USCIS Scheduled to Increase Family-Based Immigrant and Naturalization Application Filing Fees

Effective immediately, the United States Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) will begin considering a foreign national’s antisemetic activity on social media and the physical harassment of Jewish individuals as grounds for denying immigration benefits. The new policy, which is consistent with President Donald Trump’s Executive Orders on Combatting Antisemetism, Additional Measures to Combat Antisemitism and Protecting the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats; will apply to foreign nationals applying for an adjustment of status, foreign students on F-1 and M-1 student visas and those affiliated with educational institutions linked to antisemetic activity. The United States Department of State provides a working definition of antisemitism as “certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestation of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions or religious facilities.” Under the new