As Aug. 13, 2021, the USCIS has received enough petitions for returning workers to reach the additional 22,000 H-2B visas made available under the FY 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule. We will reject and return any cap-subject petitions for H-2B returning workers received after Aug. 13, together with any accompanying fees. As previously announced, we …
Tag: immigration
DHS Seeks Public Comment on Public Charge Rule-making
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking data and information from the public that DHS intends to use to develop a public charge regulatory proposal. The purpose of public comment is to ensure that the proposal is fair, consistent with law, and informed by relevant data and evidence. Public comment also will help DHS …
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USCIS Reaches Settlement Agreement in “No Blank Space Rejection Policy” Case
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reached a settlement agreement in the case of Vangala et al. v. USCIS et al., No. 4:20-cv-08143(N.D. Cal.). The agreement allows certain individuals to receive updated receipt dates for resubmitted immigration benefit applications or petitions originally rejected under the former “No Blank Space” rejection policy. Under this former policy, USCIS rejected filings …
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Justice Department Settles with Iowa-Based Nursing Home and Management Company to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim
The Department of Justice announced today that it reached a settlement with JP Senior Healthcare LLC and JP Senior Management LLC, resolving the department’s claims that these companies violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against a Latino employee based on assumptions that the worker was not a U.S. citizen. JP Senior Management …
U.S. expands Citizenship Eligibility for Children born Overseas through Surrogacy or In Vitro Fertilization
The Biden administration recently expanded the eligibility of certain children born overseas through assisted reproductive technology (ART). ART is used to treat infertility and conceive children through various techniques such as surrogacy or in vitro fertilization. Until this new policy change, the US could deny citizenship to children conceived through ART and born abroad, even …
Lawsuit Seeks to Prevent USCIS’s Potential Waste of Thousands of Employment-Based Visas
Each year, the US immigration system allocates approximately 140,000 employment-based green cards that are distributed to applicants based on country of birth and other criteria. Despite the high demand for these green cards, the government often fails to issue all of the available green cards in a fiscal year. This failure is devastating because the …
How to Get your Congressman to Help with your Immigration Case
The immigration process is long and requires patience. If you are waiting for a decision on your application and it has taken longer than the USCIS estimated processing time or if you have a strong reason to ask for expedited processing of your case, your U.S. congressional representative might be able to help. The first …
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USCIS Announces that I-485 Applicants can Apply for Social Security Number or Replacement Card as part of Green Card Process
USCIS announced today that applicants filing for lawful permanent resident status are now able to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) or replacement card as part of the adjustment of status application process. Previously, these individuals had to apply for a Social Security number at a Social Security office. USCIS is revising Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, …
USCIS Removes Barriers to U.S. Citizenship for Children Born Abroad Through Assisted Reproductive Technology
WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced updated policy guidance affecting children born outside of the United States and the determination of whether children born through assisted reproductive technology (ART) are considered to have been born “in wedlock.” This policy update will allow a non-genetic, non-gestational legal parent of a child to transmit U.S. citizenship to the child if the parent is married to the child’s …
TPS Registration Period Extended to 18 Months for Applicants from Venezuela, Syria and Burma
WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice (FRN) announcing extensions of the registration periods from 180 days to 18 months for initial (new) applicants for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the designations of Venezuela and Burma, and the redesignation of Syria. This notice also provides certain specific corrections to the FRN regarding Venezuela …