U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on February 22, 2021, that it is reverting to the 2008 version of the naturalization civics test beginning March 1, 2021. USCIS said it determined that the "development process, content, testing procedures,...
Topic: Immigration Updates
Federal Judge Blocks Biden Administration’s 100-Day Pause on Removals
On February 23, 2021, a U.S. district judge in Texas blocked the Biden administration's 100-day "pause" on certain removals announced in a memorandum on President Biden's first day in office. The order applies nationwide but only to the 100-day pause, not to the...
USCIS Extends Flexibilities for Certain F-1 Foreign Students Applying for OPT
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced flexibilities for certain foreign students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT) whose receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, are delayed. The flexibilities apply...
USCIS Updates FAQ on H-1B Electronic Registration
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its frequently asked questions (FAQ) on the H-1B registration process, which opens at noon ET on March 9, 2021, and runs through noon ET March 25, 2021. USCIS also announced that employers and their representatives can...
March Visa Bulletin Shows Big Leap Forward for Chinese and Indian EB-1s
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for March 2021 shows a seven-month leap forward for Chinese and Indian green card applicants in the employment-based first preference category, with a final action date of August 1, 2020, for both countries. In February,...
President Biden Revokes Trump-Era Ban on Entry of Many Immigrants; State Dept. Issues Instructions on Exceptions to Nonimmigrant Ban
On February 24, 2021, President Biden revoked former President Trump's proclamation issued in April 2020 that banned many immigrants from entering the United States. Biden Proclamation Revoking Immigrant Ban Included in the Trump administration's freeze on immigrant...
Upending Rules Pending Litigation: How the Biden Administration Could Repeal Trump-era Immigration Rules in Litigation
By Hun Lee and Stephen Yale-Loehr* Introduction In the last four years, the former Trump administration issued over 400 major immigration policy changes. Some of those are rules, some of which are in litigation. The Trump administration’s immigration rules continue to...
In Case You Missed Wednesday’s Webinar on Immigration Changes in the Biden Adminisration
LexisNexis hosted a free webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, entitled “What to Expect on Immigration from the Biden Administration.” Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr moderated the discussion. If you missed it, here is a link to a video of the...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re H-1B Provisions in Biden Bill
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by Bloomberg Law about proposed H-1B temporary work visa changes in the Biden administration’s comprehensive immigration reform bill in "Lawmakers Revisit Changes to H-1B Lottery in Immigration Plan." He...
USCIS Clarifies Delays at Lockboxes in Issuing Receipt Notices for I-765 Employment Authorization for OPT
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) notified stakeholders that the agency continues to experience delays at certain lockboxes in issuing receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, based on eligibility categories relating to...
