On March 26, 2021, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) updated the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to remove the cap-gap extension link. This link allowed designated school officials (DSOs) to temporarily apply cap-gap relief to the...
Topic: Immigration Updates
“Blank Space” Criteria Eliminated for Rejection of Forms
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has eliminated "blank space" form rejection criteria introduced in 2019 and reverted to the criteria it applied before October 2019. USCIS will no longer reject the following forms based solely on whether an applicant...
DHS Extends I-9 Requirement Flexibility Until May 31, 2021
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an extension until May 31, 2021, of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to ongoing COVID-19 pandemic precautions. The temporary guidance had...
USCIS Completes Initial FY 2022 H-1B Cap Season Selections; Petitions May Be Filed Now
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on March 30, 2021, that it received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced...
Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Senate Would Provide Up to 40,000 Unused Immigrant Visas for Doctors, Nurses
New legislation introduced on March 29, 2021, by Democratic and Republican senators would provide unused employment-based immigrant visas for up to 25,000 foreign nurses and 15,000 foreign physicians and their family members. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act...
Miller Mayer Wins EB-1A Green Card Approval for Health Policy Expert from China
Miller Mayer recently received an immigrant visa petition approval in the EB-1A extraordinary ability preference category for a health policy and management expert from China. After the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a request for additional...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Speaks on Immigration Polarization
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr presented a webinar on how to overcome immigration polarization on March 19, 2021. Steve discussed how issues of immigration have fractured along party lines and how that trend can be reversed. Topics included how and...
USCIS Issues Guidance on P-1A Internationally Recognized Athletes
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated policy guidance on internationally recognized athletes (P-1A nonimmigrants). The update in the USCIS Policy Manual provides more detailed guidance on the required prospective level of performance and...
State Dept. Proposes Increase in Passport Security Surcharge
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...
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...
