USCIS Updates Policy Guidance Highlighting Discretionary Power to Waive In-Person Interviews for I-751 Applicants On April 7, 2022, the United States Citizenship, and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its Policy Manual on the interview waiver criteria for family-based conditional permanent residents filing to remove the conditions on permanent residence on Form…
Articles Posted in Family Visas
Department of State Clarifies Possibility of Local Filing of Form I-130 Petitions at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad for Ukrainian, Afghan, and Ethiopian Immediate Relatives Fleeing Conflict
The ongoing turmoil in Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia has prompted the U.S. Department of State to issue new guidance regarding the possibility of filing a Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative at U.S. Embassies and Consulates overseas for Afghan, Ethiopian, and Ukrainian immediate relatives fleeing conflict zones. DOS has clarified…
Your Guide to the April 2022 Visa Bulletin, What to Expect, and More!
It is that time of the month again! In this blog post, we will cover the release of the April Visa Bulletin 2022 and what you can expect for employment based and family preference categories during the month of April 2022. The Department of State releases the visa bulletin on a monthly basis,…
What is USCIS doing to solve the lengthy backlogs? Continuing Appropriations Report Sheds Light on USCIS Plans
USCIS backlogs have become a nightmare for many during the last few years. But now the government is holding the agency accountable for its inadequacies. As part of the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2022, USCIS was required to inform the government regarding how exactly it is planning to ramp up…
DOS Publishes Guidance and Resources for Ukrainian Nationals
With the developing situation in Ukraine, we offer the latest information with respect to visa options and immigration alternatives for Ukrainian nationals to consider. For an in-depth discussion and evaluation of the best visa option for you, we encourage you to contact our office for a consultation. At the outset,…
Your Guide to the March 2022 Visa Bulletin, What to Expect, and More!
It is that time of the month again! In this blog post, we will cover the release of the March Visa Bulletin 2022 and what you can expect for employment based and family preference categories during the month of March 2022. The Department of State releases the visa bulletin on a monthly basis,…
CBP Issuing Work-Authorized I-94s for E and L Spouses Effective January 31, 2022
In this blog post, we share great news for E and L dependent spouses! As we previously reported on our blog, pursuant to a new USCIS policy, E and L nonimmigrant dependent spouses are now considered employment authorized “incident to their status.” This means that upon admission and issuance of…
DHS Releases Travel Restrictions for Certain Unvaccinated Non-citizens at Land Ports of Entry Between the U.S. border with Canada and Mexico
With a new year comes new travel restrictions. In this blog post, we share with you a recent announcement published in the Federal Register by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. CBP has just released a notice of action informing the public of a brand-new temporary travel restriction that will…
Department of State/AILA Liaison Committee Meeting Q&A Highlights: What is DOS doing to eliminate the Visa Backlogs? What is the status of processing at missions in China? & More!
In today’s blog post, we share some interesting Question and Answer responses recently provided by the Department of State’s Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for Consular Affairs (L/CA), in a meeting with the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). The responses below provide some important insight into current immigration policies…
F/M/J Visa Applicants who are Residents of Russia can now apply at U.S. Missions Kazakhstan, Belgrade, and Yerevan
Happy Monday! Welcome back to Visalawyerblog! In this blog post we share some great news for Russian nationals seeking F, M, and J nonimmigrant visa interviews. On January 21, 2022, the Department of State announced that the agency has now designated several posts overseas to process these nonimmigrant visa applications…