Dramatic Increase in I-485 Filing Fees Coming

This has been published in the Federal Register and will take effect at some point soon. We will update this as more information becomes available. Regulations.gov is the full notice of rulemaking.

TPS Designation for HAITI!

On May 26, 2021, the USCIS Public Engagement Division recently sent its email stating: On May 22, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced a new 18-month designation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. The effective date will be the date of publication of an upcoming Federal Register notice (FRN). This new TPS designation will enable Haitian nationals …

Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for Certain Renewal Applicants

Final Rule Effective May 4, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is temporarily amending existing DHS regulations related to expiring employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain renewal applicants. The prior extension period of up to 180 days will automatically increase to up to 540 days from the expiration date …

USCIS Agrees to Restore Path for Permanent Residence for TPS Beneficiaries

A significant agreement has been reached to permit the adjustment of certain Foreign Nationals with potential who would otherwise be barred from receiving Legal Permanent Residence due to a prior removal order or a lack of legal entry. This results from a US District Court case for the District of Columbia, CARCEN vs JADDOH (Originally vs CUCCINELLI), and will be …

EB-5 Program Re-Authorized (3/15/22)

In quick summary, the reauthorization contains the following provisions: The EB-5 Regional Center program was reauthorized as amended on March 15, 2022 effective on various dates and will be in effect through September 30, 2027. USCIS will issue additional guidance shortly. The investment amounts will increase to $800,000 for a targeted employment area (TEA) and infrastructure investments and $1,050,000 for …

“Camp Marriages” Recognized Again

Effective immediately, USCIS officers will recognize a derivative refugee or asylee if there is evidence of an informal marriage where the spouses were unable to have their marriage legally recognized in the place of celebration because of their flight from persecution and circumstances beyond their control, or due to restrictive laws or practices in their country of origin or country …

WAITING ON THE MEXICAN BORDER!

Since reversing the prior administration’s inhumane border policy barring asylum applicants from refuge in the United States during the pendency of their claims, the US government has been working to eliminate the many problems the sudden influx of asylees on the border. One of the program changes is called the Migrant Protection Protocols which authorizes those who had been waiting …

F-1 students from Venezuela and Syria can now apply to:

Gain employment authorization Work increased number of hours while school is in session Maintain F-1 status with reduced student course load Eligibility requirements: Citizen of Venezuela or Syria, regardless of country of birth. Lawfully in F-1 nonimmigrant status on April 22, 2021 Enrolled in a SEVP-certified academic institution Maintaining F-1 status currently Experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result …

REAL STORY: “I was afraid to be deported, but my life was at risk”

Her name is Claudia Perez. She is from Honduras. For many years, her husband abused her. Fear of being deported was so great that she allowed the situation to continue, until one day the lives of her children were also at risk.  She decided to, and did, report it. Years earlier, when Claudia was 16 years old, she met Luis …