U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rescinded policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on discretionary employment authorization for noncitizens paroled into the United States. The guidance was issued in 2019 in response to a presidential proclamation...
Topic: Immigration Updates
USCIS Temporarily Extends Validity Period of Medical Exam and Vaccination Record Form
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) temporarily extended the validity period for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, from two years to four years due to COVID-19 pandemic-related delays in processing. USCIS said it may...
Visa Bulletin for September 2021 Released
The Department of State's Visa Office released the Visa Bulletin for September 2021. The bulletin notes, among other things, that: The diversity visa (DV) category for September shows that all DV chargeability areas except those listed separately are Current. Because...
USCIS Expands Partnership With Social Security Administration
Applicants filing for lawful permanent resident status can now apply for a Social Security number (SSN) or replacement card as part of the adjustment of status application process, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced. Previously, such an...
New USCIS Director Appointed: Ur M. Jaddou
Ur M. Jaddou was appointed on August 3, 2021, as the new director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Ms. Jaddou previously served as chief counsel at USCIS from June 2014 to January 2017. More recently, Ms. Jaddou directed DHS Watch, an America's...
New Refugee Resettlement Program Announced for Certain Afghans Not Eligible for Special Immigrant Visas
At a press conference on August 2, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new resettlement program for Afghans who assisted the United States but who do not qualify for special immigrant visas. The Department of State has created a "Priority-2" (P-2)...
U.S. to Defer Removal of Certain Hong Kong Residents in United States
On August 5, 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced Deferred Enforced Departure would be provided to eligible Hong Kong residents in the United States. President Biden issued a memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security to...
DHS Suspends Requirements for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students Who Are Haitian Citizens
The Department of Homeland Security suspended certain regulatory requirements for F–1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Haiti (regardless of country of birth) and who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current...
USCIS Extends Initial Registration Period for New TPS Applicants From Venezuela, Syria, and Burma, and Corrects Venezuelan Notice
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended the initial registration periods from 180 days to 18 months for initial (new) applicants under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Venezuela, Syria, and Burma. The notice also corrected the...
USCIS Is Sending RFEs for I-693s; Medicals Should Be Filed Soon After Receiving RFE
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) informed the American Immigration Lawyers Association that it is sending communications to adjustment of status applicants or their representatives that a Request for Evidence (RFE) may be sent for Form I-693, Report...
