The U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of California announced that two executives of Perfect VIPs, Inc., which was incorporated in 2010 as a computer chip design product and services company, were indicted on charges of visa fraud and conspiracy to...
Topic: Immigration Updates
DHS Announces National Interest Exception for ‘Noncitizen Nonimmigrants’ Traveling From Ukraine With a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
In light of the current situation in Ukraine, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced a national interest exception to permit the entry until March 1, 2022, of noncitizen nonimmigrants who (1) are traveling with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent...
DHS to Propose ‘Fair and Humane’ Public Charge Rule
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on February 17, 2022, that it will issue a proposed rule soon that would regulate how DHS applies the public charge ground of inadmissibility. The proposed rule would provide "fair and humane treatment" for...
Visa Bulletin for March Includes Updates on Employment-Based Expirations and Retrogressions
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for March 2022 includes the following updates: Final action dates for the employment-based fifth preference I5 and R5 regional center visa categories are "Unavailable" for March. If legislative action extends this category for...
USCIS Urges Eligible Applicants to Switch Employment-Based Categories
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is encouraging eligible applicants to consider requesting to transfer the underlying basis of their adjustment of status applications to the first (priority workers) or second (noncitizens in professions with advanced...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re Cornell’s Afghan Asylum Clinic
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by Law360 in "83,000 Afghans Made It to the U.S. Now They Need Lawyers." Mr. Yale-Loehr, who runs an Afghan asylum clinic at Cornell Law School, noted that law school clinics can only take a handful of...
DHS, VA Launch New Online Resources for Noncitizen Service Members, Veterans, and Families
On February 7, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in partnership with the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense, launched new resources to support U.S. noncitizen service members, veterans, and their families. Through its Immigrant Military Members...
New Lockbox Facility Opens in Illinois
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) opened a new lockbox facility in Elgin, Illinois, and is "beginning to transition incoming work to the new location." On February 1, 2022, USCIS added Elgin as a filing location for certain applicants Form I-751,...
USCIS Updates Guidance, Changes Maximum Validity Period for EADs for Certain Applicants
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published updated policy guidance, effective February 7, 2022, that changes the maximum validity period that may be granted for employment authorization documents (EADs) issued to certain applicants, and provides...
United States Once Again ‘Welcomes’ Immigrants: USCIS Announces New Mission Statement
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new mission statement after asking its employees to "submit words that they felt best illustrated the agency's work." The new mission statement reflects that feedback, along with Biden administration...
