Insight, News, and Strategy on Immigration Matters Around the World
In continuing its efforts to deal with processing backlogs, USCIS is allowing longer automatic extensions of green cards for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.
Although legal permanent residence (green card status) must be maintained, it does not expire once it is granted. The card that is issued to memorialize the status, however…
On January 4, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Havana will resume immigrant visa processing for immediate relatives, family preference applicants, diversity visa applicants and visas for K fiancées.
Until then, the U.S. Embassy Georgetown in Guyana will continue to process immigrant visa applications for Cubans with appointments scheduled through the end of December 2022.
Consular…
Severe immigration consequences for certain non-U.S. citizens remain despite President Joe Biden’s pardon of all prior federal offenses for simple marijuana possession.
On October 6, 2022, President Biden took a major step toward the decriminalization of marijuana, pardoning all prior federal offenses for simple marijuana possession. Although this pardon will affect only approximately 6,500 individuals…
USCIS is resuming the Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) Program beginning with already pending CFRP applications. This program started in 2007 and has been on hold for some time. It allows beneficiaries of approved Forms I-130, Petitions for Alien Relative, to come to the United States on parole while waiting for an available visa number. …
Marijuana still is considered a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act. A conviction under the Controlled Substances Act can lead to severe consequences for a non-U.S. citizen.
Under U.S. immigration law, any non-U.S. citizen who is convicted under the Controlled Substances Act, even green card holders, who participate or make investments…
All visitors, except U.S. citizens, returning resident aliens, immigrant visa holders, and most Canadian citizens, must receive a Form I-94, Arrival/Departure record at the port of entry. Because travel is picking up, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is encouraging travelers to fill out an I-94 application online in advance to reduce wait times and speed…
As of 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, June 12, 2022, passengers flying to the United States from abroad will no longer need to present a negative COVID-19 test to board (or prove that they have recovered from COVID-19 within the prior 90 days). Non-U.S. citizens, including those entering on temporary visas (with limited exceptions), must still…
Federal courts could not review the U.S. Attorney General’s decisions denying discretionary relief from removal – even in a case where the alien contends that the decision was based on a factual error, the U.S. Supreme Court has held, 5-4, affirming the opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Patel v.
There are further updates from the CDC for all air travelers.
Now, most travelers will have to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 and contact information to board an airplane for the United States. As before, U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and those entering the United…
On April 14, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) updated its post-arrival recommendations.
Almost everyone (unless specifically exempted) who is at least 2 years old must have a negative COVID-19 test (tests include an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test) to board an airplane for the United States. Travelers fall into two…
