USCIS Raises Fees and Begins Charging Asylum Applicants
October 3, 2020 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a final rule raising or in some cases lowering fees that applicants for immigration and naturalization benefits must pay, in a few cases adding fees where none were charged before.
Preparing to Submit I-485 Adjustment of Status Application? Hurry, USCIS Fees Double October 2, 2020
October 2, 2020 For anyone in the U.S. planning to apply for a green card (lawful permanent residence) through the process known as adjustment of status, be aware that the fees will basically double.
South Sudan's Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Designation Extended Through May 2, 2022
September 3, 2020. DHS extends the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for South Sudan for 18 months, taking it through May 2, 2022 for existing TPS holders.
K-1 Visa Applications Now a Priority for Consulates Re-Opening After COVID-19 Closures
August 28, 2020. DOS announces that it is resuming or increasing consular operations at various U.S. posts, and authorizing the posts to give K fiance visa cases high priority.
Most Asylum Seekers Won't Qualify for Work Permits Under New USCIS Rules
August 25, 2020. USCIS announces new rules that change which asylum applicants are eligible for a work permit and when.
Canadian and Mexican Borders With U.S. Still Closed for All But Essential U.S. Entries
August 14, 2020 Extending decisions first made earlier in 2020 when the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic began, the U.S. and Canada as well as Mexico will continue to restrict travel across the land borders.
Public Charge Rules Put on Temporary Hold During Pandemic by Federal Court
July 29, 2020 Manhattan federal court issues two nationwide injunctions blocking the Trump Administration's "public charge" rules concerning immigrant inadmissibility at least temporarily, during the period that the COVID-19 pandemic is considered a national health emergency.
August 24, 2020 Instead of reopening the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program as was widely expected after the Supreme Court's decision finding DACA's termination unlawful, the Trump Administration has issued new memos seeking to roll back and possibly ultimately terminate the program, and will not accept new applications.
Exceptions to Trump Visa Ban Clarified by Department of State
August 12, 2020: U.S. Department of State (DOS) issues an expanded list of the types of travel that it might consider to be in the national interest when making decisions on visa applications.
July 21, 2020 The Trump Administration, via an executive order, has vastly changed the U.S. immigration situation for people born in Hong Kong, suspending various laws that treated them as if they were from a separate country rather than grouping them with people from the PRC.
Fall 2020: Trump Administration Lets Foreign Students Attend Online-Only Schools After All
July 14 2020. A return to flexibility for foreign students taking online classes due to coronavirus pandemic.
Trump Blocks Visas for H-1B Skilled Workers, Many Other Temporary Visa Holders
June 22, 2020 Trump's latest immigration ban continues the ban on green cards that was set to expire June 23, 2020 and bans entry by people on several types of work visas.
Trump Cannot Arbitrarily End DACA Program, Supreme Court Rules
June 18, 2020. Ending months of doubt and uncertainty, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration cannot go forward with its planned termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
June 16, 2020 Worried parents have been asking whether a procedural mechanism called humanitarian parole could be utilized to let adoptive children enter the United States even before visa processing is complete.
Immigrant Attending Protest? Watch for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Presence
June 8, 2020 Although both ICE and CBP have stated they don’t plan to make immigration arrests during protests, media reports suggest they are nevertheless profiling and targeting immigrants.
U.S. to Refuse or Revoke Visas of Chinese Grad Students With Ties to China’s Military Schools
Effective June 1, 2020. Trump administration to examine visa applications and existing visas of Chinese graduate students and researchers in the United States and revoke or deny any where the person has direct ties to universities affiliated with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Brazil Added to List of Countries With Restricted Entry Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
May 26, 2020 Brazil added to list of countries from which travel to the U.S. is barred owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 14, 2020 Two new rules allow employers greater flexibility in hiring H-2A and H-2B workers in connection with the U.S. agricultural and food industries.
May 11, 2020 Coronavirus-related challenges in proving one's legal status while USCIS is delayed in making a decision on an I-751 or I-829.
September 11, 2020 Applicants and petitioners responding to requests for evidence (RFEs) and notices of intent to deny (NOIDs) from USCIS might have more time.
State Department Delays Opening Status Check System for Diversity Visas Lottery Applicants
April 27, 2020 Department of State tied up with COVID-19 related matters, postpones opening of Entrant Status Check system for diversity visa lottery applicants.
April 22, 2020 A Trump order temporarily barring immigration to the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic contains numerous exceptions.
In Light of COVID-19 Office Closures, USCIS Can Approve Adjustment of Status Without an Interview
April 16, 2020 USCIS appears to be granting permanent residence to some applicants without requiring the usual adjustment of status interview, to overcome the problem of USCIS office closures due to coronavirus pandemic.
Now, During COVID-19, Is Not the Time to Get a U.S. Passport, Unless You Can Prove an Emergency Need
March 27, 2020 U.S. State Department (DOS) is scaling back operations at its Regional Passport Agencies and acceptance facilities.
Non-Citizens and Others Lacking REAL-ID Cards Now Have Until 2021 to Get One
March 27, 2020 Due to office closures in response to the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic, the deadline to obtain REAL IDs has been pushed ahead one year, from October 1, 2020 to October 1, 2021.
March 18, 2020 Don't plan to visit a consulate or USCIS office, or attend a naturalization interview or ceremony, asylum interview, or other appointment until further notice, owing to coronavirus outbreak and response.
Ban Imposed on Travelers From Europe Due to Coronavirus Threat
March 13, 2020 Ban imposed on travel to U.S. from regions of Europe, owing to coronavirus threat.
Trump Expands Ban on Entry Due to Coronavirus to U.S. to Travelers From Iran
March 2, 2020 Trump issues new proclamation that suspends and limits U.S. entry by travelers holding immigrant or nonimmigrant visas if they were physically present in the Islamic Republic of Iran during 14-day period before requesting entry, owing to coronavirus spread.
USCIS Issues 2020 Poverty Guidelines: Raises Required Income Level for Family Sponsors of Immigrants
March 1, 2020 A U.S. sponsor filling out Form I-864 must prove that his or her income or assets are high enough to support the intending immigrants; and the 2020 guidelines require higher than ever support levels.
Trump Administration Announces New Denaturalization Task Force
February 26, 2020 New DOJ unit will investigate and start court proceedings against naturalized U.S. citizens whose status might have been gained based on lies or misrepresentation.
Expect Immigration Lawyers' Fees to Go Up Due to New U.S. Public Charge Forms and Requirements
February 25, 2020 As if the U.S. government's recently revised "public charge" regulations weren't already making it difficult enough for ordinary immigrant visa applicants to prove they have the financial means to survive in the U.S. without public assistance, the application process is about to get costlier for anyone using a lawyer.
With New Public Charge Rule Come New and Revised USCIS Forms
February 24, 2020 USCIS creates new forms for visa and green card applicants to fill out and revises a number of other forms, per new public charge inadmissibility rules.
Green Card Applicants Living in the U.S. Must Now Provide Credit Score
February 24, 2020 Trump Administration's latest rules on how being a likely "public charge" makes someone inadmissible to the U.S. and ineligible for a green card makes having a good credit history relevant for intending immigrants.
Supreme Court Allows New “Public Charge” Rule
February 24, 2020 United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin implementing the new and more restrictive rule as to which immigrant visa applicants are inadmissibility as likely to become a public charge.
Applicants for U.S. Visas Must Now Fill Out Public Charge Questionnaire
February 24, 2020. Along with issuing new public charge rules, Department of State requires all immigrant visa applicants and possibly some nonimmigrant visa applicants to fill out Form DS-5540 Public Charge Questionnaire.
Temporary Ban and Quarantine Affects Travel to the U.S. From China, Due to Coronavirus
February 2, 2020 Trump proclamation temporarily suspends travel from China and imposes quarantines.
U.S. Citizens May No Longer File I-130 Petitions While Living Abroad
February 1, 2020 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announces regardless of whether the U.S. petitioner lives abroad, Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, can only be submitted to USCIS in the U.S. or to the Department of State in exigent circumstances, but no longer with an overseas USCIS office.
January 31, 2020 Trump issues proclamation stopping U.S. consulates from issuing immigrant visas for U.S. entry to nationals, and reducing participation in diversity visa lottery.
New Restrictions Affect Pregnant Travelers to the U.S., to Deter "Birth Tourism"
January 24, 2020 U.S. State Department (DOS) issues major amendment to its regulations, restricting the ability of pregnant women to travel to the United States on B-2 tourist visas.
Somalians With TPS Can Stay Into 2021, But U.S.'s Refusal to Redesignate Means No New Applicants
January 17, 2020 Trump Administration announces that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will be extended for Somalians in the United States through September 17, 2021.
TPS for Yemen Extended Through September 3, 2021
January 3, 2020 Trump administration extends Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Yemen for another 18 months, taking it through September 3, 2021.