department of homeland security

What should we know about Alejandro Mayorkas, President-elect Biden’s pick as Homeland Security Secretary?

Last month, President-elect Joe Biden announced that he plans to nominate Alejandro Mayorkas to serve in his cabinet as Secretary of Homeland Security. Mayorkas, who would be the first immigrant and first Latino in the role, would manage the Department…

Jenny ZhanDecember 22, 2020

Family Immigration Immigration

Department of Homeland Security Public Charge Rule Reinstated for all States Except for Vermont, Connecticut, and New York

On July 30, 2020, New York District Court Judge George Daniels issued a nationwide preliminary injunction on the public charge rules. On August 12, 2020, a Second Circuit Court of Appeals order limited the nationwide injunction to Vermont, Connecticut, and New…

Jenny ZhanAugust 18, 2020

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

Immigration News

Department of Homeland Security Extends REAL ID Deadline

The Real ID Act of 2005 is an Act of Congress that modifies U.S. federal law pertaining to security, authentication, and issuance procedure standards for drivers' licenses and identity documents, as well as various immigration issues pertaining to terrorism. The…

Jenny ZhanApril 3, 2020

Immigration News

DHS Extends Deadline for Public Comment Period for Proposed Fee Changes

DHS has extended the public comment period for the proposed fee changes to December 30. This extension gives stakeholders more time to weigh in on the recent proposal that would significantly increase most USCIS filing fees. For the detailed breakdown…

Jenny ZhanDecember 9, 2019

Immigration Law Changes & New Law News

Federal Immigration Policy Changes To Look Forward to in the New Year

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 to in the coming year. H-1B Visas Planned publication date:…

Jenny ZhanDecember 4, 2019

Immigration News

DHS Proposal to Increase Visa Application Fees

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a fee schedule that would increase the filing fees for most applications. The proposal also seeks to increase the premium processing timeline to 15 business days instead of the current 15 calendar days.…

Jenny ZhanNovember 21, 2019

H-1B and E-3 Visa Immigration

Proposed H-1B Cap Registration Fee Under Review

The Department of Homeland Security have submitted a proposal to charge an unknown amount of fee for companies registering foreign nationals for the upcoming H-1B cap online registration system. Starting next year, employers have to register each individual foreign national…

Jenny ZhanJune 3, 2019

Deportation & Humanitarian Immigration Immigration

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 for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. On September 5, 2017, the Trump Administration announced the end of…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 22, 2019

Deportation & Humanitarian Immigration Immigration

DOJ and DHS Issue New Asylum Rule Limiting Asylum Seekers

The Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security announced today that a new asylum rule has been put into place. Using Presidential authority granted by Congress, from today, aliens who cross the southern border with Mexico without going through…

Jenny ZhanNovember 8, 2018

Deportation & Humanitarian Immigration

Temporary Protected Status Extended for Yemen Nationals

On July 5, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security announced that temporary protected status (TPS) for Yemen nationals will be extended to March 3, 2020. Yemen nationals will be required to re-register to extend their benefits, DHS has not yet…

Jenny ZhanJuly 5, 2018

Investor Visas

Alternative Options for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners Seeking Parole Status under the International Entrepreneur Parole Program

On January 17, 2017, the Department of Homeland Security published the Final Rule on the International Entrepreneur Parole Program, which established USCIS’s authority to grant parole status under the International Entrepreneur Rule (“IER”). Parole status is similar to having a…

Jenny ZhanJuly 2, 2018

Immigration Law Changes & New Law Investor Visas

DHS moves to rescind the International Entrepreneur Rule

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on May 25, 2018 that is will published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on May 29th to terminate the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER), an Obama era regulation that sought to allow…

Jenny ZhanMay 29, 2018

Immigration Law Changes & New Law

Department of Homeland Security Releases its Spring 2018 Regulatory Agenda

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released it spring 2018 regulatory agenda, proposing significant changes to the B-1 and B-2 temporary visitor categories, the H-1B and EB-5 programs, F-1 practical training, and H-4 employment authorization. B-1 and B-2 Classifications:…

Jenny ZhanMay 10, 2018

Immigration Investor Visas

Federal Judge Rules in Favor of International Entrepreneur Rule

The International Entrepreneur Rule, which was supposed to go into effect July 17, 2017, but was delayed until March 14, 2018, is now in effect after a federal district court judge ruling on Friday, December 1, 2017 which vacated the…

Jenny ZhanDecember 11, 2017