UPDATE: Green card interviews are being waived for at least some applicants during COVID-19 Unprecedented times call for unusual measures. Recently USCIS announced the closure of field offices nationwide—until May 3rd–to help slow the spread of COVID-19. This announcement was immediately concerning given that green card applicants (family and employment-based)…
We would like to provide our readers with a quick update regarding the temporary suspension of in-person services at USCIS field offices nationwide. As first reported, USCIS made the decision to close all offices and application support centers (ASCs) to the public beginning March 18th. USCIS planned to reopen offices…
In the midst of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic, USCIS reminds applicants and petitioners impacted by the pandemic that they can seek certain types of discretionary relief on a case-by-case basis. Relief for Individuals Seeking Extensions/Change of Status Special relief is available to individuals who were unable to file…
Applying for adjustment of status just became a lot more difficult. After announcing the nationwide implementation of the final rule “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” on February 24, 2020, USCIS unveiled a brand-new form (Form I-944) that must be filed with all applications for adjustment of status postmarked on or…
In this post, we would like to provide our readers with an important update released by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with respect to the public charge rule. Given the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in favor of the government, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)…
We kick off a brand-new week with breaking news handed down by the United States Supreme Court. Today, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration may enforce the controversial rule entitled, “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” which expands the scope of public benefits that will render a…
Welcome back to our blog! We kick off the week by bringing you recent developments regarding the government’s controversial rule entitled, “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” which sought to expand the scope of public benefits that could render a permanent resident or immigrant visa applicant ineligible for immigration benefits. As…
In the latest blow to President Trump’s embattled Presidency, on November 2nd federal judge Michael Simon issued a preliminary injunction blocking the government from enforcing the President’s Proclamation issued on October 4, 2019, suspending the entry of any immigrant who will “financially burden the United States healthcare system.” Judge Simon’s…
As previously reported, the government has issued a new final rule in the Federal Register entitled “Visas: Ineligibility Based on Public Charge Grounds,” giving consular officials wide discretion to deny immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applications on public charge grounds. In line with this new rule, today October 24, 2019, the…
On Friday October 11, 2019, three Federal courts in California, New York, and Washington issued three temporary injunctions blocking the Trump administration from enforcing the Public Charge rule on a nationwide basis, which was set to go into effect on October 15, 2019. The decision to block the government from…