A group of 125 Indian and Chinese immigrants approved for employment-based green cards sued U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in federal court in Maryland on August 3, 2021. In Chakrabarti v. USCIS, they argue that delayed processing is risking the potential...
Topic: Immigration Updates
Biden Administration Develops Plan to Require Full Vaccination for Most Travelers to the United States
According to reports, the Biden administration is developing a "phased" plan to require most travelers to the United States to be fully vaccinated, with exceptions. The idea is to make it possible to safely re-open travel to the United States and lift pandemic-related...
Mass Afghan Evacuations Begin in Operation Fraught With Risk
In a complex operation fraught with delays, difficulties, and risk, the U.S. government is evacuating groups of Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas based on their work for the United States, such as serving as translators and interpreters for U.S. forces in...
USCIS Issues Reminder About Immigration Services for Those Affected by Natural Disasters and Other Unforeseen Circumstances
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a reminder on July 28, 2021, that immigration services may be available on a case-by-case basis to help people "affected by unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters." Examples the agency listed include...
DHS Announces Registration Process for Haitian TPS
The registration process for Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will open on August 3, 2021, when the Federal Register notice is published. The 18-month initial registration period runs from August 3, 2021, through February 3, 2023. Those who wish to request TPS...
Consent Order Provides Interim Relief to Certain Applicants Filing I-765s for OPT and STEM OPT
Under a court order, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended flexibilities for certain foreign students affected by delayed receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. USCIS said the extension includes applications...
USCIS Conducts Second Random Selection From Previously Submitted FY 2022 H-1B Cap Registrations
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on July 29, 2021, that it needed to select additional H-1B registrations to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2022 quota. On July 28, 2021, the agency selected additional previously submitted electronic...
Justice Dept. Issues Reminder for DACA Recipients and Employers
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released a reminder for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and employers on July 21, 2021. The reminder notes that on July 16, 2021, a federal court found DACA unlawful, which means that the government cannot grant...
Temporary Protected Status Updates: Somalia, Burma, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen
On July 21, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security announced the extension and redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from September 18, 2021, through March 17, 2023, due to "the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and...
Credit Card Payment Pilot Program Expanded for Certain Premium Processing Applicants
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on July 20, 2021, the expansion of a pilot program at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) for accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, from certain...
