We knew it was coming. The Trump administration is preparing to roll out a new ban on travel to the United States, restricting the entry of citizens from certain countries for which vetting and screening warrants a partial or full suspension of admission to the United States. This travel restriction…
Articles Posted in Delays
The State Department Announces New Visa Interview Waiver Restrictions Effective February 18th
On February 18, 2025, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced new changes to the Visa Interview Waiver program, further adding to the unpredictability of the Trump administration. Among these changes, the State Department has limited the categories of non-immigrants who are eligible to receive waivers of the in-person interview…
Incoming Trump Administration Poised to Threaten H-1B Worker Visas
The fallout of the 2024 Presidential election has left high-skilled foreign workers asking what the Trump administration may have in store for them in the new year. Perhaps the most vulnerable to attack is the H-1B work visa program, which was previously targeted by the Trump administration. A second term…
December Visa Bulletin: Except for Final Action EB-2 and EB-3 India, Absolutely No Advancements
We are pleased to report that today the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs published the December Visa Bulletin. Unfortunately, the December Visa Bulletin brings almost no movement. USCIS Adjustment of Status For employment-based and family-sponsored preference categories, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed it will continue to use…
USCIS Releases Updated Guidance for Expedite Request Criteria
On October 11, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated guidance for requests to expedite travel-related documents and expedite requests relating to government interests. The guidance is effective immediately. Who may file an expedite request? Individuals who are located inside the United States may request that USCIS…
U.S. Embassies Issue Record Breaking 5.2 Million Nonimmigrant Visas and 281,000+ Immigrant Visas Worldwide in FY 2024
On May 13, 2024, the State Department announced record breaking milestones including the issuance of a whopping 5.2 million nonimmigrant visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide in the first half of fiscal year 2024 – more than any previous year over the same period. In the past six months…
New Changes to USCIS Ombudsman’s Office Online Case Assistance Request Form
If your case remains pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) beyond the posted processing times for your immigration benefit request, you may consider requesting assistance from the Ombudsman’s Office. What is the USCIS Ombudsman? The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) helps individuals and employers…
DOS Report: Immigrant Visa Green Card Backlogs Increase in April 2024
In this blog post, we cover the newly released Immigrant Visa Backlog Report published by the Department of State. April’s report provides the latest data and statistics relating to the processing of immigrant visa applications at the National Visa Center. This data includes information about the number of documentarily complete…
Immigrants Without Passports Now Required to Undergo Facial Recognition Technology to Board Domestic Flights in the United States
Without any prior notice, the U.S. government has started requiring immigrants without passports, to submit to facial recognition technology in order to board domestic flights in the United States. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently confirmed this policy change, stating that migrants who do not have the proper photo identification,…
USCIS Guidance Regarding Long-Pending EB-5 Form I-829 Petitions by Investors to Remove Conditions on Permanent Residence
Recently, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) requested an update from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the delayed adjudication of Form I-829 petitions filed by EB-5 investors seeking to remove their conditions on permanent residence. AILA suggested two alternatives for providing evidence of continued lawful permanent residence…