In this post, we will discuss Form DS-5540, a mandatory public charge questionnaire that must be completed by all foreign nationals seeking an immigrant visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad and some non-immigrant visa applicants. What is Form DS-5540, Public Charge Questionnaire? Shortly after the publication of the…
Articles Posted in Federal Register
Public Charge Rule: Frequently Asked Questions
In this blog post we answer your frequently asked questions regarding the public charge rule. Overview: On October 10, 2018, the Department of Homeland Security first published the final rule “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds” which dramatically changes the way in which an individual is determined to be a “public…
USCIS Announces Public Charge Implementation Beginning February 24, 2020
In this post, we would like to provide our readers with an important update released by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with respect to the public charge rule. Given the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in favor of the government, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)…
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…
This Week in Immigration News: USCIS Workload Transfers, International Immigration Office Update, and H2A/H2B Eligible Countries
Welcome back to Visalawyerblog! In this post, we bring you the latest immigration news for the week. USCIS Announces Workload Transfers In an effort to manage heavy workloads, increase efficiency, and decrease processing times, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been transferring cases between service centers. On…
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…
USCIS Publishes Notice in Federal Register Formally Implementing H-1B Mandatory Registration Requirement
It’s official. Yesterday, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a notice in the Federal Register formally implementing the mandatory registration requirement for H1B petitioners seeking to file a cap-subject petition for Fiscal Year 2021. The notice went into effect on January 9, 2019, the date of publication.…
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…
USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fee
We have news for petitioners seeking to use premium processing services. The Department of Homeland Security published a final rule in the Federal Register on October 31, 2019 to increase the premium processing fee to account for inflation. The adjustment increased the premium processing fee from $1,410 to $1,440 beginning…