News

Judge in Texas ruled that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is not lawful. Current DACA recipients may keep DACA but no new applications will be accepted. Ruling likely to be appealed. Read more

USCIS announced that those filing to renew their ten-year permanent resident cards (green cards) will receive an automatic twenty-four month extension of their status which will be noted on the receipt notice.

May 3, 2022 “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days.” This means those whose EADs are under this list, automatically have a 540 day extension from the expiration date on the card. That includes those who have EADs under a pending application to adjust status to that of a permanent resident.

USICS and Department of State are now requiring a full COVID vaccination course, as part of the medical screening for new applications including all of those who have yet to have their immigrant visa appointments. Whether you are applying for a permanent residence (green card) within the U.S. or consular processing, full course of COVID vaccinations are now required. Separately, for those that completed the medical examination within the U.S. your medical exam report will now be valid for up to four years, due to USCIS’s long delays in processing permanent resident applications. This applies as long as your medical exam was completed withing sixty days prior to your application for permanent residence.

It is important to know that current DACA recipients are still able to maintain their DACA status and will be able to apply to renew their applications for now. The ruling from today (July 16, 2021) states that renewals may be approved. New applicants may continue to apply HOWEVER the court directed USCIS not to decide the new applications nor be able to issue employment authorization for those who had not had them approved as of today, pending outcome of further appeals. Read this New York Times article for more information.

In-person office meetings are now available to fully vaccinated people only. For those with children under twelve or who are unable to be vaccinated, I will continue with video-conferences.

USCIS announced that most adjustment of status Employment Authorization Documents will now be issued for two years instead of one year. This is very helpful because of the dramatic increase in processing times at USCIS due to a combination of the former administration’s anti-immigrant policies and COVID19 slowdowns.

USCIS is no longer enforcing the Public Charge Rule. As such the Form I-944 is no longer required. Requests for Evidence for only the I-944, no longer require responses either.

This week a bill was introduce in the U.S. House of Representatives to reform the U.S. immigration system. Here is the link to the bill.

For parents and children who were forcibly separated by the U.S. Government, free mental health services are available. Learn more.