Summary of the Changes to U.S. Immigration as a result of the Coronavirus Outbreak
USCIS, ICE, DOJ, DHS, and CPB have enacted many changes in the last months as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Below summarizes the [...]
USCIS Extends RFE and NOID Flexibility to Regional Center Notice of Intent to Terminate
USCIS has announced on March 27 that it is adopting measures to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to requests for evidence (RFE) [...]
Coronavirus Update: USCIS to Reuse Previously Submitted Biometrics to Process Work Permit Applications
USCIS has announced that they will reuse previously submitted biometrics in order to process valid work permit application extension requests due to the closure [...]
Coronavirus Update: USCIS Temporary Office Closure Extended Until at least May 3
On March 17, 2020, USCIS temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASC) to help slow the [...]
Coronavirus Update: USCIS Announces Flexibility for Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny
USCIS has announced today that it is adopting measures to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to requests for evidence (RFE) or notices [...]
USCIS Temporary Office Closure Extended Until at Least April 7
On March 17, 2020, USCIS temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASC) to help slow the [...]
Coronavirus Update: USCIS Temporarily Closes Offices in Rome and Nairobi to the Public
USCIS has announced on March 25, 2020 that it has temporarily closed its offices in Rome, Italy and Nairobi, Kenya to the public due [...]
Coronavirus Update: USCIS Announced Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for All I-129 and I-140 Petitions
USCIS has announced today, March 20, the immediate and temporary suspension of premium processing service for all Form I-129 and Form I-140 petitions until [...]
H-1B Electronic Registration Closes Today!
At noon EST on March 20, the initial registration period for FY 2021 H-1B lottery selection will close. All registrations must be properly submitted [...]
Permanent Injunction on Unlawful Presence Rule for Students and Exchange Visitors
On February 6, 2020, a federal district judge has issued a permanent injunction to prevent USCIS from implementing the May 2018 Unlawful Presence Rule [...]
What is a transfer of underlying basis request? What factors does USCIS consider when adjudicating the transfer requests for Green Cards?
Let’s analyze the following scenario: Your employer filed an employment based petition (I-140) and you filed an Adjustment of Status application based on the [...]
New DHS Public Charge Rule to Take Effect on February 24
On January 27, 2020, the Supreme Court lifted a nationwide injunction blocking the new public charge rule initially slotted to take effect on October [...]
E-2 approval with USCIS for a Grocery Store & Restaurant Owner
We just had an E-2 approval with U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. The applicant was granted 2 years in E-2 status and the business [...]
USCIS Issues Guidance on “Terms of Imprisonment or a Sentence” for Good Moral Character Determinations
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 [...]
USCIS Further Expands Guidance on Good Moral Character Requirement
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 [...]
E-3 Visa Approval for a Senior Recruiter at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney for a National of Australia
We just had an E-3 visa approval for an Australian national at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney. The applicant will be working for a [...]
Premium Processing Fee to Increase on December 2
Fees for Form I-907 Premium Processing will increase from the current $1410 to $1440 on December 2. Premium Processing Service means that USCIS will [...]
What is Premium Processing Service? When can I file for Premium Processing? How much is the fee for Premium Processing?
Premium Processing Service means that USCIS will issue a decision (approval, denial, Request for Evidence, or Notice of Intent to deny) within 15 calendar [...]
Government to Process Deferred Action Cases Again After Backlash
The government announced on Monday that it will process recently denied deferred action cases from seriously ill immigrants who are currently undergoing life saving [...]
USCIS Proposes New Rule Eliminating 30-Day Guarantee Processing for Work Authorization for Asylum Applicants
USCIS announced a proposed regulation to change the process for granting or denying an initial application for employment authorization documents (EADs) by reforming the [...]
E-3 Visa Approval in Barbados
Scott Legal, P.C. just had an approval of an E-3 visa at the U.S. Consulate in Barbados. An E-3 visa is a visa that [...]
E-2 Extension of Status Approval with USCIS for a Marketing Consulting Company for a National of Bangladesh
We just had an E-2 investor extension of status approved through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The applicant is a National of Bangladesh and was granted a [...]
What Happens When my K Visa is Approved? My Approval is Only Valid for Four Months? How Long Do I have to Enter the Country and Get Married?
When the U.S. citizen is living in the U.S. and the beneficiary (the person the U.S. Citizen will marry) is outside the U.S., the [...]
USCIS to Decrease Wait Times for Green Card and Naturalization Wait Times
USCIS have announced that they have plans to reassign some green card and naturalization cases from local field offices with long backlogs to those [...]
USCIS Issues Data Confirming Increase in Denials and RFEs for Nonimmigrant Applications
USCIS has released data for the first half of fiscal year 2019 confirming that denial and RFE rates have continued to increase for nonimmigrant [...]
E-3 Visa approval for an Executive at the U.S. Embassy in London for a National of Australia
We just had an E-3 visa approval at the U.S. Embassy in London for an Executive of a media company. The applicant was applying for [...]
E-2 Visa approval for a Pizza Restaurant by USCIS for a National of Pakistan
We just had an E-2 approved for a 2-year extension of status by USCIS. The applicant was a national of Pakistan. The E-2 enterprise operates [...]
Preliminary Injunction Issued on August 2018 Unlawful Presence Memorandum for F, J, and M Visa Holders
On May 18, 2018, USCIS issued a memorandum announcing that it will radically revise how unlawful presence is accrued for students and exchange visitors [...]
Approval for Renewal of E-3 Visa for an Aerospace Engineer at the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver
We just had an E-3 employee visa approval at the U.S. Consulate in Vancouver. The applicant was granted the visa for 2 years and [...]
USCIS Form Request Phone Service to Terminate on June 1
Starting on June 1, 2019, USCIS forms can no longer be requested on the phone. Previously, by calling USCIS’ client services, individuals can request [...]
What is Implied Departure? How can a Canceled Plane Ticket Impact Your USCIS Application? I cancelled my airline ticket, will it impact immigration?
For national security reasons, airlines routinely transmit passenger information to Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) whenever a plane ticket is purchased. This is done [...]
USCIS to Close International Immigration Offices
Politico.com reported on March 12 that USCIS had plans to close all international field offices. The agency is currently in preliminary discussions to transfer [...]
Temporary Protected Status Extended for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan Nationals
On March 1, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security published a Federal Register Notice that Temporary Protected Status for nationals of El Salvador, Haiti, [...]
E-3 Visa approval at U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services for an Accountant
We just had an E-3 extension of status approved by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services. The applicant is an accountant working for a hotel. The business [...]
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 [...]
