Immigration Update – April 26, 2021

Headlines: SSA Ends “No-Match” Letters – The Social Security Administration has ended the practice of sending employers “no-match” letters, called Employer Correction Request Notices. DHS to Make Additional 22,000 Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker Visas Available – In light of increased labor demands, the Department of Homeland Security announced a supplemental increase of 22,000 visas this fiscal […]

Immigration Update – April 20, 2021

Headlines: President Biden Will Raise Refugee Cap Following Backlash – President Biden plans to raise the cap on refugees for FY 2021 by May 15, 2021. The announcement followed a backlash after he announced originally that refugee admissions this fiscal year would be kept at 15,000. President Biden Picks Nominees for USCIS, CBP – President […]

Immigration Update – April 12, 2021

Headlines: State Dept. Updates Visa Services Guidance, Policy on National Interest Exceptions for Regional COVID Proclamations – The Department of State recently released several updates. Attorneys, AILA Sue State Dept. for Unlawfully Refusing to Issue Visas Due to Certain Travel Bans – Attorneys Jeff Joseph of Joseph and Hall PC, Charles Kuck of Kuck Baxter […]

Immigration Update – April 05, 2021

Headlines: Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Senate Would Provide Up to 40,000 Unused Immigrant Visas for Doctors, Nurses – The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would provide unused employment-based immigrant visas for up to 25,000 foreign nurses and 15,000 foreign physicians and their family members. USCIS Completes Initial FY 2022 H-1B Cap Season Selections; Petitions May Be […]

Immigration Update – March 29, 2021

Headlines: Class Action Filed Against DHS for L-2 and H-4 Processing Delays – The American Immigration Lawyers Association and Wasden Banias, LLP, filed a class action lawsuit challenging processing delays on extensions of status and employment authorization documents for H-4 and L-2 nonimmigrant spouses. USCIS Extends Flexibilities for Responding to Agency Requests – USCIS will […]

Immigration Update – March 22, 2021

Headlines: House Passes ‘Dreamer’ and Farmworker Bills; Senate Passage Uncertain – On March 18, 2021, two immigration-related bills passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. DHS Withdraws Affidavit of Support Proposed Rule – The Department of Homeland Security announced the withdrawal of a proposed rule, “Affidavit of Support on Behalf of Immigrants,” published on […]

Immigration Update – March 16, 2021

Headlines: DHS Rescinds Public Charge Rule, Withdraws Appeals of Injunctions Blocking It – DHS rescinded regulations resulting from a final rule that was vacated by a federal district court. Under the now-rescinded rule, the government could deny applications for green cards, temporary nonimmigrant status, and naturalization if the government found they relied on—or were at […]

Immigration Update – March 08, 2021

Headlines: Dept. of State Issues New Guidance on Exceptions for Travelers From Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland – The Department of State rescinded the previous national interest determination regarding categories of travelers eligible for exceptions under Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10143 related to the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. Those […]

Immigration Update – March 01, 2021

Headlines: President Biden Revokes Trump-Era Ban on Entry of Many Immigrants; State Dept. Issues Instructions on Exceptions to Nonimmigrant Ban – President Biden revoked former President Trump’s proclamation issued in April 2020 that banned many immigrants from entering the United States. The Department of State issued instructions on exceptions to the nonimmigrant ban. March Visa […]

Immigration Update – February 22, 2021

Headlines: “U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021” Unveiled by Biden Administration, Democrats – The Biden administration and Democratic sponsors in the Senate and House of Representatives have put forth a sweeping new immigration reform bill, the 353-page “U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021.” USCIS Reaches FY 2021 H-1B Cap – USCIS issued official confirmation that it has […]