In this video, Associate Attorney Zach Ahlstrom details the current process for applying for an L-1 or TN visa at the U.S./Canadian northern border given the recurring closures for non-essential travel. Essentially, the process remains largely the same. As is normally the case, the applicant will drive up to U.S Customs and Border Protection and […]
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 30, 2020, USCIS announced that it would allow flexibility in responding to certain agency requests. USCIS has recently announced that they are extending this courtesy to cases in which notices were issued between March 1, 2020, and January 1, 2021. This flexibility applies to the following: Requests for […]
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On July 31, 2020, USCIS announced a final rule adjusting fees for many immigration and naturalization benefits. USCIS conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review and determined that current fees do not recover the cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services. This final rule will apply to all applications and petitions postmarked on or after October 2. One […]
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The U.S.-Canada Border has been closed since March 21, 2020. Initially, the border was closed for 30 days, subject to reevaluation and further extension, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. On August 14, 2020, the closure was extended for the fifth time since March, leaving the border closed through September 21, 2020. What You Need […]
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A B-2 visa allows for a foreign national to travel to the U.S. for recreational purposes. Typically, the maximum period allowed for admission to the U.S. as a B-2 nonimmigrant is six months. However, in light of Covid-19, visitors on a B-2 visa may apply to extend their status in the U.S. The Covid-19 Impact […]
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Presidential Proclamations 10014 and 10052 suspended the entry of certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants to the United States through December 31, 2020. Both proclamations provide exceptions for individuals whose entry to the U.S. would be “in the national interest” according to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees; however, the proclamations provided […]
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On July 31, 2020, USCIS announced a final rule adjusting fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefits. The increase in fees is in response to recover costs of services for USCIS as the agency is experiencing a lack of funding. Why does USCIS have to increase fees? USCIS is fee funded, meaning the fees collected […]
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In today’s video, our Associate Attorney, Zach Ahlstrom, discusses the impact of President Trump’s executive order on certain nonimmigrant visa categories. One of these categories is the L-1 visa. However, as Canadians are visa-exempt, Canadians are still eligible to apply for and renew L-1 status at the border. When the executive order was initially issued […]
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On July 29, 2020 a federal judge for the Southern District of New York issued two rulings that put a temporary freeze on the Public Charge Rule, as implemented by the Trump Administration on February 24, 2020, while a national health emergency is in place. What is the Public Charge Rule? The Public Charge Rule […]
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Approximately 50,000 green cards and 75,000 employment authorization documents for approved cases have still not been printed as of July 16, 2020. Reasons for this reportedly vary from COVID-19 related delays, limited financial and personnel resources within USCIS, and current administration policies. In a statement dated July 21 by the USCIS Ombudsman, the agency states that it […]
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