Due to COVID-19, USCIS announced that as of March 20, 2020, it is immediately suspending premium processing service for all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions until further notice. USCIS also said that petitioners that have already filed a form requesting premium processing will receive refunds if their cases are not acted on within the 15
L-1A / L-1B
DHS Unaffected by New USMCA Treaty, Continues Increased Scrutiny of TN, Other Visas
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), signed into law in 1993, eliminated trade barriers and increased investment opportunities between the three signatory countries, the United States, Mexico, and Canada. After more than 25 years, the agreement was seen to require revisions, particularly as to labor, digital trade, and data flows. A revision to NAFTA,…
Significant Visa Fee Increases for Australian Nationals
U.S. firefighters coming to help extinguish the devastating forest fires were cheered when they arrived at the airport in Sydney, Australia. In the past, in what became a reciprocal arrangement, Australian firefighters have assisted U.S. firefighters.
A different sort of reciprocity has led to the sudden increase in visa fees for Australians coming to the…
Growing USCIS Processing Backlog Continues into New Year
USCIS is starting the year with a growing backlog of processing delays.
In May 2019, a bi-partisan group of Senators wrote to USCIS requesting information on why the service-oriented agency adjudicating immigration benefits, such as work authorization, is disrupting American businesses through administrative inefficiencies.
Here are some of the facts:
- For FY 2018, the
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USCIS Denials in Extraordinary Ability Category on the Rise
- Is it a significant achievement to make it onto a national sports team?
- Would winning a top-ten spot in a European championship constitute an award for excellence?
- Would being one of a duo who were U.S. junior ice dance champions constitute an internationally recognized prize?
These are questions USCIS has answered in the negative in…
H, L Visas on DHS Regulatory Agenda
According to the DHS Fall Regulatory Agenda, the Administration is planning further restrictions to immigration regulations that, if enacted, will affect employers.
Over the past few years, DHS has changed the way it reviews H and L visa petitions from employers, which has resulted in significant increases in Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and denials.…
House Passes Bill to Eliminate Green Card Backlogs, Competing Bill in Senate Introduced
The House of Representatives has taken a step in the direction of eliminating green card backlogs by passing the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 (H.R. 1044) introduced by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Ken Buck. (R-CO). The support was bi-partisan and passed in a 365 to 65 vote. The bill would:
- Increase per
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Administration Ups Data Collection and General Surveillance
The Trump Administration has been stepping up the collection of data in general and more specifically from visa applicants and travelers.
Here are a few new policies:Continue Reading Administration Ups Data Collection and General Surveillance
What Processing Delays in Immigration Cases Mean
Long USCIS processing delays are now the norm for all types of immigration cases. Indeed, the delays have reached crisis levels. Processing times increased by 46% over the past two fiscal years and 91% since FY 2014.
In fact, even though applications declined by 17% in FY 2018, processing times continued to rise. In…
Plans to Shuffle Agents from Canadian to Mexican Border Raises Fear of Delays at Northern Border
The Department of Homeland Security has announced plans to transfer more than 700 border agents from the 120 ports of entry at the Northern (Canadian) border to the Southern (Mexican) border. The purpose is to bolster the number of agents available to help with asylum seekers.
Members of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus (NBC) oppose…