Blogs

An estimated 34% of DACA recipients do not have access to health insurance coverage. The Biden Administration is attempting to change that number with a new proposed rule to amend the definition of ‘lawful presence’ so that DACA recipients will be able to apply for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, where they may qualify for financial assistance based on income, and through their state Medicaid agency. Read our latest blog to learn more about this proposed new rule.

There are lots of rules when it comes to filing immigration petitions with USCIS, and almost always that means following directions about filing online or by mail. But a new USCIS announcement enables a certain group of petitioners to file USCIS petitions in person at a local USCIS field office [with an appointment]. Read our latest blog to learn about the new Special Immigrant Juvenile Status process USCIS has announced about in-person filings.

In another effort to reduce the amount of arrivals at the southern border, the U.S. has announced plans to open new migrant centers in Colombia and Guatemala, with plans to open the same type of centers in additional Latin American countries. Read our latest blog to learn about these new centers.

USCIS announced a new review process for the family parole process it started recently for certain nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Because of its backlog history, USCIS has been searching for new and innovative ways to process cases in a timely manner, and its latest way is essentially a lottery. Read our latest blog to learn about this new process.

With Mother’s Day having just taken place, and Father’s Day right around the corner, it’s only fitting that we talk about one of the hardest parts about immigration - family separation.  In an effort to combat a portion of family separation, USCIS has recently announced a new initiative that would enable certain family members of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who have an approved family-based petition (Form I-130) to wait for an immigrant visa in the United States on a temporary parole status. Read our latest blog to learn more about this new process available to nationals of Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti, Colombia, Guatemala, and Cuba. 

Raise your hand if you like deadlines. Just kidding, we don’t either. But we all know the government does. But in a policy change that surprised us, USCIS recently announced that it is removing the requirement that civil surgeons sign Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, no more than 60 days before filing a green card application. Read our latest blog to learn how this may affect your petition.

It’s no secret that USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) is notoriously behind on processing thousands of immigration applications.  Recognizing it needs to do more, USCIS has opened a first of its kind processing center - the HART Service Center - called such for the types of petitions it will process, Humanitarian, Adjustments, Removing Conditions, and Travel Documents. Read our latest blog to see if this latest service center will affect your case.

USCIS has updated its policy on paper filing deadlines. Read our latest blog to make sure you are not missing a deadline!

Over 400,000 people currently possess TPS (Temporary Protected Status) in the United States - a status that allows certain nationals of 16 specified countries to live and work legally in the United States for the time allotted by their nation’s TPS designation. Typically those on TPS do not usually travel, but USCIS has issued a new travel authorization document for TPS beneficiaries with a very important affect on future immigration petitions. Read our latest blog to learn more.

Beginning May 30, 2023, the U.S. State Department is set to raise fees for non-immigrants who are consular processing at U.S. embassies abroad, and for certain special visas. Read our latest blog to learn if this new change will affect you.

Have you received permanent residence status but still haven’t received your green card? If that’s your situation, you should learn about something called an ADIT stamp.  Read our latest blog to learn about USCIS' most recent announcement regarding ADIT stamps.

Science. Technology. Engineering. Mathematics. All the top 10 in-demand jobs in the United States are STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) jobs, and the U.S. has provided an easier path for international students in those fields to pursue temporary occupations in the United States.  Read our latest blog to learn about the new expedited processing that USCIS has put in place for certain F-1 students.

USCIS has been reassessing itself for improvements, and recently they made a good one. After years of on site inspections for R-1 visa petitioners, USCIS has announced a new change to the inspection process. Read our latest blog to learn more.

2016 - 2020 was a rough time for immigration.  During the Trump Administration many immigration laws were threatened, but immigration reform advocates were very hopeful when President Biden was elected, expecting Biden to follow through on his political stance and promises to protect DACA, limit deportation, and provide a pathway to citizenship for the undocumented population.  Instead, the Biden Administration has made a shocking announcement about asylum that almost no one saw coming.

Have you ever noticed that your green card looks different from your family members’ green cards who received them in different years? It’s not commonly known, but USCIS actually redesigns green cards and work permit cards every three to five years.  USCIS recently announced its latest redesign to its green cards and EAD cards - read our latest blog to learn about the validity of your current green card and EAD card.

Another day, another lawsuit filed against USCIS. A group of immigrants in Seattle have filed a federal class action lawsuit against USCIS for the multi-year backlog of their immigration cases. The lawsuit hopes to hold the Biden Administration accountable for the extreme delay in processing I-601A waivers, which has prevented the plaintiffs from becoming lawful permanent residents. Read our latest blog to learn more about this development.

The big question on our minds today: Will USCIS ever catch up to the backlog of petitions it has? While delays in processing aren't helpful for applicants, USCIS recently announced that if you have a conditional green card and have filed Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, your green card will be automatically extended for 48 months past its current expiration date. Read our latest blog to learn how this impacts your USCIS application.

Do you remember last month, when a terrible shooting occurred at a farm in Half Moon Bay, California? The shooting took place at a farm where most, if not all, of the workers were immigrants, and many of them were undocumented. With a renewed focus on just how inadequate the environments of undocumented workers can be, and what an unfair advantage employers have over them, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced an updated and enhanced process for workers to request deferred action for themselves and investigations into their employers. Read our latest blog to learn more about this DHS announcement.

USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) has announced a planned fee increase for its petitions, and has given the general public until March 6, 2023 to submit a formal comment on this proposed new rule that would enable fee increases to take place. Read our latest blog to learn what petitions the fee increase would affect, and what you can do to save money in filing.

USCIS has announced a turnaround on its terrible backlog rates - detailing in its 2022 Progress Report the ways that the federal agency has worked in the past year to reduce its enormous caseload. Read our latest blog to learn where USCIS's infamous backlog currently stands, and if the agency's new stated commitments will affect your case.

There is always a bit of confusion when people start a green card application.  Many wait years and years to qualify to file a green card application, but don’t realize that certain decisions when filing can cause the application to process differently - either slower or faster. Although you may question whether it is best to file the mandatory Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with a green card application or not, USCIS has finally made it clear. Read our latest blog to learn what the best step is when filing!

Do you have family members or close friends in Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, or Venezuela that you wish could be in the United States? You may be able to help them come live here, for a two year time period. On January 6, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security announced a new program by which a U.S. based supporter can petition to sponsor a national of Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, or Venezuela. We’ve got the answers you are looking for about it, read our latest blog to learn more.

If you had to guess, what percentage of those applying would you say pass the naturalization test every year? And for fun, what percentage of natural-born Americans would you guess would be able to pass the U.S. naturalization test? A typical USCIS interview for citizenship includes an English exam comprised of verbal, reading, and writing tests, as well as 10 civics questions chosen from a pool of 100 questions. Although it has used this format for years, USCIS has decided to redesign its exam, and is looking for people to participate in its trial for updates to the current naturalization test. Read our latest blog to learn more!

The world has lost a legend.  Edson Arantes Do Nascimento, known to the world as Pelé, was the king of football (soccer), an icon who won three World Cup championships, and a recipient of the rare O-1 visa, for individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement. Read our latest blog to learn more about the O-1 visa and Pelé's impact on the world.

Deadlines are always important in the immigration world and one we want you all to be aware of involves the new public charge rule which went into effect December 23, 2022.  While the rule is particularly significant for immigrants and immigration lawyers, its official start date impacts one of the most common immigration petitions submitted to USCIS, the I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, also known as a green card application.  Read our latest blog to learn about the change to the public charge rule.