El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Haiti and Sudan. What do all these countries have in common? As of a week ago, the answer to that is an automatic extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Read our latest blog to learn if your TPS status qualifies for an extension.
It seems like a rare moment when the government can report a positive statistic, but when it happens there is reason to celebrate. The State Department (which manages U.S. embassies and consular processing of visas) is reporting processing immigrant visa applications at 130% of pre-pandemic monthly averages, which translates in the last year to having processed 8 million non-immigrant visas. Read our latest blog to learn about the reduction in visa interview wait times and how this is impacting embassies in Central America.
We know you are probably frustrated and tired. We are right there with you. After six years of lawsuits and broken promises about DACA, it can sometimes feel like politicians have forgotten what they need to fight for. While it definitely is not a permanent solution, the Biden Administration is keeping its summer promise to make DACA a federal rule. Read our latest blog to learn about the Department of Homeland Security’s new Final Rule to preserve and fortify DACA , which recently went into effect.
An estimated 2.3 million Hispanics of Cuban origin live in the United States, with 66% of those living in Florida. For those hoping that their relatives still in Cuba may have a way to join them things just got a bit easier. The State Department announced that limited immigrant visa services will resume at the U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba. Read our latest blog to learn more about the expanding visa services in Cuba.
Have you or a close family member wanted to become a U.S. citizen but felt like it was nearly impossible because of the English language and civic exam requirements? Good news! USCIS has announced an update to its Form N-648, the Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. Read our latest blog to learn if this updated guidance will help you or your family member be able to naturalize.
Venezuela is still in crisis. The country, which has seen economic upheaval, political turmoil, and a lack of basic goods for the last several years, has lost more than 7 million of its citizens recently, all fleeing the humanitarian crisis in the country. In speaking to the crisis the Biden Administration has announced a new limited parole program for up to 24,000 Venezuelans. Read our latest blog to see how this new program could assist you or your loved ones.
The population of Virginia Beach is about 463,000 people. When you combine that with the population of Norfolk, which is roughly 260,000 people, you get over 700,000 - the amount of people registered as DREAMers with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals). A new court ruling impacts Dreamers in a big way, read our latest blog to learn about it.
People talk a lot about obtaining a Green Card (lawful permanent resident card) in the United States, but not a lot of focus is put on what happens afterwards. USCIS has made a new announcement for Green Card holders needing to renew. Read our latest blog to learn more!
As it has often been said, there is no greater sacrifice to our country than that of those willing to give their lives to maintain freedom and democracy. And yet sometimes those members of the military have to fight at home, to advocate for the rights they are supposed to already be entitled to. A recently settled lawsuit will affect USCIS policy regarding expedited naturalization for U.S. military members - read our latest blog to learn more.
Remember that immigration backlog we keep telling you about? In 2019 the immigration court in Arlington, Virginia had the third largest backlog of immigration cases in the United States. Today, the Department of Justice is attempting to help the issue. The Arlington Immigration Court is moving to Annandale and an additional immigration court has opened in Sterling, Virginia. Read our latest blog to learn about the new immigration courts in Virginia and what will happen to the cases previously at the Arlington court.
Photo by Ronal Labrador on Unsplash Approximately 111,700 people are in a position this week to extend their time in the United States. On September 8, 2022 the re-registration process for Venezuelan TPS (Temporary Protected Status) holders opened, and will be open until November 7, 2022, lasting 60 days. Any Venezuelan national who currently has TPS status will need to re-register during that time in order to maintain their status. Read our latest blog to learn how to re-register.
Have you ever googled “USCIS backlog”? The results are full of stories, reports, and policy announcements that we already know - the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency is woefully behind on processing cases. We recognize that many of you know this because you a...
We know that many of our clients and readers have felt the strain of the last few years, feeling unsure of their continued legal status in the country that is supposed to be home. In the last six years roughly 700,000 Dreamers have been presented with a multitude of politicians - all with broken promises about DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Now the Biden Administration is attempting to rectify the legal procedure by turning DACA into a federal rule, instead of just an executive order. Read our latest blog to learn more about this ongoing situation.
Do you remember that famous Oprah episode from 2004? “You get a car and YOU get a car!” Well it seems that if it chose to, the U.S. government could have a similar situation of giveaways, but with employment-based green cards. Read our latest blog to learn about the visa dilemma USCIS has found itself in during the last month of its fiscal year.
If there is anything the United States Congress is known for, sadly, as of late it is refusing to work across the aisle, even for matters that the general public support, regardless of political party. However, an immigration issue with widespread bipartisan public support is helping the Afghan evacuees, with 81% of the American public agreeing that the U.S. should assist them. It has now been one year since Afghanistan fell, and one year since Afghan evacuees started arriving on U.S. soil. Read our latest blog to learn about what Congress is trying to pass to help the evacuees.
We all know the basics of how normal businesses work - how much money a business makes impacts who they are able to hire and how they are able to run the business. But did you know that USCIS, a government agency, also runs on that business model? USCIS is almost entirely fee-based and is apparently feeling the effects of inflation. Read our latest blog to learn about why the Biden Administration is reviewing changes to the USCIS fee structure.
Have you wondered whether we’re still in a pandemic, or whether things have returned to normal? It seems it depends on what industry you’re in. USCIS is still firmly acting like the pandemic is in full swing - which can have both positive and negative effects for USCIS applicants. But a recent announcement from USCIS on extensions due to the pandemic is welcome news and we'd like to share it with you. Read our latest blog to know what the extensions apply to.
More than 123,000 Afghans were brought to the United States since the fall of the Afghan government in August 2021. Of those, thousands have yet to be given a permanent immigrant status. Today a special immigrant visa (SIV) is available to Afghans who worked for more than one year for the U.S. military or international forces in conjunction with the U.S., but the requirements make it difficult to obtain. USCIS and the State Department have announced an update for SIV applications to ease the process. Read our latest blog to learn more.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas designated Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status in March of 2021. The TPS was designated for 18 months, and was set to expire in two months. However, as of July 11, the Department of Homeland Security has announced an extension of that designation for another 18 months. Read our latest blog to learn whether you qualify for this extension and how to renew your current TPS status.
There’s been a lot in the news lately about Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and this month brings even more. Beginning July 1, 2022, USCIS issued a new travel authorization document to TPS beneficiaries: Form I-512T, Authorization for Travel by a Noncitizen to the United States, and will no longer be using Authorization for Parole of an Alien Into the United States (Form I512L). Read our latest blog to learn how this affects you as a TPS recipient.
It’s no secret that USCIS is woefully behind on working through immigration petitions that have been submitted to it. In another attempt to quicken employment authorization document (EAD) processing times USCIS has announced that it will stop sending out “combo cards” - an EAD card that also gave the benefit of international travel through a process called advanced parole. Read our latest blog to learn more about this announcement.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is just that - a temporary status that doesn’t lead to a path of permanent residency. But a new legal settlement is giving hope for those that were caught in the lingering uncertainty of removal and residency. Read our latest blog to learn how this may impact you.
It feels like such a distant memory at this point, but remember just over two years ago when you could travel across borders and not need to show a negative COVID test or proof (or exception) of a COVID vaccine? Well the United States, in conjunction with the CDC (Center for Disease Control), has taken a first step to return the country back to pre-pandemic travel guidelines. Read our latest blog to learn what the new travel rules are.
About six weeks ago the Department of Homeland Security designated Cameroon as the latest country to be granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Now the registration process has opened and we encourage all eligible Cameroonians in the U.S. who are without status or are anticipating losing status to apply for TPS. Read our latest blog to learn how to apply for this status.
More than 44,000 children in the United States are waiting to receive green cards through the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) program, but like many other immigrant visa classifications in the U.S., the wait for those with pending SIJS visa applications has been far longer than the government intended. Recognizing this wait, the U.S. just announced a way for SIJS candidates to obtain employment authorization. Read our latest blog to learn more.
