Poland is the latest country to be designated into the Visa Waiver Program, meaning that, as of November 11, 2019, Polish citizens will be able to apply to travel to the United States for up to 90 days for purposes of business or pleasure without first obtaining a U.S. visa. A small piece of good[…]
This morning, USCIS announced that the rule to finalize a $10 fee for the new H1B preregistration process is now complete. That means, when the new process goes into effect next year, each application to register an H1B employee will be charged at $10. As more information becomes available, we will update you. We too[…]
USCIS announced that, effective November 29th, the premium processing fee is increasing from $1,410 to $1,440. This is only a $30 increase, but it will be worth monitoring to see whether small fee increases become more frequent. Copied from USCIS: Fee Increase Consistent with the Consumer Price Index Release Date: Oct. 30, 2019 WASHINGTON —[…]
As we all know, significant changes are in store for H-1Bs for FY2020, perhaps the biggest since the implementation of the program. USCIS envisions implementing a registration period where companies will pay a minimal $10 fee and provide information about themselves, the beneficiary they intend to hire, and basic information about the job. USCIS will[…]
USCIS announced today that it was revising the criteria for the Form I-912, which allows applicants to request waivers from filing fee and biometric fee requirements. Previously, the use of mean-tested benefits (such as SNAP and TANF) was used as a factor in considering whether an individual was exempt from paying these fees; the new[…]
After another longer-than-usual wait, the November 2019 Visa Bulletin was finally released yesterday. No particularly noteworthy developments this month. Most categories saw a decent amount of forward movement, with the exception of EB1 India, which remained at its 1 January 2015 priority date. The outlook for that category is not ideal, as it is expected[…]
Today, USCIS released a self-congratulatory statement emphasizing its FY 2019 statistics and accomplishments, particularly in the context of implementing and enforcing Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli praised the agency’s “significant steps to mitigate loopholes in our asylum system, combat fraudulent claims, and strengthen the protections we have in place.” Of course, those of[…]
Yesterday, USCIS announced that it was clarifying requirements for the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification. Mainly, USCIS is now requiring concrete evidence of a court’s intervention to provide relief from abuse, neglect, or abandonment, to ensure that the SIJ classification is not being used as a vehicle to obtain an immigration benefit. Needless to say,[…]
Friday afternoon saw the judicial hammer dropped, as the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York issued a nationwide preliminary injuction against the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed “Public Charge” rule, which was set to take effect in mere days. A much welcome victory on the immigration front, the decision saw[…]
Breaking news: The New AG’s office just tweeted that the public charge rule has been enjoined nation wide. Tweet copied below. More to share in due course. NY AG James @NewYorkStateAG BREAKING: We’ve secured a nationwide preliminary injunction to BLOCK Trump’s Public Charge Rule from taking effect. This rule would have had devastating impacts[…]