A federal court ordered the Department of State to adjudicate more than 9,000 DV-2020 cases that were not processed before the fiscal year deadline. The case concerned the Department's suspension of the processing and issuance of diversity visas for certain classes of...
Topic: Immigration Updates
USCIS Extends Flexibilities Through October for Certain OPT Applicants Filing Work Authorization Applications
Pursuant to a court order, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended flexibilities through October 31, 2021, for certain applicants filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, for optional practical training (OPT) and science,...
Cap Reached for Remaining H-2B Visas for Returning Workers for FY 2021
As of August 13, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received enough petitions for returning workers to reach the additional 22,000 H-2B visas made available under the fiscal year (FY) 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule. USCIS...
What’s Next on DACA?
By Stephen Yale-Loehr* On July 16, 2021, Texas federal district Judge Andrew Hanen ruled that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) when it created the deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) program in 2012....
Upcoming USCIS Webinars on Temporary Protected Status
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will hold a webinar on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, from 2 to 3 pm ET. The agency will provide a general overview of TPS, including an explanation of eligibility requirements; online...
President Biden Appoints Tracey Jacobson to Lead Afghan Special Immigrant Evacuation Effort
President Joe Biden announced on August 14, 2021, that he has placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a "whole-of-government effort to process, transport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa [SIV] applicants and other Afghan allies." He said the United...
USCIS Rescinds Guidance on Discretionary Work Authorization for Parolees
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rescinded policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on discretionary employment authorization for noncitizens paroled into the United States.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...
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...
