President Biden has invoked sections 212(f) and 215(a) of immigration laws to issue a new proclamation and rule that restricts asylum access for migrants entering the United States between ports of entry. In response to heightened immigration challenges, DHS is preparing to establish a case-by-case process for certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have lived in the U.S. for…
On June 18, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced initiatives to enhance the efficiency of obtaining employment-based nonimmigrant visas for U.S. college graduates with job offers. This effort aims to expedite visa processing for eligible individuals. As part of these measures, the Department will provide clearer guidelines to consular officers on recommending waivers of ineligibility to the Department of Homeland Security…
Effective May 6, 2024, USCIS has relocated the processing of Forms I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, for following-to-join refugees (FTJ-R) from the Asylum Vetting Center to the USCIS International Operations Division. This change aims to enhance efficiency in handling these petitions by establishing a dedicated team for initial domestic processing. All pending Form I-730 FTJ-R petitions will automatically transfer from the…
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed amendments to clarify regulations regarding the 9-11 Response & Biometric Entry-Exit Fee for H-1B and L-1 Visas. The proposed changes aim to interpret statutory language more clearly, requiring covered employers to submit the 9-11 Biometric Fee for all extension-of-stay petitions, including those without a change of employer. This fee will continue to…
A nonimmigrant visa, placed in your passport, allows temporary travel to the United States. Typically, citizens of foreign countries must apply for and obtain a U.S. visa suitable for their travel purpose. A flyer for applicants to understand the process of obtaining a nonimmigrant visa, including completing the DS-160 online visa application and scheduling and attending a visa appointment. https://www.aila.org/aila-files/172340EF-A6BB-4784-A821-3D9FA7B646DA/Client-Flyer-Nonimmigrant-Visas.pdf…
It has been closely monitoring that processing challenges linked to the adjudication of long-pending Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Concerning the prolonged processing times of USCIS, particularly for Immediate Relative (IR) category petitions pending over 14 months and F2A category (spouses and children of lawful permanent residents) petitions pending over 24 months (approximately 2 years). These delays significantly disrupt…
