Green Card Applicants Must Be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19
Beginning October 1, 2021, all individuals applying for a U.S. green card must submit evidence that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced this policy on August 24, 2021, and said that...
U.S. Extends Nonessential Travel Restrictions at Northern and Southern Borders
On August 21, 2021, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) extended the temporary travel restrictions at the northern and southern borders, to reduce the spread of COVID-19. In March 2020, U.S. officials reached mutual agreements with the...
USCIS Extends Validity Period of Filed I-693 Medical Examination Reports
On August 12, 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would temporarily extend the validity period for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, from two years to four years. A Form...
U.S. Offers Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Residents of Hong Kong
On August 5, 2021, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced that President Joe Biden had issued a memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to defer the removal of Hong Kong residents presently in the...
U.S. Extends TPS Registration Periods for Venezuela, Syria, and Burma
On August 3, 2021, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice in the Federal Register that extended the TPS registration periods during which individuals would be eligible to file initial (new) applications for Temporary Protected...
U.S. Designates Haiti for Temporary Protected Status and Offers Work Authorization to Haitians in F-1 Status
On May 22, 2021, the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security first announced a new designation of the country of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The TPS program provides temporary protections in the U.S. to eligible nationals of countries...
USCIS Closes Biometrics Processing Unit
On July 28, 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would be closing its Biometrics Processing Unit in Alexandria, Virginia. As a result, USCIS will no longer accept written requests to reschedule biometric services...
Covid-19 Update: Taiwan Continues to Suspend Entry of Non-Resident Foreign Nationals
The Taiwan CDC announced today that entry restrictions and measures will continue indefinitely for Taiwan. This means that non-ROC nationals without a valid Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) will continue to be temporarily barred from entry. Further,...
Canada Easing of Border Restrictions
On July 19, 2021, Canada announced a series of changes to the border closure between the United States and Canada which has been ongoing since March 2020. These changes will go into effect on August 9, 2021, at 12:01 am EST and those planning to enter Canada on...
U.S. Extends and Re-designates Yemen for Temporary Protected Status
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an 18-month extension of Yemen’s designation for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This allows approximately 1,700 beneficiaries to retain TPS for 18 months, through March 3, 2023, if...