Keeping you informed on the latest immigration news.
USCIS, DOS Tighten Screening Procedures for Refugees and Family Members
On February 1, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State implemented new procedures "to ensure that all individuals admitted as refugees receive similar, thorough vetting—whether they are principal refugees, accompanying...
USCIS to Process Recently Filed Asylum Applications Over Older Ones
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced recently that the agency will schedule asylum interviews for recent applications ahead of older filings, in an attempt to stem the growth of the agency's asylum backlog. The agency said it faces a...
Alleged P-3 Entertainer Visa Fraud Scheme Busted
A 15-count indictment was unsealed on February 8, 2018, in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, charging Stella Boyadjian, Hrachya Atoyan, and Diana Grigoryan, also known as "Dina Akopovna," for their roles in a multi-year visa fraud scheme that brought Armenian...
Surge in H-2B Petitions Possible for Second Half of FY 2018, USCIS Announces
Following the Department of Labor's recent announcement that it will not begin releasing H-2B temporary labor certifications until February 20, 2018, due to an unprecedented number of applications, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it...
Coalition of Business Leaders Tells Trump: We Support International Entrepreneur Rule
A coalition of business leaders, investors, and organizations sent a letter on February 8, 2018, to President Donald Trump in support of the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER), which is in effect following a court order. The Trump administration has signaled that...
President Trump Calls for Establishment of National Vetting Center
On February 6, 2018, President Donald Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum to establish a National Vetting Center (NVC) "to coordinate the efforts of departments and agencies to better identify individuals seeking to enter the country who present a...
Immigration Bills Fail in Senate, Including DACA; House Bill’s Prospects Appear Dim; Second Court Enjoins DACA Rescission
A bipartisan deal on immigration, the so-called "Common Sense Plan," failed on February 15, 2018, in the U.S. Senate, 54-45. (The bill needed at least 60 votes to advance.) The legislation would have provided a pathway to legalization for Deferred Action for Childhood...
A Year in Review: Looking Back on 2017
2017 has been an interesting, dynamic year for Miller Mayer as well as the world of U.S. immigration, with the Trump administration’s frequent changes in policy and Executive Orders, as well as the continuing lack of long-term reauthorization of the EB-5 program...
Tax Reform Update
Congress has passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, ushering in some of the most significant tax changes in three decades. Join us for a three-part seminar series for discussion and analysis of the upcoming changes to our tax system. During the first seminar hosted...
USCIS Implements Entrepreneur Parole Program
By David J. Wilks and Stephen Yale-Loehr Originally published in Bender's Immigration Bulletin January 15, 2018 After a five-month delay, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced on December 14, 2017, that it would begin accepting applications for...
