News & Resources

Nonimmigrant Visa Dropbox Renewal Eligibility Reverts Back to Pre-COVID Standards

February 18, 2025

Effective immediately, the United States Department of State (“DOS”) has revised the requirements for interview waiver eligibility (commonly referred to as dropbox eligibility) to applicants renewing a nonimmigrant visa in the classification that expired within the past twelve (“12”) months. Previously, some nonimmigrant visa applicants were eligible to renew through

Trump’s EO Ending Birthright Citizenship Dealt Another Setback by A Second Judge

February 7, 2025

President Donald Trump’s Executive Order (“EO”) ending birthright citizenship was dealt another setback after a second federal judge ordered an additional pause. Judge Deborah Boardman of the Federal District of Maryland issued a nationwide injunction against the EO commenting that no court in the country has endorsed the Trump administration’s

USCIS Will No Longer Require Covid -19 Vaccinations For Adjustment Of Status Applicants

February 6, 2025

Effective January 22, 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will no longer require adjustment of status applicants to present proof of a COVID-19 vaccination as part of their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. The USCIS further commented that the agency will no

Federal Lawsuit Filed Immediately Following Trump’s Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship

January 24, 2025

Less than 2 hours after President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order (“EO”) attempting to end birthright citizenship, immigrant advocates started to file lawsuits in Federal Court attempting to block Trump’s Executive Order. The first lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Federal District Court of New Hampshire on behalf

Can My Fiance Work in the U.S. After Arriving on a K-1 Visa?

January 17, 2025

One your fiance arrives in the United States on a K-1 visa and you are married within ninety (90) days upon arrival, you and your fiance will need to file for adjustment of status with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) in order to convert the K-1 fiance

Update on Visa Chargeability for Hong Kong Persons from the President’s Executive Order

September 12, 2020

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

Important Notice for K Visa Applicants Affected by COVID-19

September 2, 2020

Effective August 28, as it becomes safe to resume more consular operations at the U.S. Embassy in Manila and the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, posts are authorized to give K visa cases high priority. Applicants should check https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ph/ (Philippines) and http://cdn.ustraveldocs.com/vn/ (Vietnam) for updates. The I-129F Petition

U.S. Embassy in Manila Resumes Limited In-Person Passport Service Operations on September 1st

September 1, 2020

The American Citizen Services (“ACS”) at the U.S. Embassy in Manila will resume limited in-person passport service operations on September 1st by appointment only. Other routine ACS operations such as notarial services, affidavits in lieu of legal capacity to marry and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad will remain suspended. Prior

Department of States Expands Non-Immigrant Visa In-Person Interview Waivers

August 31, 2020

The United States Department of State (“DOS”) has temporarily expanded the ability of consular officers to waive in-person interviews for individuals applying for non-immigrant visas in the same visa classification. Previously, only those applicants whose non-immigrant visas had expired within the previous 12 months were eligible for an interview waiver.

House of Representatives Passes Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act

August 28, 2020

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

DOS Provides Update on Public Charge Inadmissibility Following Temporary Injunction

August 12, 2020

DOS Provides Update on Public Charge Inadmissibility Following Temporary Injunction Following a nationwide injunction issued by a federal judge temporarily blocking Public Charge inadmissibility from being enforced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of State (“DOS”) will be updating its guidance to consular officers on how to

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