The Department of State (DOS) announced on February 20, 2024, that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Federal Republic of Germany. The MOU waives certain regulatory provisions to establish an exchange of German principals to secondary schools...
Topic: Immigration Updates
Reminder: Premium Processing Fees Will Increase February 26
The Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers is reminding its clients that fees for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, will increase on February 26, 2024. The table below summarizes the increases by type of petition. Related Links: USCIS alert (Dec. 27, 2023)...
E-Verify to Pilot ‘Next Generation’ Service in Spring 2024
E-Verify announced on February 22, 2024, that it will launch its "next generation" service, E-Verify+, as a pilot in spring 2024. E-Verify said the "plus" in E-Verify+ represents benefits the new service will provide to employers and employees, including "added...
CIS Ombudsman Releases Tips on How to Avoid Getting Locked Out of Your USCIS Account
On February 14, 2024, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman released a tip sheet on how people with individual U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) online accounts can maintain access and avoid getting locked out of their...
ETA Extends Comment Period for Responses to PERM Schedule A Request for Information
The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has extended the comment period for responses to its PERM Schedule A Request for Information (RFI). ETA said it has received "a very limited number of comments, only a few of which have responded...
President Orders Deferred Enforced Departure for Palestinians in the United States
On February 14, 2024, President Biden directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to Palestinians in the United States for 18 months, with some exceptions. He further directed the Secretary to authorize employment for...
Mayorkas Impeached; Conviction in Senate Seems Unlikely
After a previous failed attempt to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on February 6, 2024, Republicans in the House of Representatives succeeded in impeaching Mr. Mayorkas on February 13 with a vote of 214-213. Republicans accused Mr. Mayorkas...
EOIR to Transition to DOJ Login
On February 9, 2024, the Department of Justice (DOJ)'s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced new procedures for accessing the EOIR Courts & Appeals System (ECAS) Case Portal. EOIR is transitioning to "DOJ Login," a cloud-based identity...
USCIS Releases FY 2023 Data and Highlights of FY 2024 Plans
On February 9, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released end-of-fiscal-year (FY) 2023 data. Below are selected highlights of the data and USCIS's plans for FY 2024: FY 2023 Backlog Reductions USCIS received 10.9 million filings and completed...
Mayorkas Impeachment Attempt Fails, But Republicans May Try Again After Killing Proposed Bipartisan Bill to Address Border Issues
On February 6, 2024, Republicans in the House of Representatives tried but failed to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. The final vote was 214-216. Republicans accused Mr. Mayorkas of failing to maintain operational control of the border, among...
