The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for October 2021 includes information on potential movement in visa availability for the next several months: Employment First: Worldwide: Current China: Current India: Current Employment Second: Worldwide: Current China: Up to...
Topic: Immigration Updates
State Dept. Expands Categories of International Students That Can Be Adjudicated Without In-Person Interviews
The Department of State (DOS) announced on September 14, 2021, that it has authorized consular officers through the end of 2021 to expand the categories of F, M, and "academic J visa applicants" (students, professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, and...
State Dept. Announces Tiered Triage of Immigrant Visa Applications at U.S. Embassies and Consulates
The Department of State (DOS) announced that U.S. embassies and consulates are using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications based on the category of immigrant visa as they resume and expand processing. Consular sections, where possible, are scheduling...
District Court Vacates H-1B Lottery Wage-Based Final Rule
A U.S. district court judge vacated a final rule, "Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States," because Chad Wolf was not lawfully appointed as Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland...
Senate Parliamentarian Rejects Inclusion of Immigration Language in $3.5 Trillion Bill
In a blow to Democrats, President Biden, and immigration advocates, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled on September 19, 2021, that immigration language cannot be included in the $3.5 trillion filibuster-proof budget reconciliation bill. She said, "The...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re 9/11, Hong Kong DED
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by Radio Free Asia in "US Visa Extension to Offer 18-Month Work Permit to 'Eligible' Hongkongers." Referring to President Biden's memorandum issued August 5, 2021, allowing Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)...
DHS Increases Investment and Revenue Amount Requirements for International Entrepreneur Program
Effective October 1, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is increasing investment and revenue amount requirements for the international entrepreneur program. DHS explained that on January 17, 2017, the agency published a final rule guiding the use of...
USCIS Extends Evidence of Status for Conditional Permanent Residents to 24 Months With Pending Form I-751 or I-829
As of September 4, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is extending the time during which receipt notices can be used to show evidence of status from 18 months to 24 months for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions...
USCIS Is Expediting Afghan Petitions, Observers Say
According to anecdotal reports, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued instructions to pull all files for Afghan nationals and expedite them, including backlogged petitions. Moreover, the agency has provided special instructions on issuing...
DHS Continues TPS Designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, and Nepal
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the automatic extension of temporary protected status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, and Nepal. The automatic extension of TPS-related documentation includes employment...
