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A technical “glitch”, the result of a software update implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) on September 1, 2015, prevented some employers from filing PERM applications later in the month. Continue reading “Technical Problem Affects PERM Filings”
Effective September 3, 2015, nationals of Yemen are eligible for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for 18 months due to the ongoing armed conflict within the country. Yemen is experiencing widespread conflict and a resulting severe humanitarian emergency, and requiring Yemeni nationals in the United States to return to Yemen would pose a serious threat to their personal safety. Continue reading “Temporary Protected Status Announced for Yemen”
In its continuing effort to increase user-friendliness, USCIS has simplified the process for paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee –currently $165 – online in its electronic immigration system. Continue reading “Payment Process for Immigrant Fees Simplified”
The National Visa Center (the “NVC”) recently issued letters to immigrant visa applicants indicating that termination proceedings have been initiated. The affected individuals subsequently received e-mails from the NVC assuring them that, in fact, their cases were on track and that the previous letters should be ignored. Continue reading “NVC Errors Continue”
August 18, 2015, is the deadline for eligible nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone to register for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”). Also included in this group are people without nationality who last habitually resided in one of those three countries. The TPS designations for these three countries run from Nov. 21, 2014, through May 21, 2016. Continue reading “Deadline for Nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone to Register for TPS is August 18, 2015”
As of today, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) will resume accepting premium processing requests for H-1B extensions. Any premium processing request for H-1B extensions received prior to July 13, 2015 will be rejected. Continue reading “USCIS Resumes Premium Processing Service for H-1B Extensions”
Effective July 7, 2015, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City will no longer process E visa applications. Continue reading “DOS Alert: U.S. Embassy in Mexico City Will No Longer Process E Visas”
On Wednesday, June 24, 2015, the Department of Homeland security designated Nepal for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) for a period of 18 months, effective June 24, 2015 through December 24, 2016, based on the conditions resulting from the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015, and the subsequent aftershocks. As a result, eligible nationals of Nepal residing in the United States may apply for TPS with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”). Continue reading “Update on Temporary Protected Status”
On June 12, 2015, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs (the “Bureau”) first announced that a hardware failure on June 9 had led to technical problems with overseas passport and visa systems. The hardware failure had halted the flow of security clearance requests from the overseas posts to the State Department’s Consular Consolidated Database (“CCD”). Continue reading “Client Alert: Visa and Passport Delays Expected to Continue Through Next Week”
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced yesterday that it will temporarily suspend premium processing of Petitions for H-1B extensions beginning on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. USCIS will continue to process H-1B extensions that were received prior to May 26. USCIS will refund the premium processing fee for H-1B extensions filed prior to May 26, 2015, but not processed within the 15-calendar-day period. Continue reading “USCIS Suspends Premium Processing of Petitions for H-1B Extension”