On June 9, 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued new guidelines for its Officers in determining whether an application should be expedited. These new guidelines expanded the criteria for requesting expedited service and clarified expedited services …
USCIS Updates Guidance on Issuing Request for Evidence and Notice of Intent to Deny
On June 9, 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued an update to the guidelines for processing immigration requests with insufficient evidence. In 2018 USCIS issued new guidance allowing officers to deny immigration applications and petitions for …
Certain Employment Authorization Documents Extended to 2 Years
On June 9, 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a decision extending the validity of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). When nonimmigrants file a request to adjust their status to that of a Legal Permanent Resident …
Continuation of International Entrepreneur Parole Program
In 2017, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented the International Entrepreneur (IE) parole program. This program allowed the DHS to grant foreign entrepreneurs a temporary period of authorized stay on a case-by-case basis. To qualify for this …
F-1 Students Seeking Optional Practical Training Can Now File Form I-765 Online
On April 12, 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that international students holding F-1 Student Visas will be able to apply for the Employment Authorization Document using the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online. However, this …
Burma (Myanmar) Designated for Temporary Protected Status
On March 12, 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas designated Burma for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the next 18 months, from March 12, 2021 until September 12, 2022. This designation allows Burmese nationals (and individuals without nationality …
End to Trump’s Public Charge Rule – I-944 No Longer Required
Trump’s Public Charge rule is no longer in effect and applicants will no longer need to submit Form I-944 Declaration of Self-Sufficiency or any other evidence in support of Form I-944. Furthermore, extensions of nonimmigrant stay and change of nonimmigrant …
USCIS Now Accepting TPS Applications for Venezuelans
On March 8, 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas designated Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for the next 18 months, from March 9, 2021 until September 9, 2022. This designation allows Venezuelan nationals (and individuals without nationality …
Task Force on Family Reunification Aimed at Previous Administration’s Family Separation
In February of 2021, President Biden signed an executive order establishing a Task Force for family reunification. In response to the Zero-Tolerance Policy of the previous administration, and the separation of children from their parents, the Task Force will seek …
USCIS Accepting New (First) Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Applications
On his first day in office, President Biden signed an Executive Order directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to preserve and fortify Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-of-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals-daca). The Department of Homeland Security has once again begun accepting first-time …