The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for April 2021 announces the launch of live monthly "Chats with Charlie." @TravelGov will begin hosting "Chats with Charlie" on its YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/TravelGov) to discuss information provided in the...
Topic: Immigration Updates
DHS Designates Venezuela, Burma for TPS for 18 Months
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated Venezuela and Burma for temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months. Venezuela TPS Venezuela has been designated for TPS until September 2022. The 180-day registration period for eligible individuals to...
Lawsuit Challenges USCIS Rejections of H-1B Petitions Filed After October 1
The American Immigration Council (AIC) sued on March 11, 2021, in federal court on behalf of seven U.S. employers whose H-1B petitions were rejected. The lawsuit challenges U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) "arbitrary and capricious refusal to accept...
DHS Delays H-1B Lottery Rule Prioritizing Wages Until May 14
On March 12, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) delayed the effective date of its final rule prioritizing wages in adjudicating H-1B applications until May 14, 2021. DHS said the 60-day delay would allow the agency to "review any questions of fact, law,...
USCIS May Reopen H-1B Petitions Denied Under Three Rescinded Policy Memos
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on March 12, 2021, that it may reopen and/or reconsider adverse H-1B decisions on Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, that were made based on three rescinded policy memoranda. USCIS said it "will...
State Dept. Extends Expansion of Interview Waiver Eligibility
The Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, extended until December 31, 2021, a temporary expansion of the ability of consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa...
State Dept. Releases Guidance for Those Previously Refused Visas Under Travel Bans
On March 10, 2021, the Department of State issued guidance in response to President Biden's signing of two proclamations on January 20, 2021, that ended travel bans on certain nationals, based on visa type, from Burma, Eritrea, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Libya, Nigeria, North...
DHS Rescinds Public Charge Rule, Withdraws Appeals of Injunctions Blocking It
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rescinded regulations resulting from a final rule issued in August 2019 that was vacated by a federal district court. Under the now-rescinded rule, the government could deny applications for green cards, temporary nonimmigrant...
Free “Crossing Borders” Webinar About Immigration Polarization
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr will speak at a free webinar Friday, March 19 at 4:30PM Eastern time about how to overcome immigration polarization. Months after the 2020 election, our country feels more divided than ever. Today’s youth have only...
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Expedited Adjudication Approval
Miller Mayer recently received approval of an expedited adjudication request from the USCIS’ EB-5 Investor Program Office (IPO) for an immigrant investor. Miller Mayer provided arguments and evidence demonstrating that the request satisfied the compelling U.S....
