The June 2025 Visa Bulletin shows some advancement in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories for all countries except for India. In addition, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will accept employment-based...more
On January 22, 2025, USCIS posted an alert pertaining to the I-693 immigration medical exam required for most individuals applying to become lawful permanent residents. USCIS indicates that they now “waive[s] any and all...more
Overview Effective January 22, 2025, USCIS will no longer require Adjustment of Status applicants to obtain a COVID-19 vaccination as part of the Adjustment of Status process. USCIS will waive all requirements that Adjustment...more
The Department of State released the December 2024 Visa Bulletin and USCIS will continue to accept employment-based Adjustment of Status applications based on the more advanced Dates for Filing chart. All employment-based...more
In an effort to address the ongoing Employment Authorization Document (more commonly known as an “EAD”) processing backlog, USCIS recently announced it would lengthen the maximum validity period for certain EAD categories to...more
On January 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached a settlement in Edakunni v. Mayorkas. As a result of the settlement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has agreed to resume its...more
On January 4, 2023, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule to increase fees for most immigration benefit requests. If implemented, employers will pay significantly more for...more
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made a critical update that, as of July 1, 2022, allows some Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders to overcome inadmissibility issues and become eligible for...more
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) allows immigrant survivors of domestic violence to self-petition for legal status in the United States without relying on their abusive U.S. citizen spouses to sponsor their adjustment of...more
On December 2, 2020, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld preliminary injunctions blocking USCIS from enforcing the “new” Public Charge Rule in 18 states and the District of Columbia. The Court found the rule was...more
In our continuing series of reports, Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State, shares his most recent analysis of current trends and future projections for the...more
Advance Parole allows an individual to travel internationally during the pendency of an adjustment of status (AOS) application. Those individuals who hold a valid H or L visa also have the option of using that visa to travel...more
Department of State’s Visa Office comments on demand in the employment-based immigrant visa categories, indicating an early retrogression of the cutoff date for EB-2 India. Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control...more