Public Charge Rule Under Reconsideration by DHS
On February 2, 2021, President Biden signed the Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans, which restates the government’s commitment to the full participation of...
Alejandro Mayorkas Sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security
The U.S. Senate voted today to confirm Alejandro Mayorkas, President Biden’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Secretary Mayorkas, who was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. as a refugee during his childhood, brings an immigrant perspective to...
Is Your Degree Eligible for STEM OPT?
The Student and Visitor Exchange Program (SEVP) recently updated its list of designated U.S. degrees that are considered part of the STEM fields—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. SEVP did not add or remove degrees, but the new list aligns the degrees...
Travel Restrictions Remain under Biden Administration
One of the campaign promises that the Biden-Harris team made—and implemented on Day 1—was ending the travel ban enacted by the previous administration to block travelers from majority-Muslim and African countries. More than a week after inauguration,...
USCIS Data Shows Decline in H-1B RFEs and Denials
On January 25, 2021, USCIS released its latest quarterly report on the adjudication—including the issuance of RFEs—of Form I-129 petitions. The report breaks down the data by month and quarter for each of the...
USCIS Proposes Wage-Based System for Annual H-1B Cap Selection
On Friday, January 8, 2021, the outgoing DHS published a Final Rule changing the structure of the annual H-1B lottery selection. This rule is set to take effect on March 9, 2021, but there are several ways it could be delayed or rescinded so as not to impact the...
Entry Permit Processing Resumes and COVID-19 Test Requirement Introduced
The authorities in the UAE have resumed the processing of new entry permit applications for most applicants currently residing outside the UAE. However, the processing of new entry permit applications are still suspended for citizens of the following countries:...
Fast Lane Arrangement to Facilitate Short-term Essential Business Travel between Singapore and China
Effective 8 June 2020, the Governments of Singapore and China have established a Fast Lane Arrangement to facilitate short-term essential business and official travel between Singapore and six Chinese Provinces & Municipalities (Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu,...
USCIS Application Service Centers Announce Reopening Schedule
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the reopening of its Application Service Centers (ASCs) across the United States. Under this schedule, some ASCs will reopen as early as 13 July 2020. The precise reopening date will vary among the...
Amendments to the Self-Isolation Requirement for Certain Arrivals
Starting 10 July 2020, travelers arriving at all ports of entry and staying in England and coming from a country on the travel corridors exemption list will be exempt from the self-isolation requirement, provided that they have not visited or stopped in a country that...