USCIS

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Deportation & Humanitarian Immigration Immigration

USCIS Removes 30 Day Guarantee Processing for Work Authorization for Asylum Applicants

USCIS has announced today that the 30-day guarantee processing for work authorization cards for asylum applicants has been removed. The proposal was first announced in September 2019 and made official today. Under the new provisions, USCIS no longer guarantees to…

Jenny ZhanJune 19, 2020

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Family Immigration Immigration

USCIS Resumes Naturalization Ceremonies

After halting all in person interviews and naturalization ceremonies for 3 months since March amid the coronavirus pandemic, USCIS has resumed naturalization ceremonies last week. Naturalization involves the filing of an application after the Legal Permanent Resident becomes eligible to…

Jenny ZhanJune 12, 2020

COVID-19

USCIS to Resume Premium Processing for Applications in Phases

USCIS has announced today that they will resume premium processing for Form I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers in phases over the next month. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and the concern…

Jenny ZhanMay 29, 2020

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COVID-19

USCIS Preparing to Resume In Person Services on June 4

USCIS is preparing some domestic offices to reopen and resume public services on or after June 4, 2020. Due to the social distancing rules that will still be in place, USCIS offices will schedule fewer appointments per day to ensure…

Jenny ZhanMay 27, 2020

COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: USCIS Extends Flexibility for Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny

USCIS has extended the flexibility for applicants and petitioners who are responding to requests for evidence (RFE), or notices of intent to deny (NOID), or notice of intent to revoke for regional center. This applies to notices dated between March…

Jenny ZhanMay 1, 2020

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COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: USCIS Office Preparing to Reopen on June 4

USCIS has announced today that it is planning to reopen local offices on June 4. On March 18, USCIS temporarily suspended all in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers as a response to COVID-19. USCIS…

Jenny ZhanApril 24, 2020

COVID-19

Coronavirus Update: FY 2021 H-1B Cap Petition Processing Will be Delayed Due to the Coronavirus

USCIS has announced on April 13 that due to the Coronavirus outbreak and for health and safety reasons, they will not begin to perform intake processing on selected FY 2021 H-1B cap cases until May 1, 2020. Only applicants who…

Jenny ZhanApril 14, 2020

COVID-19 Immigration

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 major changes that have happened to the immigration system. Border Control and Limit on Travel Starting…

Jenny ZhanApril 3, 2020

COVID-19

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) or notices of intent to deny (NOID) dated between March 1 and May 1, 2020. Any…

Jenny ZhanApril 2, 2020

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COVID-19

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 of Application Support Centers (ASC). Biometrics appointments are appointments where the applicant’s fingerprints, photo, and information…

Jenny ZhanApril 1, 2020

COVID-19

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 spread of the COVID-19. The initial suspension was until April 1, this date has now been…

Jenny ZhanApril 1, 2020

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COVID-19

USCIS to Accept Scanned/Reproduced Signatures During COVID-19 Crisis

For many immigration petitions and forms (Eg. I-129, G-28, I-140), USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) normally only accepts “wet” signatures. As both lawyers and applicants have to sign many forms, this creates logistical issues when freedom of movement has…

IanScottMarch 29, 2020

COVID-19

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 of intent to deny (NOID) dated between March 1 and May 1, 2020. Any applicants who…

Jenny ZhanMarch 27, 2020

COVID-19

USCIS Temporary Office Closure Extended Until at Least April 7

Jenny ZhanMarch 26, 2020

COVID-19

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 to the COVID-19 pandemic. This follows the March 12 announcement that the U.S. embassies were closed…

Jenny ZhanMarch 25, 2020

COVID-19

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 further notice due to the coronavirus outbreak. Premium processing costs $1410 and guarantees that USCIS will…

Jenny ZhanMarch 20, 2020

H-1B and E-3 Visa Immigration

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 before this time in order to be considered in the initial selection. After registration closes, if…

Jenny ZhanMarch 20, 2020

Immigration Immigration Law Changes & New Law

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 for students and exchange visitors. On May 18, 2018, USCIS issued a memorandum announcing that it…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 19, 2020

Family Immigration Immigration

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 approved employment-based petition. Your green card petition is currently pending and you now married a U.S.…

Jenny ZhanFebruary 17, 2020

Immigration News

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 15, 2019. Starting on February 24, 2020, the new public charge rule will take effect in…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 31, 2020

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Approvals

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 includes a specialty grocery store and a restaurant. The applicant is the CEO of the company…

Jenny ZhanJanuary 2, 2020

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Immigration Immigration Law Changes & New Law

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 that he or she has been, and continues to be, a person of good moral character.…

Jenny ZhanDecember 17, 2019

Family Immigration Immigration

USCIS Further Expands Guidance on Good Moral Character Requirement

Jenny ZhanDecember 13, 2019

Approvals

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 major e-commerce company based in New York. He had been working at the company during his…

Jenny ZhanDecember 12, 2019

H-1B and E-3 Visa Immigration

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 issue a decision (approval, denial, Request for Evidence, or Notice of Intent to deny) within 15…

Jenny ZhanNovember 21, 2019

USCIS Removes 30 Day Guarantee Processing for Work Authorization for Asylum Applicants

USCIS Resumes Naturalization Ceremonies

USCIS to Resume Premium Processing for Applications in Phases

USCIS Preparing to Resume In Person Services on June 4

Coronavirus Update: USCIS Extends Flexibility for Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny

Coronavirus Update: USCIS Office Preparing to Reopen on June 4

Coronavirus Update: FY 2021 H-1B Cap Petition Processing Will be Delayed Due to the Coronavirus

Summary of the Changes to U.S. Immigration as a result of the Coronavirus Outbreak

USCIS Extends RFE and NOID Flexibility to Regional Center Notice of Intent to Terminate

Coronavirus Update: USCIS to Reuse Previously Submitted Biometrics to Process Work Permit Applications

Coronavirus Update: USCIS Temporary Office Closure Extended Until at least May 3

USCIS to Accept Scanned/Reproduced Signatures During COVID-19 Crisis

Coronavirus Update: USCIS Announces Flexibility for Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny

USCIS Temporary Office Closure Extended Until at Least April 7

Coronavirus Update: USCIS Temporarily Closes Offices in Rome and Nairobi to the Public

Coronavirus Update: USCIS Announced Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for All I-129 and I-140 Petitions

H-1B Electronic Registration Closes Today!

Permanent Injunction on Unlawful Presence Rule for Students and Exchange Visitors

What is a transfer of underlying basis request? What factors does USCIS consider when adjudicating the transfer requests for Green Cards?

New DHS Public Charge Rule to Take Effect on February 24

E-2 approval with USCIS for a Grocery Store & Restaurant Owner

USCIS Issues Guidance on “Terms of Imprisonment or a Sentence” for Good Moral Character Determinations

USCIS Further Expands Guidance on Good Moral Character Requirement

E-3 Visa Approval for a Senior Recruiter at the U.S. Consulate in Sydney for a National of Australia

Premium Processing Fee to Increase on December 2

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