Effective January 22, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is waiving "any and all requirements" that applicants for adjustment of status to permanent residence present documentation on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and...
Topic: Immigration Articles
Senate Confirms Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary
On Saturday, January 25, 2025, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security. She will oversee U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She previously was...
The First Week: Round-Up of Key Trump Immigration Actions
As expected, there has been a flurry of immigration-related actions since President-elect Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025. Selected key highlights include: Wide-ranging Executive Order issued, "Protecting the American People Against Invasion." On January 20,...
Potential Impact of the Laken Riley Act on Immigration Policy
Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by Vox in What's Actually in Congress' Harsh New Immigration Bill? The article discusses the Laken Riley Act, named after a young woman killed by an undocumented person in February 2024. Steve said, "The federal government will never have...
Impact of H-1B Visa Restrictions on International Students
Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by Times Higher Education in "Dire Consequences": Colleges in Crossfire of Trump Visa Debate. He said that discussions over H-1B work visas are tied into a wider debate around immigration. "H-1B work visas are a common way for international...
Visa Bulletin for February Includes Details About March Expiration of EB-4 Religious Workers (SR) Category
Visa Bulletin for February Includes Details About March Expiration of EB-4 Religious Workers (SR) Category The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for February 2025 includes information about the expiration of the EB-4 Religious Workers (SR) visa category, among other...
Appeals Court Rules DACA Is Illegal But Limits Ruling to Texas
On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit largely affirmed the judgment of a district court that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program is illegal, but limited the ruling to Texas. Previously, in 2022, the Fifth Circuit...
USCIS Extends and Expands DED for Certain Hong Kong Residents in the United States
President Biden has extended Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for eligible Hong Kong residents present in the United States on January 15, 2025, for two years, through February 5, 2027, and has ordered related extended work authorization for the same period. In a...
Filing Procedures Updated for Immigrant Petitions for Alien Workers
On January 13, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced updated procedures for submitting a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, accompanied by a permanent labor certification, application for Schedule A designation, or national...
USCIS Updates Guidance on EB-2 National Interest Waivers
On January 15, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has updated its policy guidance to clarify how the agency evaluates eligibility for the second preference employment-based (EB-2) classification for immigrant petitions filed with...
