Insight, News, and Strategy on Immigration Matters Around the World
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a one-year extension of parole for certain Ukrainian nationals who, after the Russian invasion, were paroled into the United States for a period of one year before the two-year parole became available under the Uniting for Ukraine (UFU) program.
On a case-by-case basis, DHS will consider the extension…
USCIS announced it has completed the annual H-1B selection process (“lottery”) for Fiscal Year 2024, with early reports indicating a record number of registrations submitted. Each year, it becomes increasingly difficult to obtain one of the 85,000 H-1B visas allotted under the congressionally mandated quota or “cap.” In light of the news, employers and foreign-national…
USCIS has expanded premium processing for F-1 students to pending Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) applications based on Optional Practice Training (OPT) and STEM OPT. On April 3, 2023, the same will be extended to new EAD applications for OPT and STEM OPT. The cost for this premium processing will be $1,500 and the timeframe will…
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published instructions on how to apply for the extended and redesignated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia.
In February 2023, DHS extended and redesignated TPS for Somalia until September 17, 2024.
Applications for re-registration and employment authorization document (EAD) extensions should be made during the reregistration period: March…
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy continues to be under attack. In Judge Andrew Hanen’s court in the Southern District of Texas, a coalition of Republican states filed a motion for summary judgment in a long-pending case alleging that the Biden Administration’s new DACA rule is no more valid than the original DACA…
Hong Kong activists living in the United States in Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status worried about whether their DED extended beyond the February 5, 2023, deadline. On January 26, 2023, by way of a memorandum, President Joe Biden extended and expanded eligibility for DED for certain Hong Kong residents for 24 months, until 2025.
In…
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia for 18 months from March 18, 2023, to September 17, 2024.
The extension will allow approximately 430 Somali nationals who are already in TPS to extend their status and renew their employment authorization documents (EADs). It…
USCIS is extending the validity of conditional permanent residence cards, or green cards, for 48 months beyond the card’s expiration date.
The move is in response to the long processing delays for those filing petitions to remove conditions on residence – the Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence for certain individuals who gained…
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti will be extended and redesignated for 18 months from February 4, 2023, until August 3, 2024.
TPS for Haiti had been extended five times, until January 22, 2018, due to economic, security, political, health care, and humanitarian crises. DHS announced…
In a settlement agreement signed on January 19, 2023, USCIS agreed to “bundle” the adjudication of dependent applicants’ Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) with the primary applicant’s Form I-129 (Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker) if the forms are filed together as one package.
Stemming from a settlement…
