On January 23, 2020, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) formally announced by way of a notice published in the Federal Register that nationals of Iran and their dependents are no longer eligible to change or extend their stay in E-1 or E-2 nonimmigrant status due to the…
Articles Posted in Consulates
BREAKING NEWS: Supreme Court Rules Trump Administration Can Now Enforce Public Charge Rule
We kick off a brand-new week with breaking news handed down by the United States Supreme Court. Today, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration may enforce the controversial rule entitled, “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” which expands the scope of public benefits that will render a…
Trump Administration to Announce New Restrictions Blocking Pregnant Women from Obtaining B Visas
The Trump administration is ready to announce new restrictions that will make it more difficult for foreign nationals to give birth in the United States, striking a blow to the “birth tourism” industry. In a 2015 speech in Orlando, Florida the President told supporters, “the birthright citizenship, the anchor baby…
Trump Administration Files Emergency Appeal to Enforce Public Charge Rule
Welcome back to our blog! We kick off the week by bringing you recent developments regarding the government’s controversial rule entitled, “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” which sought to expand the scope of public benefits that could render a permanent resident or immigrant visa applicant ineligible for immigration benefits. As…
Trump’s Policy Changes in 2019: A Year in Review
As we approach the end of the year, in this blog post, we look back at the major policy changes implemented by the Trump administration in the year 2019 that have had a profound impact on the way our immigration system functions today. JANUARY Government Shutdown Woes The start of…
December Visa Bulletin: Trends and Predictions
The U.S. Department of State recently released the December 2019 Visa Bulletin. In this post, we will discuss the current state of the visa bulletin, potential for advancement, retrogression, and predictions. Family-based Preference Categories The Final Action Date for F2A has been current and remains current since July 2018 across…
BREAKING: Oregon Judge Blocks Presidential Proclamation Suspending the Entry of Immigrants Financially Burdening the Healthcare System
In the latest blow to President Trump’s embattled Presidency, on November 2nd federal judge Michael Simon issued a preliminary injunction blocking the government from enforcing the President’s Proclamation issued on October 4, 2019, suspending the entry of any immigrant who will “financially burden the United States healthcare system.” Judge Simon’s…
Immigrant Visa Applicants Must Show Evidence of Adequate Health Care Coverage or Financial Resources Beginning November 3rd
The President has once again targeted the immigrant population by signing a Presidential Proclamation suspending the entry of any immigrant who will “financially burden the United States healthcare system.” While the Presidential Proclamation is likely to encounter resistance in court, as it stands the Proclamation is slated to become effective…
DOS Publishes 60-Day Notice of Public Charge Questionnaire for Immigrant Visa Applicants
As previously reported, the government has issued a new final rule in the Federal Register entitled “Visas: Ineligibility Based on Public Charge Grounds,” giving consular officials wide discretion to deny immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applications on public charge grounds. In line with this new rule, today October 24, 2019, the…
Consular Officers Given Wide Discretionary Power to Deny Visas on Public Charge Grounds
In its latest act of defiance against the judicial branch, the Trump administration has published an Interim Final Rule entitled “Visas: Ineligibility Based on Public Charge Grounds,” designed to give Consular officers wider discretion to deny immigrant and nonimmigrant visas to applicants on public charge grounds based on a variety…