The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (“CBP”) and the Department of State (“DOS”) have announced that beginning May 21, 2021, U.S. citizens will be able to return to the United States on an expired U.S. passport until December 31, 2021, if they: are a U.S. citizen. are currently abroad seeking
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that applicants, petitioners, and beneficiaries may now call the USCIS Contact Center (1-800-375-5283) to reschedule their biometric services appointments that were scheduled at a USCIS Application Support Center (“ACS”). Previously, applicants had to submit requests in writing to reschedule biometrics appointments. This
What is an I-864 Affidavit of Support? A USCIS Form I-864 Affidavit of Support is required for many immigrant visa categories in order to show that the sponsoring petitioner (“Sponsor”) has adequate means to financially support the person(s) being sponsored to immigrate. The I-864 Affidavit of Support is a contract
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is once again extending flexibility the agency announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to these agency requests : Requests for Evidence; Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14); Notices of Intent to Deny; Notices of Intent to
The United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has announced that the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) will no longer appeal judicial decisions invalidating or enforcing the 2019 Public Charge rule. Noting that litigating inadmissibility based on public charge is neither in the public interest or an efficient use of limited
Starting in January 2021, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will replace the sticker that is currently issued to lawful permanent residents (“LPRs”) to extend the validity of their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”). The new document will be a revised Form I-797, Notice of Action
United States President Donald Trump has extended an earlier Presidential Proclamation restricting certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa categories from consular processing in response to the growing COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Order (“EO”), which was first issued in April 2020, restricted certain immigrant visa applicants from receiving their visas for at
The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has announced that routine visa processing at Embassies and Consulates will resume on a post-by-post basis consistent with DOS’s guidance for safely returning to the full services. As on the ground conditions improve, DOS will begin providing services leading to the eventual full
In what appears to be a judicial game of tennis, the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit overturned a lower federal judge’s decision to stop the United States Department of Homeland Security’s (“DHS”) public charge rule and is allowing DHS to continue to implement the rule. On
A federal judge has stopped the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) public charge rule which was recently allowed to proceed after an injunction was lifted by the United States Circuit Court for the Second Circuit. Judge Gary Feinerman of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of
On October 19, 2020, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) premium processing fees will increase in accordance with the Continuing Appropriations Act signed into law on October 1, 2020.. USCIS premium processing allows a petitioner to receive a decision within 15 business days by submitting a Form I-907, Request
The United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has introduced a rule that would hold immigrant sponsors accountable for failing to meet contractual obligations that they enter when sponsoring a foreign national for an immigrant visa. The new rule comes after the United States Court of Appeals for the Second
Update: Between the writing and publication of this article, a federal judge granted a motion for a preliminary injunction against the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fee rule discussed herein. As long as this preliminary injunction is in place, the existing fees remain as before. Effective October 2, 2020,
The United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) has announced a proposed rule that would require a fixed period of stay for international students on F student visas and exchange visitors on J visas. Under the proposed rule, the DHS framework that currently allows foreign nationals on F and J
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (“CBP”) has not announced any special relief to a lawful permanent resident (“LPR’) who has remained outside the United States for more than one year because of COVID-19 travel and movement restrictions. Currently, a LPR who was remained outside the United States irrespective
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) is extending the time within which to reply to certain notices and requests that is originally announced on March 30, 2020.{ https://enterlinepartners.com/language/en/announcement-extended-deadlines-to-respond-to-rfes-and-noids/ } The extension applies to any stakeholder that is responding to the following: Requests for Evidence; Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit lifted an injunction issued by a federal judge allowing the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) to resume public charge inadmissibility. The most recent ruling has been part of intense ongoing litigation since DHS, under the direction of the Trump Administration,
Since the President’s July 14, 2020 Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization there has been much concern and confusion about whether and how the Executive Order impacts persons born in Hong Kong. The issue is whether the Executive Order makes individuals born in Hong Kong subject to visa chargeability of
On Saturday, August 22, the United States House of Representatives unanimously passed The Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act (H.R. 8089). The legislation seeks to temporarily prevent planned furloughs by the United States Immigration and Citizenship Services (“USCIS”) by immediately increasing USCIS premium processing revenues. In May 2020, USCIS notified Congress
The United States House of Representatives has introduced companion legislation to the recently proposed Senate bill which would increase the number of immigrant visas issued to foreign doctors and nurses. Known as the “Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act,” the new legislation, if enacted, would authorize immigrant visas to qualified foreign nationals
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