U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue issuing work permits to eligible H-4 visa holders at least through next spring, according to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS indicated that further delays could occur, describing the spring timeframe as “aspirational.” DHS made the revelation last week in a letter dated Sept. 16, 2019, to…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will change its policy on residence in some cases, which will end automatic U.S. citizenship for some children. The move marks the Trump administration’s continued effort to make it harder for foreign-born individuals to acquire citizenship. Currently, USCIS considers the children of U.S. service members and government employees residing outside…
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has proposed charging a $10 fee to employers to register each H-1B lottery candidate, starting with next year’s lottery. This year, USCIS announced plans to change the H-1B lottery process by requiring employers to electronically pre-register candidates for the annual lottery. For years,…
We’re very excited to better understand how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is shaping the H-1B lottery for the future, starting next year. It published two different proposals for the pre-registration process for employers planning to submit petitions in the next H-1B lottery. This year, USCIS changed the H-1B lottery process by requiring employers…
Individuals looking to extend their student visa or visitor visa for business or pleasure can now file online through the eProcessing system. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently launched its online eProcessing system with Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status). Now, you can renew the following visas online: B-1 temporary visitor for business…
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are turning away some Canadian workers at the border. Without notice, CBP abandoned a decades-long policy of allowing Canadians to apply for L-1 visa renewals directly at U.S. ports of entry. And now, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) reports that CBP officials at some points of entry…
Nearly 260 million people will be flying during the summer. If you’re one of them, traveling abroad to visit friends and family—and you also hold a visa or green card—there are a few things you should keep in mind. Check Your Expiration Date This may sound obvious, but make sure your visa, green card,…
Late last year, founding partner Sophie Alcorn wrote about the dramatic rise processing times for some forms by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Since then, the processing times have improved for many visa and green card categories. However, processing times for many employment-based and family-based green cards continue to steadily increase. USCIS takes 10…
For immigrants, establishing a strong credit score may prove necessary for more than just qualifying for a mortgage or auto loan. Last year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed using a credit score to determine whether an immigrant is “self-sufficient” and admissible. The Alcorn Immigration Law team only practices U.S. immigration law. Much of…
President Trump issued a memorandum aimed at placing new immigration restrictions on individuals who hold nonimmigrant (temporary stay) visas. The “Presidential Memorandum on Combating High Nonimmigrant Overstay Rates” orders the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to immediately take “all appropriate actions that are within the scope of their respective authorities to…