Beginning August 14, 2024, DHS implemented new procedures for processing asylum seekers at the northern border with Canada, reducing the time available for legal representation and increasing the use of expedited removal. The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA), which has been in effect since the previous year, applied to both those who entered the U.S. through Canada and those who…
A technical issue previously resulted in missing USCIS Form I-612 receipt notices for cases where the Department of State’s Waiver Review Division (WRD) recommended waivers. This problem affected I-612 receipt notices related to J-1 waivers for physicians serving in underserved areas. Normally, when WRD recommends a waiver, it is sent to USCIS, which should then issue an I-797 receipt notice…
USCIS determined that for August 2024, applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart and all employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart. According to the August 2024 visa bulletin, the priority date for the Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent…
USCIS has issued a reminder that it will start accepting New Parole applications from August 19 onwards, rejecting those submitted before this date. They have also outlined a list of documents that can be gathered in advance. This announcement reflects the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to keeping families united. DHS is establishing a process to consider requests for parole in place…
On June 18, the White House stated that individuals, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, who have completed a degree at a recognized U.S. university and have been offered employment by a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, will have expedited access to work visas. Following the White House’s announcement facilitating quicker issuance of certain nonimmigrant work…
DHS revised the STEM list, which is the complete list of fields recognized by DHS as science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) disciplines for its 24-month optional practical training extensions. For additional information, you can visit: stem-list.pdf (ice.gov) Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq. Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
USCIS has released FAQs addressing frequently asked questions from individuals in H-1B nonimmigrant status. These FAQs cover topics such as applying for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, job changes or terminations, international travel, and issues related to dependent family members. For more information you may visit: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models/faqs-for-individuals-in-h-1b-nonimmigrant-status Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq. Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
You can find interview wait times on the travel.state.gov website here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html. The wait times often include those for third country nationals (TCNs), but the site does not specify if there are separate queues for TCNs at individual posts. Additionally, due to technical constraints, the Department of State has noted that providing TCN-specific wait times is currently not feasible. To…
The International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) allows DHS to grant up to 2,5 years of “parole” to noncitizen entrepreneurs if their U.S. start-up meets specific criteria. This can be extended by another 2,5 years based on additional benchmarks, totaling up to 5 years. Key details include: Eligibility: Entrepreneurs must have established their start-up in the U.S. within the past five years.…
Form N-400, used for applying for U.S. citizenship, has several key updates and common questions associated with it. Recent changes include updates to the form’s structure and requirements, which are designed to streamline the application process. One significant update is the introduction of new sections that address recent legal and procedural changes. Applicants often inquire about fee waivers, which are…
