The Department of State issued a proposed rule on March 26, 2021, to raise the passport security surcharge from $60 to $80. Comments are due by May 25, 2021. Related Link: Schedule of Fees for Consular Services—Passport Security Surcharge, Proposed Rule, Dept. of...
Topic: Immigration Updates
EOIR Releases New Interactive Policy Manual
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced the release of its first interactive policy manual. EOIR said the manual is the "culmination of a multi-year project that represents the agency's first comprehensive review of its policies. This effort...
SEVP Reports 2020 Drop in International Student Enrollment
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) reported a drop of 72 percent in new international student enrollment in U.S. schools in 2020 as compared to calendar year 2019. Decreases were attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic...
USCIS Extends Flexibilities for Responding to Agency Requests
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended flexibilities in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. USCIS will consider a response to certain requests and notices received within 60 calendar days after the response due date set in the request or...
Class Action Filed Against DHS for L-2 and H-4 Processing Delays
On March 22, 2021, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and Wasden Banias, LLP, filed a class action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), challenging processing delays on extensions of status and employment authorization documents...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re OPT Lawsuit
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by Inside Higher Ed in "Dream Derailed Leads to Lawsuit Against Berkeley." The article discusses a lawsuit filed by a former international student of law at the University of California, Berkeley, for...
Miller Mayer Sues to Win Approval for Long-delayed EB-5 Immigrant Investor Case
Miller Mayer recently received an approval on a long pending EB-5 immigrant investor green card petition following the filing of a successful mandamus action in court for a Chinese client. Miller Mayer has had continued success on mandamus actions to resolve delayed...
CBP Extends Temporary Travel Restrictions Between U.S. and Canada/Mexico
U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that temporary travel restrictions between the United States and Canada, and between the United States and Mexico, at land ports of entry along the border (including passenger ferry services and pleasure boat travel) will...
USCIS Stops Applying Public Charge Final Rule to All Pending Applications and Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) stopped applying the public charge final rule to all pending applications and petitions on March 9, 2021. The agency removed content related to the vacated rule from the affected USCIS forms and posted updated versions...
Registration Period Opens for TPS for Syrians
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended and redesignated Syria for temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months, effective March 31, 2021, through September 30, 2022. The 60-day re-registration period began March 19, 2021, and runs through May 18,...
