USCIS increased most filing fees. The changes will take effect as of October 2, 2020. This means that any application that is postmarked ON or after October 2, 2020 will need the new fees. Clinic Legal Services prepared a wonderful chart that describes the new fees. The chart is at https://cliniclegal.org/resources/fee-waivers-uscis/selected-uscis-form-fees-beginning-oct-2-2020 (also open at USCIS Form Fees Read More
Newest Presidential Proclamation
The White House Administration continues its assault on immigration to the US and immigrant communities already in the US. The latest Presidential Proclamation restricts issuance of visas to certain employment-based nonimmigrants. The text of the proclamation is at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/. The Read More
Questions about Social Media on Immigration Applications
The US Department of State has added questions to immigration applications relating to social media. Attached is an interesting article from AILA about some of the issues relating to answering questions about social media and ways to improve your social media presence. AILA - Practice Pointer_ Advising Your Clients Regarding Social Media Information Collected on Forms DS-160 and DS-260 Read More
USCIS may reopen on June 4 for US naturalizations/citizenship
Today I received a message from the New England Chapter of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) informing me that USCIS offices in Massachusetts plan to bring workers back into its offices on June 1 and reopen to the public on June 4 for limited services. Once reopened, USCIS will focus on scheduled small-batch US naturalization ceremonies. Also, USCIS will begin scheduling N-400 interviews. We do Read More
USCIS Closure Extends to June 4, 2020
USCIS has extended its closure of in-person services until at least June 4, 2020. If you have an appointment scheduled between now and June 4, you can expect that it is cancelled and that USCIS will send you a notice regarding the cancellation and future rescheduling of the appointment. Read More
Presidential Proclamation Suspending the Entry of Certain Immigrants into the United States – What You Should Know
Executive Proclamation About Immigration
Yesterday, the White House issued the Executive Proclamation against immigrants/immigrants. The order is at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-immigrants-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-economic-recovery-following-covid-19-outbreak/ . What does the Executive Proclamation actually do? Right now--NOTHING! For weeks most US embassies and consulates have been closed for visa Read More
American Immigration Lawyers Association: Talking Points about Tweet
Below are excerpts from a publication released yesterday by the American Immigration Lawyers Association in response to Trump's "tweet" about limiting "immigration into the US." All bullet points below are authored by AILA, although edited down to the most important points for my firm's clients. From AILA: Unfortunately, this announcement is not a surprise. In the face of growing questions and criticism about Read More
Green card approval without USCIS interview?
Yesterday, the American Immigration Lawyers Association reported that based on a survey of AILA members, it appears that in some cases USCIS is approving some family-based and employment-based green cards without an interview. Interviews, which are normally a requirement for most green-card cases, cannot be conducted until at least May 4 because USCIS is closed due to COVID. Waiving the interview Read More
Unknown: The Implications of Last Night’s “Presidential” Tweet about Immigration
Last night, Trump tweeted that he was closing immigration to the US. No one knows what that means. USCIS is the agency that processes immigration in the US. The Department of State's embassies and consulates process US immigration from outside the US. The worst case scenario is that Trump actually effect a closure of both agencies' immigration operations. While there is no "best" case scenario following such a Read More
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