As 2021 comes to an end, the White House and the Department of State have announced:
1.South African Travel Restrictions Lifted.
The 14-day travel restrictions on southern African countries will be lifted as of...more
12/28/2021
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Electronic Travel Authorization Program (eTA) ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Travel Restrictions ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Vaccinations ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Virus Testing ,
Visas ,
Waivers
In response to the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the Administration is expanding COVID-19 mitigation and tightening international travel requirements.
All individuals (including U.S. citizens) entering the United States from...more
Instructions allowing Hong Kong Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) beneficiaries to apply for employment authorization have been published in the Federal Register.
On August 5, 2021, President Biden granted DED for...more
Diversity Visa (DV) Electronic Registration for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 opens October 6, 2021, at noon ET and closes on November 9, 2021, at noon ET.
There is no cost to register, but, if selected, applicants must pay the...more
Reacting to a ruling from a federal district court judge in Texas, the Biden Administration proposed a new DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) rule that would strengthen protections for the “Dreamers.”...more
New dollar eligibility criteria for investment amounts, qualifying investors, and re-parole considerations under the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) will take effect on October 1, 2022.
The Biden Administration...more
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that as of October 1, 2021, all applicants for Green Cards must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
There are some exemptions from the requirement, but...more
In a tweet on August 20, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security announced that:
“To minimize the spread of COVID19, including the Delta variant, the United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at...more
Anyone thinking of travelling internationally next year needs to plan ahead. Due to backlogs, applications for new or renewed U.S. passports should be filed at least six months in advance. The Department of State (DOS)...more
President Joe Biden has authorized thousands of Hong Kong residents currently residing in the United States to remain in the country pursuant to Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for up to 18 months. In addition, he...more
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas has announced several new USCIS policies meant to improve the legal immigration system, eliminate barriers, and reduce burdens on applicants...more
The Department of Homeland Security will no longer be collecting civil financial penalties for noncitizens who fail to depart from the United States. Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced that “[t]here is no indication that...more
By tweet, the Department of Homeland Security announced an extension of the travel restrictions at the Northern and Southern land and sea borders until June 21, 2021. These borders have been closed to “non-essential” travel...more
The Biden administration is breathing life into the International Entrepreneur Rule (IER). It has announced that the IER will be launched anew, because it will “strengthen and grow our nation’s economy through increased...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced DHS to delay full enforcement of the REAL ID law from October 1, 2021, to May 3, 2023, the agency has announced.
The REAL ID law requires every air traveler 18 years or older to show...more
The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act (HWRA) has been introduced in the Senate again. The bill would recapture 15,000 immigrant visas for doctors and 25,000 for nurses.
The bill has bipartisan support. Introduced by...more
Syrian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) has been extended until September 30, 2022. DHS announced that the 60-day registration and re-registration period for Syrian TPS and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) was to...more
Eligible Venezuelans in the United States may now apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) according to an announcement made this week by Alexajandro Mayorkas, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). TPS is...more
On January 19, 2021, just before the end of his term, President Donald Trump issued a memorandum granting Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Venezuelans for a period of eighteen months. DED is a humanitarian grant...more
On January 29, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrian nationals for a period of 18 months until September 2022. This will affect approximately...more
On his first day in office, President Joseph R. Biden signed a memorandum for the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security ordering them to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy...more
On December 31, 2020, just as it was about to expire, President Donald Trump extended the ban on immigrant and nonimmigrant visas until March 31, 2020. Initiated in April and June 2020, the bans were intended to block...more
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for South Sudan has been extended again until May 2, 2022. The instructions for beneficiaries have been published in the Federal Register. Through January 4, 2021, TPS beneficiaries who have...more
Announced via Tweet by Chad Wolf, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, the COVID-related restrictions at the Canadian and Mexican borders have been extended yet again until November 21, 2020. These...more
The entry period for the 2022 Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program will open on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and will close at noon EDT on Tuesday, November 10, 2022. There is no cost to...more