On December 10, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced publication of a new edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status. The new edition includes updates to questions and instructions. Starting February...
Topic: Immigration Updates
USCIS Reduces EAD Processing Times and Streamlines Adjudications
On December 10, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a number of steps it has taken to reduce Employment Authorization Document (EAD) processing times overall and streamline adjudication processing, including: Reducing by half the median...
DHS Announces Permanent Increase of Automatic Extension Period for Certain Work Authorization Renewal Applicants
On December 10, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule that will permanently increase the automatic extension period of work authorization from up to 180 days to up to 540 days for eligible noncitizens who file a timely request to renew...
Foreign Students Warned to Arrive on Campus Before Trump Administration Begins
According to reports, various colleges and universities are warning foreign students to return to campus before President-elect Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025, due to concerns about travel bans imposed during his previous administration and his more recent...
Steve Yale-Loehr Comments on DACA Challenges in the Associated Press
Steve was quoted by several news outlets, including the Associated Press, in DACA Recipients Worry Their Protection From Deportation Won't Last Another Trump Term. He said the most likely scenario is that a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth...
DOJ Reaches Agreement With Healthcare Facilities Service Provider to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims
On December 6, 2024, the Department of Justice announced that it secured an agreement with Pennsylvania-based HCSG East LLC and its parent company, Healthcare Services Group Inc. (HCSG), a nationwide provider of housekeeping, laundry, and food services for healthcare...
Actions President Biden Can Take Now
The American Immigration Lawyers Association has released text with its recommendations for swift action that can be sent to members of Congress and the Biden administration. The actions include: Finalizing regulations, particularly the H-1B and H-2 modernization...
Certain Applicants Now Must File Medical Exam and Vaccination Record With Adjustment Application
On December 2, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is now requiring certain applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical...
FY 2025 H-1B Cap Reached, USCIS Says
On December 2, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received enough H-1B petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption (master's cap) for...
DOS Removes China, India, Others From Countries on Skills List for Exchange Visitors
The Department of State (DOS) announced an update of the countries on the Exchange Visitors Skills List, effective December 9, 2024. This update supersedes the most recent update in 2009. DOS has removed China and India, among others, from the list. This means that J...
