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News & EventsPractice Pointer: Obtaining the Appropriate Number of Endorsed Forms I-129S
Last month, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) published an article detailing recent reports that some consular offices (COs) have been endorsing fewer than three (3) Forms I-129S in spite of 9 FAM 402.12-8(F)(b) guidelines/instructions which state...
The Statistical Effects of Recent Immigration Policy Changes
In a National Foundation for American Policy Brief released this month, the Foundation tracked the statistical effects of recent immigration policy changes made under the Trump Administration. Below, we’ve included data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services...
USCIS Issues Request For Evidence Challenging a Permanent Labor Certification
Our offices received a copy of a recent Request for Evidence (RFE) for a third preference EB-3 employment-based I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers that appears to signal a change in adjudication practices for the United States Citizenship and Immigration...
USCIS Adjusting Premium Processing Fee
On August 31, 2018, the United States and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that they are adjusting the premium processing fee for Form I-129 and I-140. Beginning on October 1, 2018, the premium processing fee will increase from the current fee of $1,225 to...
September 2018 Visa Bulletin Issued
The Department of State (DOS) has issued its September 2018 Visa Bulletin. Most notably, there continues to be no advancement for the priority dates for EB-1 for China and India. While there were slight advancements for the remained of EB-1 priority dates, the EB-2...
USCIS Extends and Expands Suspension of H-1B Premium Processing
In March 2018, the United States and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a temporary suspension of premium processing for H-1B petitions that are subject to the H-1B CAP. On August 28, 2018, USCIS announced an extension of the temporary suspension and expanded it...
USCIS Issues Revised Final Policy Memorandum for Unlawful Presence
On August 9, 2018, the United States and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a revised final policy memorandum related to unlawful presence. Effective August 9, 2018, nonimmigrants with F (student) and M (vocational student) visas who fall out of status and file in...
USCIS Updating Information on STEM OPT
The United States and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) page of their website in order to provide important clarifications. Specifically, students and employers will be required to report...
Prudential Revocation of Nonimmigrant Visas
In accordance with The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 and its amendments, the Secretary of State has the authority to revoke a visa at any time. The State Department (DOS) has revoked visas based on receipt of derogatory information, such as an arrest (i.e.,...
USCIS Postpones Implementation of Guidance on Notices to Appear
Previously, our office reported that the United States and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided new guidance on June 28, 2018 regarding issuances of Notices to Appear (NTA). Specifically, this new guidance stated that USCIS officers would issue NTAs for a wider range...