WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expanded its policy guidance regarding unlawful acts that may prevent an applicant from meeting the good moral character (GMC) requirement for naturalization. The commission of, or conviction or imprisonment for, an unlawful act, during the statutory period for naturalization, may render an applicant ineligible for naturalization should the...
USCIS Seeks Surcharge to Immigration Applications [The Wall Street Journal]
The Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule that adjusts fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefit requests to ensure U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recovers its costs of services.
Unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee funded. Fees collected and deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account fund nearly 97% of USCIS’ budget.
As...
USCIS ENDING TWO CATEGORICAL PAROLE PROGRAMS
In keeping with the agency’s August 2019 announcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on Dec 23rd, 2020, a Federal Register notice requesting public comments on revisions to Form I-131, Application for Travel Document to remove sections relating to the Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) and the Filipino World War II Veterans (FWVP) Parole...
The Three Sections of Form I-9
DHS is ending the COVID-19 Temporary Policy for List B Identity Documents. Beginning May 1, Employers will no longer be able to accept expired List B documents.
DHS adopted the temporary policy in response to the difficulties many individuals experienced with renewing documents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that document issuing authorities have reopened and/or...
DHS Extends Form I-9 Requirement Flexibility (12/23/20)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19.
This temporary guidance was set to expire December 31.Because of ongoing precautions related to COVID-19, DHS has extended this policy an additional...
ABC’s OF H-1Bs (THIS IS PART 1 OF AN 8 PART SERIES) H-1B FILING SEASON (FOR THE 2021 DEADLINE ON APRIL 1st) GETS INTO FULL-SWING FOR H-1B EMPLOYERS AND PROSPECTIVE H-1B EMPLOYEES.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Dec 6, 2019, announced a requirement for employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, to first electronically register and pay the associated $10.00 H-1B registration fee before filing a petition. USCIS will open an initial registration period from March 1...
Último ataque aos requerentes de asilo
Em 11 de dezembro de 2020, o Departamento de Segurança Interna dos EUA publicou novas regulamentações de asilo. Espera-se que as regras entrem em vigor em 11 de janeiro de 2021. As novas regras alteram significativamente a elegibilidade para asilo, incluindo fatores discricionários e procedimento de aplicação. Essas regras são uma revisão de todo...
Último ataque a los solicitantes de asilo
El 11 de diciembre de 2020, el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de EE. UU. Publicó nuevas regulaciones de asilo. Se espera que las reglas entren en vigencia el 11 de enero de 2021 y cambien significativamente la elegibilidad para el asilo, incluidos los factores discrecionales y el procedimiento de solicitud. La nueva regla es...
Latest Attack on Asylum Seekers
On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published new asylum regulations. The rules are expected to take effect on January 11, 2021, and they significantly change eligibility for asylum including discretionary factors and procedure for applying. The new rule is an overhaul of the entire asylum process and the Trump Administration’s...
USCIS UPDATES DISCRETIONARY CRITERIA FOR CASE-BY-CASE INTERVIEW DETERMINATIONS OF ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS APPLICATIONS BASED ON REFUGEE OR ASYLEE STATUS
On Dec 15th, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an update expanding the discretionary criteria USCIS officers use to determine whether to interview applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, based on refugee or asylum status.
The updated criteria are well within the parameters of USCIS’ regulatory authority to...
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