The Department of State's (DOS) Visa Bulletin for June 2024 notes that high demand in the employment-based second (EB-2) and third (EB-3) categories will most likely necessitate retrogression of the worldwide final action date (including Mexico and Philippines) next...
Topic: Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs)
New Law Provides Immigrant Visas to Certain Foreign National Employees of U.S. Government Abroad
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on March 26, 2024, that foreign nationals (and their spouses and children) can now receive special immigrant visas when the foreign national has been employed by the U.S. government abroad for at least 15...
Omnibus Spending Legislation Includes Several Immigration-Related Provisions
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (H.R. 2617, Public Law No. 117-328, Dec. 29, 2022) includes various immigration-related provisions, such as $800 million in competitive grants under a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection "Shelter and Services" program for...
USCIS Updates Guidance for Afghans and Iraqis Seeking Special Immigrant Classification
USCIS updated guidance regarding Afghan and Iraqi nationals seeking special immigrant classification. Effective immediately, the new guidance: Explains that noncitizens seeking an Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) on or after July 20, 2022, must file Form DS-157,...
DHS, DOS Announce Exemptions Allowing Eligible Afghans to Qualify for Protection and Immigration Benefits
The Secretaries of Homeland Security and State, in consultation with the Attorney General, announced three new exemptions that can be applied on a case-by-case basis to ensure that Afghans who would otherwise be eligible for the benefit or protection they are seeking...
SAVE Publishes Info on Afghan Special Immigrant Conditional Permanent Resident Status and Non-Special Immigrant Parolees
The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program published supplemental information regarding Afghan special immigrant (SI) lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and parolees. SAVE noted that although some Afghans will continue to be admitted as SI LPRs...
USCIS Is Expediting Afghan Petitions, Observers Say
According to anecdotal reports, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued instructions to pull all files for Afghan nationals and expedite them, including backlogged petitions. Moreover, the agency has provided special instructions on issuing...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re Afghanistan, Remain in Mexico Policy
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by several news outlets regarding developments in Afghanistan and the resumption of the Remain in Mexico policy: USA Today, "Thousands of Afghans Are Looking for Refuge in the U.S. But the Immigration...
State Dept. Updates Guidance for Afghans; Pro Bono Help Needed With Afghan SIV/P-2 Applications
The Department of State released new information for Afghan nationals seeking to leave Afghanistan: Afghan immigrant visa applicants, including Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants, should continue monitoring official U.S. government websites, including...
President Biden Appoints Tracey Jacobson to Lead Afghan Special Immigrant Evacuation Effort
President Joe Biden announced on August 14, 2021, that he has placed Ambassador Tracey Jacobson in charge of a "whole-of-government effort to process, transport, and relocate Afghan Special Immigrant Visa [SIV] applicants and other Afghan allies." He said the United...
