USCIS Extends Due Date Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests
Shortly after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and a national emergency, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it would offer “flexibility” to assist customers responding to certain requests and notices. This accommodation has been...
Nonessential Travel Restrictions Extended at Canada–United States–Mexico Borders
In March 2020, U.S. officials reached mutual agreements with the governments of Mexico and Canada that nonessential travel across the land borders would lead to increased risk of COVID-19 transmission. The three countries agreed to limit travel through land ports of...
July 2021 Visa Bulletin Released
On June 16, 2021, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) posted the July 2021 visa bulletin, which announces the availability of immigrant visas for various categories of applicants. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is currently using the Final Action...
U.S. Department of Justice Reverses Asylum Restrictions for Domestic Abuse and Gang Violence
On June 16, 2021, U.S. Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland vacated several controversial rulings issued by his predecessors that made asylum nearly impossible for victims of domestic abuse or gang violence. In doing so, he restored the possibility of asylum...
USCIS Releases Preliminary Numbers for FY2022 H-1B Cap Lottery
In March 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducted the annual lottery for H-1B visas during fiscal year (FY) 2022, which begins on October 1, 2021. On June 15, 2021, USCIS announced that it received 308,613 H-1B registrations for FY2022 and...
USCIS Announces Policy Updates to Improve Immigration Services
On June 9, 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced revised policies related to certain immigration services. According to Acting USCIS Director Tracy Renaud, these measures are steps that will “eliminate unnecessary barriers to our...
Supreme Court Restricts Path to Green Card for Certain TPS Holders
On June 7, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion holding that a grant of temporary protected status (TPS) does not make an individual who unlawfully entered the U.S. eligible to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR), or green card holder. The TPS...
U.S. Department of State Revises National Interest Exceptions to COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
On May 27, 2021, the U.S. Secretary of State made a revised determination that certain categories of travelers should be eligible for exceptions from the regional COVID-19 travel restrictions implemented by Presidential Proclamations (PPs) 9984, 9992, 10143,...
U.S. Department of State Revises National Interest Exceptions to COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
On May 27, 2021, the U.S. Secretary of State made a revised determination that certain categories of travelers should be eligible for exceptions from the regional COVID-19 travel restrictions implemented by Presidential...
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Warns Foreign Travelers Not to Use Third-Party Websites
On May 26, 2021, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) released a news alert warning about fraudulent and misleading websites aimed at foreign travelers, including some that mimic U.S. government websites. There are also third-party...