The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the extension of temporary protected status (TPS) for Somalia for an additional 18 months, from March 18, 2023, through September 17, 2024. DHS also redesignated Somalia for TPS, allowing Somali nationals residing in...
Topic: Immigration Updates
Premium Processing To Expand for EB-1 and EB-2 Form I-140 Petitions and Certain Students and Exchange Visitors
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on January 12, 2023, that it is implementing the final phase of the premium processing expansion for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications. Also, in March,...
DHS Streamlines Deferred Action Process for Immigrant Workers Participating in Labor Enforcement Investigations
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on January 13, 2023, that noncitizen workers who are victims of or witnesses to the violation of labor rights can now access a streamlined and expedited deferred action request process. DHS explained that deferred...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re Immigration Fee Increases, Immigration Cases
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by CBS News in "U.S. Proposes Hiking Fees for Work-Related Immigration Applications to Fund Asylum Program." Steve said, "The USCIS needs more money to help dig itself out of a massive backlog and to...
U.S. Embassy in Havana Resumes Full Immigrant Visa Processing
On January 4, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Havana resumed full immigrant visa processing, including all visa categories. The embassy also announced that the United States is expanding consular operations in Havana and restarting the Cuban Family Reunification Parole...
Omnibus Spending Legislation Includes Several Immigration-Related Provisions
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617, Public Law No. 117-328, Dec. 29, 2022) includes various immigration-related provisions, such as $800 million in competitive grants under a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection "Shelter and Services" program for...
OFLC Completes Random Assignments of H-2B Applications for Second Half of FY 2023 Visa Cap
The Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has completed the process to randomly assign all H-2B applications submitted during the initial three-day filing window, January 1-3, 2023, requesting an April 1, 2023, work start date for the...
DHS Implements New Processes for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans and Eliminates Cap for Venezuelans
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new process, effective January 6, 2023, for certain qualifying Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans with U.S.-based supporters to travel by air to and temporarily reside in the United States. Such individuals may also...
USCIS Issues Proposed Rule to Raise Fees and Fund Asylum Program With New $600 Employer Petition Fee
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule on January 4, 2023, to raise fees. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also proposes to fund the asylum program with a controversial new Asylum Program Fee of $600 to be paid by...
CDC Announces New COVID-19 Testing Requirement for Air Passengers From China
Effective January 5, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will require a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test, or documentation of recovery within the last 90 days, for air passengers boarding flights to the United States originating from the...
