Tag: USCIS

On July 28, 2020, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, issued a policy memorandum (“Wolf Memorandum”) making changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. A full breakdown of the changes to the DACA under the Wolf Memorandum can be found here. USCIS released guidance on how it will implement the Wolf Memorandum’s changes on August 24, […]

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 […]

On June 17, 2020, USCIS issued a new Policy Memorandum rescinding (revoking) two prior Policy Memoranda regarding the adjudication of certain petitions for H-1B nonimmigrant status.  This move was in response to settlement of two recent court cases (ITServe Alliance, Inc. et al v. L. Francis Cissna and Serenity Infotech et al v. Kenneth T. […]

U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced its plan to resume offering public services at some of its domestic offices on June 22, 2019. USCIS has been offering only emergency in-person public services for almost three months since it temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers on March […]

USCIS announced on May 1, 2020, that due to COVID-19, it will be extending the flexibilities previously announced on March 30 to assist applicants and petitioners who need to respond to agency requests. These requests include: Requests for Evidence; Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14); Notices of Intent to Deny; Notices of Intent to Revoke; Notices of […]

To assist in transitioning to a digital business model, USCIS has announced a strategy known as eProcessing. This process allows for digitally filing of a benefit, communicating with USCIS online, as well as being notified of a decision on a case. Initially, this new process allows certain visitors for business and pleasure and vocational students […]

On April 18, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order titled “Buy American and Hire American.” The President insisted that the Executive Order would favor American workers more so than the policies already in place. He also intended, among other things, for the “Buy American and Hire American” Executive Order to address his concerns […]

In 2004, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented InfoPass, a free online service providing applicants with the option to schedule an appointment with a USCIS immigration officer through the USCIS website. Since then, InfoPass has been modified, updated and refreshed many times. More recently, USCIS developed a pilot program to replace InfoPass entirely.  […]

This afternoon, USCIS announced the start of the fiscal year (FY) 2020 H-1B cap season, start dates for premium processing of cap-subject H-1B petitions, and the launch of its new H-1B data hub. USCIS is also reminding petitioners of its new H-1B cap selection process. These new efforts are all part of President Trump’s Buy […]

USCIS announced yesterday that beginning on October 1, 2017, they will begin expanding in-person interviews for applicants moving from an employment-based nonimmigrant status to Lawful Permanent Resident status through the filing of an Adjustment of Status (Form I-485) application. This change comes as part of President Trump’s Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign […]