Keeping you informed on the latest immigration news.
New USCIS Director Appointed: Ur M. Jaddou
Ur M. Jaddou was appointed on August 3, 2021, as the new director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Ms. Jaddou previously served as chief counsel at USCIS from June 2014 to January 2017. More recently, Ms. Jaddou directed DHS Watch, an America's...
New Refugee Resettlement Program Announced for Certain Afghans Not Eligible for Special Immigrant Visas
At a press conference on August 2, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new resettlement program for Afghans who assisted the United States but who do not qualify for special immigrant visas. The Department of State has created a "Priority-2" (P-2)...
U.S. to Defer Removal of Certain Hong Kong Residents in United States
On August 5, 2021, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced Deferred Enforced Departure would be provided to eligible Hong Kong residents in the United States. President Biden issued a memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security to...
DHS Suspends Requirements for F-1 Nonimmigrant Students Who Are Haitian Citizens
The Department of Homeland Security suspended certain regulatory requirements for F–1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Haiti (regardless of country of birth) and who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current...
USCIS Extends Initial Registration Period for New TPS Applicants From Venezuela, Syria, and Burma, and Corrects Venezuelan Notice
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended the initial registration periods from 180 days to 18 months for initial (new) applicants under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for Venezuela, Syria, and Burma. The notice also corrected the...
USCIS Is Sending RFEs for I-693s; Medicals Should Be Filed Soon After Receiving RFE
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) informed the American Immigration Lawyers Association that it is sending communications to adjustment of status applicants or their representatives that a Request for Evidence (RFE) may be sent for Form I-693, Report...
125 Indians and Chinese Sue USCIS Over Risk of Green Card Loss
A group of 125 Indian and Chinese immigrants approved for employment-based green cards sued U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in federal court in Maryland on August 3, 2021. In Chakrabarti v. USCIS, they argue that delayed processing is risking the potential...
Biden Administration Develops Plan to Require Full Vaccination for Most Travelers to the United States
According to reports, the Biden administration is developing a "phased" plan to require most travelers to the United States to be fully vaccinated, with exceptions. The idea is to make it possible to safely re-open travel to the United States and lift pandemic-related...
Cornell University Migration Webinar “Dissecting Discrimination: Living Legacy of Migration, Race, and Politics”
Join Cornell University for the webinar “Dissecting Discrimination: Living Legacy of Migration, Race, and Politics” on Thursday, August 12th at 1 pm EDT. The webinar discusses the relationship between human migration and race-based discrimination, and how this...
Mass Afghan Evacuations Begin in Operation Fraught With Risk
In a complex operation fraught with delays, difficulties, and risk, the U.S. government is evacuating groups of Afghans eligible for Special Immigrant Visas based on their work for the United States, such as serving as translators and interpreters for U.S. forces in...
