During the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions can change quickly for both lawful permanent residents and others seeking to enter or return to the United States. If at all possible, traveling outside the United States should be avoided except in the most urgent situations. If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR), you should keep the following concepts in mind when …
When Will the US Embassy Act on My Visa?
US Embassies Prioritize Visa Applications to Remedy Backlog The Covid-19 crisis has affected immigrant and nonimmigrant visas processing at U.S. Embassies and has created a backlog. The State Department is working to reduce this backlog by prioritizing visa categories. The highest priority is given to immigrant visa applications for U.S. immediate relatives, fiancé applicants and other family-sponsored applicants. Priority is …
Since the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) became available to Venezuelans and Burmans, many questions have arisen for the citizens of these countries, who previously filed for political asylum
One of the most common is: Does the asylum office act differently towards me if I have also applied for TPS or Deferred Deportation (DED)? The answer is both “no” and “yes”. “No”, the asylum office does not process an asylum claim differently if the applicant had been granted DED or holds TPS. Eligibility for asylum is not adversely influenced …
Presidential Proclamation Ends Discrimination of certain Foreign Nationals
Did you apply before January 2021 for an immigrant Visa? Was it rejected because you are a national of one of the group of countries that were banned during Trump’s administration? If so, you can now reapply with a waiver or ask the embassy to reconsider your prior application. On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed a Presidential Proclamation “Ending …
Burma has been designated for TPS
Syria extended till September 2022 Secretary of Homeland Security is designating Burma (Myanmar) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. This new designation of Burma for TPS enables Burmese nationals (and individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in Burma) currently residing in the United States to file initial applications for TPS, so long as they meet eligibility requirements. …
Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelans
The Department of Homeland Security announced a Federal Register notice (FRN) designating Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, effective March 9, 2021, through Sept. 9, 2022. https://lnkd.in/gacaeis The FRN details the eligibility criteria applicants must meet and describes the procedures necessary to submit an initial TPS application and apply for an EAD. The FRN also provides information about …
Are you a national of Liberia or Venezuela?
The Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status allows citizens from Liberia, and soon, Venezuela, to remain in the country for the time established in the Federal Register and with the option to obtain work authorization. The DED is a temporary migratory benefit for individuals from designated countries and regions, facing political or civic conflict or natural disaster to stay in the …
President’s Executive Order Restoring America’s Welcome to Immigrants
The President has issued an Executive Order which changes the policy direction of the Federal agencies which implement the immigration system. This order, issued February 2, 2021, has already had changed policy in substantial ways, including the recent reversion of the plan to modify the Naturalization Civics test in ways that would have meant substantially more denials, based on a …
Temporary Work Visas H-2B available for the summer season 2021
Can you qualify? This year around 30,000 Temporary Work Visas H-2B are available for companies interested in hiring workers for the upcoming summer season (from April to September 2021). These types of Visas are available for seasonal non-agricultural workers. Meaning positions related to landscaping, lifeguards for swimming pools and beaches, restoration, hospitality, nurses, among others in these categories, can qualify …
Salary wages will not prioritize H1B Visas selection
USCIS announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 9 and run through noon Eastern on March 25. During this period, those who wish to file for an H-1B visa will provide information and submit their registrations. Important change: Contrary to selection by wages, a process previously announced by the Trump Administration, USCIS will select those eligible to file for H-1B visas by lottery …