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Rule Making Foreign Nationals Inadmissible on Public Charge Grounds, Effective October 15, 2019

The Trump administration’s controversial rule making certain foreign nationals inadmissible to receive permanent residence on public charge grounds, will become effective beginning October 15, 2019. First, and foremost let’s recap what this rule is about and who it will apply to: Under immigration law, an individual who, in the opinion…

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Re-Registration Period Now Open for Individuals with Temporary Protected Status under Syria’s Designation

On September 23, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Syria’s designation, who want to maintain their status through March 31, 2021, must re-register between Sept. 23 and Nov. 22, 2019. All applicants must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary…

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FY 2021 Diversity Immigrant Visa Registration Opens October 2, 2019

Instructions for the 2021 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program registration season is now among us. The U.S. Department of State has released instructions on how to apply for the FY 2021 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program in which 55,000 Diversity Visas (DVs) will be up for grabs.…

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Family Preference Visas: September 2019 Bulletin Update

The process of getting a visa for a family member can be stressful. The immigration system is complex. Being separated from your family can be painful and visa processing times frustrating. The law seems to change so often, it can be hard to keep track of what rules you’re supposed…

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All About EB-5: Continuing Resolution Funds EB-5 Through November 21, 2019, and I-829/I-526 Processing Times Report

House Passes CR Bill to Fund EB-5 through November 21st  Great news! On September 19, 2019, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4378, a continuing resolution bill that will fund the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program through November 21, 2019. H.R. 4378 has now passed on to the Senate where it…

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FY 2020 Visa Bulletin Trends and Visa Projections: EB-1, EB-2, EB-3, EB-5

In this post, we would like to keep our readers informed about Visa Bulletin projections for the coming months. Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division of the U.S. Department of State provides a monthly analysis of each month’s Visa Bulletin including discussion of current trends and…

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This Week in Immigration News: Validity of TPS EADs, Visa Guidance for Bahamians

Validity of TPS EADs with a September 9, 2019 Expiration Date Remain Valid through January 2, 2020 for El Salvador, Sudan, Nicaragua, and Haiti The DOJ has announced that Employment Authorization Cards received under the Temporary Protected Status country designation for El Salvador, Sudan, Nicaragua, and Haiti, with a September…

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USCIS Issues NPRM to Eliminate 30-Day EAD Processing Timeline for Asylum Applicants

On September 9, 2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register aimed at (1) removing a regulatory provision which states that USCIS has 30 days from the date an asylum applicant files the initial Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (EAD), to…

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DHS Publishes Proposed Rule to Collect Social Media Handles from Immigrant and Non-immigrant Visa Applicants

The Trump administration has published a proposed rule in the Federal Register expanding the social media information that can be collected as part of the non-immigrant and immigrant visa process. This new proposed rule is part of the President’s plan to “Protect the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the…

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DHS Proposes New Rule Requiring Registration Fee for H-1B Cap Petitioners

Fresh off the press! In this blog post we will discuss a new proposed rule that is set to be published in the Federal Register on September 4, 2019. We have reviewed an advance copy of this proposed rule and will tell you everything you need to know about the…