Keeping you informed on the latest immigration news.
State Dept. Announces Tiered Immigrant Visa Prioritization
On April 30, 2021, the Department of State (DOS) announced a tiered prioritization approach to "triage" immigrant visa applications in light of reduced operating capacity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main categories of immigrant visas in priority order...
USCIS Reverses Trump Policy, Instructs Adjudicators to Resume Granting Deference to Prior Determinations in Petition Validity Extension Requests
Effective immediately, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its policy guidance on April 27, 2021, to generally restore its 2004 instructions directing officers to defer to prior determinations of eligibility when adjudicating petition extensions...
Supreme Court Rules Against Government on Removal Procedures
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on April 29, 2021, that "[n]onpermanent resident aliens ordered removed from the United States under federal immigration law may be eligible for discretionary relief if, among other things, they can establish their continuous presence in...
State Dept. Announces Global National Interest Exceptions to COVID-19 Travel Restrictions
On April 27, 2021, the Department of State (DOS) announced national interest exceptions to all regional travel restrictions currently in effect as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. DOS said that students seeking to start studies in the fall, certain academics,...
President Biden Suspends Entry of Noncitizens/Non-LPRs Traveling From India; U.S. Mission in India Limits Visa Services
President Biden has issued a proclamation suspending the entry of non-U.S. citizens who were physically present within India during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, with some exceptions. The proclamation takes effect...
India Travel Ban
On April 30th, President Biden signed a proclamation restricting entry into the United States of non-U.S. citizens who have been physically present in India during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the U.S. The proclamation lists...
Webinar: Alternatives to H-1B in 2021
Unable to secure a winning number in this year’s cap H-1B lottery? This webinar, held on April 29, 2021, helped both employers and potential employees explore alternatives to the H-1B visa that provide work authorization in the United States. Miller Mayer attorney...
Miller Mayer Receives EB-1B Green Card Approval for Urban Geographer Researcher
Miller Mayer recently received an immigrant visa petition approval in the EB-1B green card category for an outstanding professor and researcher from China specializing in urban geography. The petition was approved without any request for additional evidence from...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Pens Op-ed on International Students
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr has authored an op-ed in The Hill: “Biden Brings Hope for International Students.” The op-ed notes a positive change in attitude in the current administration toward international students, but recommends certain...
DHS Corrects Deadline for Comments on How USCIS Can Reduce Barriers/Burdens in Regulations and Policies
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a correction to its notice seeking comments from the public on how U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can reduce administrative and other barriers and burdens within its regulations and policies,...
