On October 2, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued policy guidance, effective immediately, to further clarify the types of evidence that the agency may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) EB-1 immigrant visa...
Topic: Immigration Articles
FY 2026 Diversity Visa Program Application Period Is Underway
The Department of State (DOS) announced that the online registration period for the Diversity Visa (DV)-2026 program began on October 2, 2024, at noon ET and will conclude on November 5, 2024, at noon ET. Submission of more than one entry for a person during the...
Reshaping Futures: How the New D3 Waiver Guidance is Unlocking Opportunities for Dreamers in the Workforce
By Krsna Avila, Dan Berger, and Stephen Yale-Loehr It’s been just three months since the Biden-Harris administration launched clarifying guidance for certain waivers designed to clear the path for Dreamers seeking work visas, and we’re already seeing the...
SAVE Transaction Charges Increase October 1
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminded Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) users that transaction charges will increase on October 1, 2024. The federal agency charge will be $2.25 per case in fiscal year (FY) 2025 (Oct. 1,...
DHS Designates Qatar for Visa Waiver Program
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated Qatar for the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), to be implemented on December 1, 2024. DHS announced the designation via a final rule published at 89 Fed. Reg. 78783 (Sept. 26, 2024). Eligible citizens, nationals, and...
Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processing Extended for Afghans
On September 27, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is extending and expanding some previously announced filing fee exemptions and expedited application processing for certain Afghan nationals. "This will help Afghan nationals...
Work Authorization Procedures Announced for Liberians Covered by DED
On September 23, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced procedures for Liberians covered by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to apply for employment authorization documents (EADs) that will be valid through June 30, 2026. USCIS is...
USCIS Rejects ‘Unusually High Number’ of Alien Worker Petitions, Releases Tips
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it has had to "reject an unusually high number of Forms I-140 (Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker) at intake because of incorrect fees and missing information" since it published a new form edition and new fees....
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr to Speak at an Upcoming Webinar
Steve and other panelists will present Preparing for Change: How a New Administration Could Impact DACA Recipients, to be held September 25, 2024, from 2 to 3 p.m. PT / 5 to 6 p.m. ET. The webinar is sponsored by Immigrants Rising, Cornell Law School's Path2Papers,...
EB-5 Integrity Fund Fee Due October 1
The EB-5 Integrity Fund fee for fiscal year 2025 is due October 1, 2024. The annual fee is $20,000 for each designated EB-5 regional center, except for those with 20 or fewer total investors in the preceding fiscal year in their new commercial enterprises, in which...
