Effect of CBP's I-94 Automation Program on the I-9 Verification Process Despite the automation of Form I-94, "USCIS will continue to require applicants to submit a paper copy of Form I-94 when requesting certain benefits. Other government agencies, such as…
Blog Archives
Hurricane Sandy Closes Multiple USCIS Offices
USCIS announces closure of multiple offices affected by hurricane Sandy (check the link below for the list of closed offices). Appointments will be rescheduled automatically to the next available appointment date. Hurricane Sandy has also impacted the USCIS phone operations…
Posted in Updates Tagged with: Hurricane Sandy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, USCIS Closures
ICE Issues Memo On Applicability Of “Family Relationships” To LGBT Individuals
This ICE memo was issued following DHS Sec. Napolitano’s Sept. 27 directive regarding the exercise of prosecutorial discretion with respect to lesbian, gay bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. The memo states, among others, that: The factor of ‘family relationships’ encompasses…
Posted in Updates Tagged with: Humanitarian, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, LGBT, Prosecutorial Discretion
USCIS Announces New Filing Option On behalf Of Canadian TN Nonimmigrants
USCIS announced that it will start accepting TN petitions on behalf of Canadian beneficiaries, who are outside of the United States beginning October 1. Prior to the announcement, initial requests by Canadian nationals for TN classification can only be submitted…
Taiwan Joins Visa Waiver Program Countries
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) adds Taiwan to the list of countries that are eligible for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Under the program, passport holders of VWP-eligible countries may travel to the United States without a visa provided that…
USCIS Announces Transfer Of Workload From Service Centers To Field Operations
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent out a news alert to notify its stakeholders that some of the cases that are being processed at USCIS service centers will be transferred to a field office or to the National Benefits…
Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) Victory!
Last Wednesday, in De Osorio v. Mayorkas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th circuit joined the 5th circuit in ruling that the plain language of the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) unambiguously grants automatic conversion and priority date…
President Signs S.3245
Today, the President signed into law, among others, “S. 3245, which extends to September 30, 2015, the expiration dates of key requirements of four immigration programs administered by the Department of Homeland Security: the EB-5 Regional Center Program; the E-Verify Program; the…
Posted in Updates Tagged with: Conrad 30 J-1 Waiver, E-Verify, EB-5, Regional Centers, Religious Workers, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
DHS Clarifies “Family Relationships” In Prosecutorial Discretion Cases Involving LGBTs
In a letter to U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano stated: In an effort to make clear the definition of the phrase “family relationships,” I have directed ICE to disseminate written guidance to the field that the interpretation…
Posted in Updates Tagged with: Department of Homeland Security, Humanitarian, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, LGBT, Prosecutorial Discretion
