On 10 November 2021, litigants and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security executed a settlement agreement in Shergill v. Mayorkas, Case No. 21-cv-1296-RSM (W.D. Washington). The settlement agreement impacts employment authorization (I-765 Form) for H-4 and L-2 nonimmigrant spouses. On 12 November 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a […]
USCIS Deadline Extension
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) extended the filing deadline to respond to agency requests or decisions. The deadline extension applies to USCIS decisions, notices, and requests issued between 1 March 2020 through 15 January 2022. The deadline extension applies to requests for evidence, continuations to request evidence (N-14), notices […]
Extensions to Temporary Protected Status
2021 Information In September 2021, in response to preliminary injunctions, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced extensions to temporary protected status (“TPS”). The extensions also apply to employment authorization and I-94 Forms. The extensions for the I-94 and I-797 Forms apply to temporary protected status beneficiaries, who timely filed […]
Temporary Protected Status
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security authorized temporary protected status for Burmese, Syrians, and Venezuelans a while ago. In early August 2021, the Department of Homeland Security extended the initial registration period for Burmese, Syrian, and Venezuelans eligible to file new applications (I-821 Form) for protected status. Rather than limit […]
Changes to Employment Authorization for Haitian F-1 Students
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a notice regarding employment authorization for Haitian F-1 students. The Department of Homeland Security suspends certain regulatory requirements for Haitian F-1 students suffering severe economic hardship. The reduced restrictions will allow Haitian F-1 students to work more hours during school session and reduce […]
Temporary Protected Status for Haitian Nationals
2024 Update Regarding Temporary Protected Status The Department of Homeland Security redesignated temporary protected status for Haitian nationals from 8 August 2024 through 3 February 2026. See 89 Fed. Reg. 54484 (July 1, 2024). For Haiti specific information, applicants may find more information on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’s temporary […]
Refugee Admissions Processing (Priority 2) for Afghan Refugees
The U.S. State Department designated Afghan refugees as eligible for priority 2 (P-2) processing by the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. The priority 2 designation applies to Afghans, who do not legally qualify for special immigrant visas. The U.S. State Department’s announcement provides guidance as to which Afghans may apply for […]
Certificates of Citizenship for Children
On 18 September 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued Policy Alert (PA-2020-15) regarding certificates of citizenship for permanent resident children born to military service members and U.S. Government employees living abroad. The amendments occur in response to Congress’s amendments to Immigration and Nationality Act § 320, 8 U.S.C. […]
Extension to File Responses
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services extended the deadline for applicants to respond to requests for evidence. The deadline extension also applies to N-14 continuations to request evidence, notices of intent to deny, and notices of intent to revoke. Additionally, the extension applies to notices […]
Biometrics Suspended for I-539 Applicants
Effective 17 May 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced changes regarding biometrics. In particular, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended biometrics for I-539 applicants requesting some nonimmigrant statuses. For example, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will not require biometrics for I-539 applicants in the E-1, E-2, E-3, H-4, and […]