Blogs

9.2 out of 1000. That’s the number of the approximately 1.1 million immigrants in Virginia who suffer harm from a crime, some of which are qualifying situations for a U visa. But in order to even apply for a U visa, an applicant has to have their case certified by a government agency. In March of this year the ACLU of Virginia made history by filing a lawsuit against the Roanoke Police Department for refusing to sign a U visa certification. Read our latest blog to understand how this lawsuit may affect our area.

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.

Due to extreme visa backlogs, thousands of families have to wait up to twenty years or more for the promise of permanency in the United States. The Biden Administration and Congress is trying to change that, but the Build Back Better Act faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Read our latest blog to learn more about how we hope the green card backlog will be eased.

In early October the Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued two new rules regarding H1-B visas, both of which were issued without the public notice and comment typically required when new rules like that are put in place. That effort will now be blocked, as U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White informed the government it was mistaken and misleading in its attempts to issue these rules without following the proper procedure. Read our latest blog to learn more about this ruling regarding H1-B Visas.

The government has announced that new USCIS fee increases will take effect on October 2, 2020. These fees will affect immigration applications filed in the United States, including our Virginia Beach community.

The United Sates Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices have officially reopened their buildings, including the local USCIS office in Norfolk, Virginia. As USCIS appointments begin again, we want you to be aware of the guidance USCIS has set forth to ensure the health and safety of all who enter its buildings.

A federal judge in Washington D.C. has ruled that former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cucinelli's appointment by President Trump as head of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) last year was done unlawfully.  Cuccinelli, who was Attorney General of Virginia from January 2010 to...