In this post we bring you the latest immigration related COVID-19 updates. During this difficult time, we would like to extend our heartfelt regards to you and your families. We hope you are staying safe and taking the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The sooner we abide…
Articles Posted in Immigrant Visas
CARES Act: What’s Inside the Coronavirus Aid Package? Are Aliens Eligible?
It has been nearly two weeks since the President of the United States declared a public health emergency for COVID-19, forcing the American economy to come to a screeching halt. Thereafter, states enacted their own measures requiring non-essential businesses across the country to shutter temporarily until the virus has been…
Sapochnick Law Firm COVID-19 Business Continuity Statement
As the impact of COVID-19 grows, we think it is important that you hear directly from us about the mitigation efforts that we the Sapochnick Law Firm have enacted to reduce the risk of infection to our clients, attorneys, and valued staff members. At this critical juncture, our focus remains…
All About Form DS-5540 Public Charge Questionnaire: Who Must Complete It?
In this post, we will discuss Form DS-5540, a mandatory public charge questionnaire that must be completed by all foreign nationals seeking an immigrant visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad and some non-immigrant visa applicants. What is Form DS-5540, Public Charge Questionnaire? Shortly after the publication of the…
Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants From Europe Due to Coronavirus
In light of the global Coronavirus pandemic, on March 11, 2020, the President signed a presidential proclamation suspending and limiting the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants who were physically present within the Schengen Area (most EU states) during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United…
This Week in Immigration News: USCIS Launches Online Fraud Reporting System, Presidential Proclamation Regarding Coronavirus, H-2B Visa Update, & TPS Re-Registration for Yemen
Welcome back to Visalawyerblog! In this blog post we cover the latest immigration news of the week. USCIS Launches Online Form to Report Fraud On March 3rd USCIS announced the launch of a new online form available on the USCIS website that can be used to report suspected immigration fraud…
BREAKING NEWS: Public Charge Rule Now Applies to Illinois Residents
On February 21, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States by a vote of 5-4 stayed the remaining statewide injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, which prevented the government from enforcing the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds rule also known as the…
March 2020 Visa Bulletin Highlights
In this blog post, we discuss visa bulletin trends and projections for the month of March. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently released the March 2020 Visa Bulletin revealing some good and bad news for employment based categories and family preference categories. Adjustment of Status Filing Charts March 2020:…
Public Charge FAQs for Applicants Living in Illinois (No Longer Applies)
PLEASE NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS POST NO LONGER APPLIES. ON FEBRUARY 21, 2020, THE SUPREME COURT ISSUED A RULING ALLOWING THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT THE PUBLIC CHARGE RULE TO RESIDENTS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. USCIS HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE PUBLIC CHARGE RULE WILL BE IMPLEMENTED NATIONWIDE INCLUDING IN…
All About the H-1B Electronic Registration Requirement: When and Where to Register and More…
Are you ready for the upcoming H1B season for fiscal year 2021? With the registration period fast approaching, we want to make sure you know everything there is to know about the new mandatory H-1B electronic registration process for fiscal year 2021 (FY 2021). The following FAQ provides the most…