Press Release / News / Updates

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)
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The USCIS lockbox facilities have received a significant increase in filings in recent weeks. This increase, along with facility capacity restrictions necessary to protect the health and safety of the lockbox workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, is causing significant delays for processing receipt notices. USCIS continues to work to minimize delays. Once USCIS processes your submission, it will review your package.

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On September 29, 2020, A federal district court issued a nationwide injunction, blocking U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) from implementing a rule to significantly increase immigration filing fees. The final rule had been scheduled to take into effect Friday, Oct. 2.
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The future of U.S. immigration policy and the fate of thousands of H-1B, L-1 and other visa holders rests in the hands of a federal judge. Arguments were heard on a preliminary injunction filed by businesses against the Trump administration’s June 2020 proclamation to suspend the entry of foreign nationals on H-1B, L-1, H-2B and (most) J-1 temporary visas. The critical question before District Judge Jeffrey S. White: Does the president possess essentially unlimited power to override immigration laws passed by Congress and block any visa holder from entering the United States?
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the launch of a new Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) initiative that will enable agencies that administer federal means-tested benefits to ensure more effective compliance with federal laws, regulations, and policies related to financial support of aliens by their sponsors and agency reimbursement.
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On August 3, 2020, 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. The rule, which will be effective October 2, 2020, also removes certain fee exemptions, changes fee waiver requirements, alters premium processing time limits, and modifies intercountry adoption processing. Any application, petition, or request postmarked on or after October 2, 2020, must be accompanied with the fees set forth in the final rule.
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Can The U.S. Economy Survive Without Immigration? What does our Nation’s future hold?
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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.
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The Department of Homeland Security announced it will lift its ban on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) for New York residents. After DHS cut off the TTP program in February, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature amended the law that prevents sharing of information to federal law enforcement officers who are working to protect the citizens of New York and the American people.
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Today, USCIS launched a redesigned uscis.gov website, which USCIS designed with input from applicants, petitioners, and the public. In addition to a new look and feel, USCIS has improved the website to help web visitors better navigate USCIS existing online tools and resources, as well as to file and manage applications and petitions online.
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is set to launch a six-week "Citizens Academy" course on immigration enforcement, which will include training for citizens on how to arrest undocumented immigrants.

A letter published online by The St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America (IFCLA) appears to show ICE Chicago Field Office Director Robert Guadian inviting shareholders to participate in the course, which includes six days of training over a six-week period starting in September.
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