Photo: CafeCredit The Trump administration is mobilizing to strictly enforce laws that require the reimbursement of funds from an alien’s financial sponsor, where the alien has requested certain types of public benefits from a government agency. The White House has issued a memorandum stating that, “Financial sponsors who pledge to…
Articles Posted in Global Immigration
USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna, Announces Resignation
Ken Cuccinelli Photo by Gage SkidmoreSource: Flickr New developments in the world of immigration have just emerged. The director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), L. Francis Cissna, has been forced to resign. Cissna has served under the Trump administration since October 2017. During his tenure, Cissna…
This Week in Immigration News: Texas Service Center Will Begin Processing Certain Cap-Exempt H-1B Petitions, SEVP Fee Increase
It is that time of the week again! In this post, we bring you the latest immigration news from USCIS. Texas Service Center Will Begin Processing Certain Cap-Exempt H-1B Petitions On May 20, 2019, USCIS announced that the Texas Service Center will begin processing certain cap-exempt H-1B petitions filed on…
BREAKING: EB-3 Phillipines Will Become Current July 2019 Through Summer
Exciting news for Filipino nurses. The EB-3 employment-based category will become current in July 2019 through the summer. This means that if you have an approved PERM application that was filed by your employer, your employer may file Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker on your behalf. Please note…
USCIS Completes FY 2020 H-1B Data Entry, Begins Mailing Unselected Petitions
USCIS announced today May 17, 2019, that the agency has completed data entry for all H-1B petitions selected for fiscal year 2020, including petitions filed under the U.S. advanced degree exemption. USCIS will now begin the long process of returning all H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected in the…
USCIS Makes Important Updates to Policy Manual
On May 10, 2019, USCIS made important updates to its policy manual regarding public services which appear in PA-2019-03. USCIS has clarified its policy regarding responses to service requests. It is the goal of USCIS to respond to a service request within 15 calendar days from the date the service…
Immigration Updates: TPS Designation Will Continue for Nepal and Honduras, Temporary Final Rule Increases H-2B Cap for FY 2019
TPS Designations for Nepal and Honduras Will Continue Today, May 10, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security provided a notice in the Federal Register about their decision not to terminate the Temporary Protected Status designation of Honduras and Nepal. Beneficiaries under the TPS designations for Nepal and Honduras will retain…
Court Issues Nationwide Injunction Preventing USCIS from Enforcing Policy Memo Changing Accrual of Unlawful Presence for F, J, and M Nonimmigrants
On August 8, 2018, DHS issued a policy memorandum directing USCIS to change the way in which the agency counted the days of unlawful presence for F, M, and J status violators. Under that policy memorandum, F, M, and J nonimmigrants who accrued more than 180 days of unlawful presence…
White House Issues Presidential Proclamation to Tighten Asylum Process
The White House recently issued a Presidential Memorandum to strengthen asylum procedures and safeguard the asylum system against fraud. The Presidential Proclamation specifically orders the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security to take several measures to enhance the security of the asylum system by July 28, 2019. These measures…
Marijuana Violations May Result in Good Moral Character Bar for Naturalization
USCIS has issued new policy guidance clarifying good moral character requirements for naturalization. Naturalization applicants should be aware that a violation of a federal controlled substance law, including for marijuana, remains a conditional bar to establishing good moral character for naturalization purposes, even where that conduct would not be found…