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 …
Legal Permanent Residents should avoid traveling outside the US
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 …
4th Circuit Affirms Blocking of Trump Executive Order on Refugees
Today, January 8, 2021, the US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit affirmed the preliminary injunction of the Maryland US District Court blocking the President’s Executive Order 13,888 attempting to create an “opt-in” system requiring that both a state and a locality provide their affirmative consent before refugees will be resettled there, thereby substantially burdening and blocking the settlement …