Madrid will resume visa processing on July 20, 2020. Visa services will resume in phases, however Madrid has not announced which visas will take priority. The consulates in London and Belfast are processing immigrant visas for…

Jenny ZhanJuly 23, 2020

COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: Federal Judge Declines Request to Release Families in ICE Detention

On Wednesday, a federal judge has denied a blanket request to release families in ICE custody. The initial request urged the release of families in detention given the confined setting and potential spread of the coronavirus. Despite raising the issue…

Jenny ZhanJuly 23, 2020

COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: Department of State Announces Certain Exceptions to Travel Ban

The Department of State announced on July 16, 2020 travel ban exceptions to certain business travelers, investors, treaty traders, academics, and students. These travel ban exceptions apply to residents from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Due to the…

Jenny ZhanJuly 21, 2020

Immigration News

August Visa Bulletin Significant Advances in Employment Based Categories

In the August 2020 visa bulletin, there is significant advances in most employment visa categories. In EB-1, China advanced almost six months to February 8, 2018, India advanced nine month to February 8, 2018. EB-2 for China advanced two months…

Jenny ZhanJuly 21, 2020

News

Harvard Law School Graduate Dustin Saldarriaga Joins Scott Legal, P.C.

Dustin Saldarriaga is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard College. While a student, he was an active participant in the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic and the Boston Refugee Youth Enrichment Program, both initiatives that advocate on behalf…

Jenny ZhanJuly 20, 2020

COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: ICE Extends Form I-9 Compliance Procedures during COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated)

ICE has announced today that it is extending its relaxed I-9 employment verification procedures for another 30 days, or until November 19, 2020. In normal times, when an employee starts at a company, companies are obligated to completes the I-9…

Jenny ZhanJuly 20, 2020

COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: United Kingdom Embassy and Consulate to Resume Visa Processing

Announced on July 20, 2020, the U.S. Embassy in London will resume visa processing on July 27, 2020 and the Belfast Consulate General will resume visa processing on August 3, 2020. Visa services will resume in phases, the first phase…

Jenny ZhanJuly 20, 2020

What Will Happen if USCIS Furloughs 70 Percent of Their Staff?

Rumors: Trump Administration May Impose Toll on Mexico US Border Crossing

Employers can now Accept EAD Approval Notices for I-9 Employment Verification

I am a green card holder and have not returned to the U.S. due to COVID-19. Will this impact my green card? How can I preserve my permanent resident status?

H-3 visa: Q&A

National Interest Exceptions to Travel Ban Expended to H-1B and L-1 Employees

Will my ESTA be cancelled if I try to enter the U.S. while the European travel ban is in place?

Canadians travelling to the U.S. during Covid: Q&A

Travelling to the U.S. from Europe during Corona Virus: Questions and Answers

USCIS to Increase Application Fees

What is National Interest Exception? Do I qualify for a National Interest Exception? Can I travel to the U.S. on an E-2 visa?

Ian E. Scott to be Featured as a Panel Member discussing Green Card Options for Entrepreneurs

Kelly R. LeGrand Weiner Received the Robert “Bob” Heiserman Memorial Young Lawyer Award from the Rome District Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association

New York Federal District Court Issues Temporary Injunction on State Department and DHS Public Charge Rules

DHS Will not Process New DACA Applicants, Limit Renewals to One Year, and Will not Process Advance Parole

Cities Level Lawsuit Against Trump Administration’s Omission of Undocumented Immigrants from Census

USCIS’ Planned Furlough of Employees Delayed Until August 31

Huge Backlog in Green Card and Work Authorization Card Production

Coronavirus Update: Spanish Consulate to Resume Visa Processing

Coronavirus Update: Federal Judge Declines Request to Release Families in ICE Detention

Coronavirus Update: Department of State Announces Certain Exceptions to Travel Ban

August Visa Bulletin Significant Advances in Employment Based Categories

Harvard Law School Graduate Dustin Saldarriaga Joins Scott Legal, P.C.

Coronavirus Update: ICE Extends Form I-9 Compliance Procedures during COVID-19 Pandemic (Updated)

Coronavirus Update: United Kingdom Embassy and Consulate to Resume Visa Processing

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