U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) responded on April 5, 2019, to a letter sent from 86 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to USCIS Director Francis Cissna. The letter asked the agency to explain the reasons for backlogged cases and how...
Topic: Immigration Updates
E-2 Investor Visa Program Opens to Israelis May 1
Effective May 1, 2019, the E-2 investor visa program will open to Israelis under a reciprocal treaty investor agreement signed between the United States and Israel. Certain Israeli nationals who are lawfully present in the United States will be able to request a...
Attorney General’s Decision Opens Door to Indefinite Detention of Asylum Seekers
A new decision by Attorney General William Barr holds that a person who is transferred from expedited removal proceedings to full removal proceedings after establishing a credible fear of persecution or torture is ineligible for release on bond. Such a person "must be...
Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Announces New Office for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention, New CBP Commissioner
Kevin McAleenan, formerly head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the new Acting Homeland Security Secretary, has replaced Kirstjen Nielsen, who was forced to resign recently amid President Trump's declarations that he wanted a "tougher direction" for...
State Dept. to Issue Final Rule on “Discontinuing” Granting Visas When Country is Sanctioned
The Department of State published a final rule, effective April 22, 2019, modifying current regulations to reflect that consular officers are to discontinue granting visas to individuals from certain sanctioned countries. Under the current regulation, consular...
New USCIS Policy Guidance Clarifies Marijuana-Related Activities Bar on Naturalization
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued policy guidance to clarify that certain marijuana-related activities generally bar naturalization even if they are decriminalized under applicable state laws. Such an applicant may be deemed to lack...
Visa Bulletin Shows Slight Forward Progress in Some Backlogged Preference Categories
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for May 2019 shows slight forward progress for EB-1 for all chargeability areas except China and India, EB-2 for China and India, EB-3 and Other Workers for China, India, and the Philippines, and EB-5 China and Vietnam. The...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted Regarding EB-5 Visa Program, Trump’s Immigration Policy and Visas for International Student-Athletes
Stephen Yale-Loehr was quoted by Mercury News in "South Bay Pair Gamed EB-5 Visa Program for Millions in Profit from Wealthy Investors." Mr. Yale-Loehr noted that the United States issues 10,000 EB-5 green cards each year. Most go to investors' family members, he...
Miller Mayer’s Success EB-1A Story
Miller Mayer’s Kristal Ozmun and Xiayue (Summer) Yin successfully assisted an agricultural expert who specializes in Slow and Controlled-release Fertilizers (SCRFs) to obtain EB-1A classification. Our client is widely recognized for improving the efficiency and...
DHS Secretary Forced Out; Others May Leave in Trump Purge
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen has been forced to resign, according to reports. Officials told media organizations that other departures may follow, including L. Francis Cissna, head of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); Kathy...
