Visa Lawyer Blog

Articles Posted in Executive Actions

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ai-generated-9069956_1280The 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 for Donald Trump promises to bring a new set of challenges for H-1B workers, including a hike on mandated salaries paid by U.S. employers, and increased scrutiny leading to a predicted surge in Requests for Evidence and H-1B visa denials.

About the H-1B Work Visa

H-1B workers are a subset of professional workers that have long filled a critical need in the U.S. labor market, especially for those working in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Every year, U.S. employers from hundreds of industries use the H-1B visa program to bring highly skilled and well-educated foreign professionals to work for them in the United States. To qualify, H-1B workers must have a job offer from a U.S. employer to work in a “specialty occupation,” which requires a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent work experience to work in the field. Applicants must demonstrate that they have the academic and professional qualifications to work for the U.S. employer.

Only 65,000 H-1B visas are available every year, with an additional 20,000 visas made available to professionals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher in their field.

The annual visa limits mean that the H-1B work visa program is a “lottery” based visa, requiring employers to submit an electronic registration every Spring, to have a chance of being selected.

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boy-2027487_1280In the last few days, the immigration world has been reeling from the results of the Presidential election. People across the nation are preparing for an incoming Trump administration that promises to be extremely tough on immigration.

While the future of many hangs in the balance, the federal courts have started taking action to undo the immigration policies of the Biden administration.

Just two days after Americans cast their ballots and elected Donald Trump to become the next President of the United States, federal Judge J. Campbell Barker of the Eastern District Court of Texas issued a court order in the case Texas et. al. vs. DHS et. al., Case No. 6:24-cv-00306 (E.D. Tex.), ending President Biden’s Keeping Families Together parole program.

In a short one-page ruling, the judge declared that the Biden administration lacked the authority to grant parole in place to undocumented aliens, and therefore set aside and vacated Biden’s Keeping Families Together program.

In doing so, judge Barker delivered the first major blow to Biden’s immigration friendly policies. This decision stops the government from accepting applications for parole in place under the program, which would have allowed undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. Citizens to remain together during the immigration process.

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judgment-8442199_1280We have new developments to report relating to pending litigation for parole in place applications in the case Texas et. al. vs. DHS et. al., Case No. 6:24-cv-00306 (E.D. Tex.).

Yesterday evening, federal Judge J. Campbell Barker of the Eastern District Court of Texas issued a court order extending his previous administrative stay on parole in place (PIP) approvals for an additional 14-day period expiring on September 23, 2024.

The judge’s initial stay (of August 26th), which was set to expire on September 9, 2024, will now continue through September 23rd.

What does this mean for parole in place applications?

While the administrative stay is in place, those eligible for parole in place under the Keeping Families Together program can continue to submit the online Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

USCIS will also continue to issue biometrics appointment notices to capture applicant biometrics during the administrative stay.

However, USCIS is prohibited from approving applications received for as long as the administrative stay is in place (currently until September 23rd)

This is because the Texas lawsuit challenges the legality of the Keeping Families Together program and approvals must be paused while the parties in the case make their arguments before the court, and a final ruling is made.

What’s next in the Texas lawsuit?

The court has ordered an accelerated hearing where motions for preliminary and permanent relief will be heard on September 18th.  The accelerated proceedings in this case mean that the judge could make a decision on the merits of the case in the coming months. However, despite the outcome in this case appeals are likely to be filed in district court.

Can the judge extend the administrative stay past September 23rd?

Yes. The judge may decide to extend the administrative stay past September 23rd in the future if it finds that good cause exists to do so throughout the litigation process.

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Parole in Place – Keeping Families Together Updates

As previously reported, a federal judge in Texas has temporarily blocked the Biden administration from approving parole requests under the Keeping Families Together program.

What does this mean for parole in place applications?

Due to a 14-day administrative stay handed down by District Court Judge J. Campbell Barker on August 26, 2024, in the case, Texas v. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cannot approve parole in place applications filed under the Keeping Families Together program.

The order may be extended by the judge at the conclusion of the 14-day period.

USCIS has stated on its webpage that during the district court’s administrative stay, USCIS will:

USCIS also reminds the public that the administrative stay does not affect any parole in place applications that were approved before the court’s administrative stay order was issued at 6:46 p.m. Eastern Time on August. 26, 2024.

Those who are eligible must consult with an immigration attorney as soon as possible to determine whether to proceed with applying for parole in place while applications are still being accepted by USCIS.

For more information about this lawsuit, please click here.

EB-1 Visa Updates

Recently, the State Department confirmed that all numbers in the EB-1 preference category have been utilized for fiscal year 2024 and that no further EB-1 visas/green cards will be issued for the remainder of this fiscal year which ends on September 30, 2024.

It is also foreseeable that the EB-2 and EB-4 categories will become unavailable in the near future.

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IMPORTANT ALERT: On August 26, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, in Texas v. Department of Homeland Security, Case Number 24-cv-306 administratively stayed DHS from granting parole in place under Keeping Families Together for 14 days; the District Court might extend the period of this administrative stay.

While the administrative stay is in place, USCIS will:

  • Not grant any pending parole in place requests under Keeping Families Together.
  • Continue to accept filings of Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens.

The District Court’s administrative stay order does not impact parole applications that were approved before the administrative stay order was issued by the court.

WARNING:

The court expects that good cause may exist to extend the administrative stay for additional periods through mid-October. The court is also scheduled to decide whether the plaintiff’s Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order, Preliminary Injunction, and Summary Judgment will be issued during the month of October.

Immediate Call to Action

If you are eligible for parole in place under the Keeping Families Together program, you must take immediate action and submit the online application Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens, as soon as possible before time runs out. A court order may soon prohibit USCIS from accepting applications for parole in place. For assistance with your application, contact us at 619-819-9204 or text 619-569-1768 for a consultation. 

gavel-7233485_1280We bring you this breaking news to announce that on Friday, August 23, 2024, Texas along with 15 other Republican-led states filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, seeking to invalidate the parole in place program established by President Biden’s June executive order.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting applications for parole in place on Monday August 19th to keep families of U.S. Citizens together. This program allows certain undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. Citizens who entered the country without inspection, to legalize their status without departing the United States.

Those eligible can apply for parole in place using the new online Form I-131F, and if approved, are given three years to apply for temporary work authorization and permanent residency. The administration estimates about 500,000 people could be eligible, plus about 50,000 of their children.

The program is meant to eliminate the need for such individuals to go through the cumbersome extreme hardship “waiver” process, which requires undocumented spouses of U.S. Citizens to receive an approved waiver from USCIS, before applying for an immigrant visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad.

Unfortunately, the Republican-led coalition is seeking to put an end to the program claiming that the Biden administration has abused their power in creating it. These states argue that only Congress has the authority to enact legislation that would authorize a program like parole in place.

Court filings also accuse the Biden administration of unlawfully creating a pathway to permanent residency for these individuals solely for political purposes, due to the fast-approaching presidential election.

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beach-4455433_1280In this blog post, we discuss what undocumented spouses and stepchildren of U.S. Citizens can expect after applying for Parole in Place using the new USCIS online application called Form I-131F.

What to Expect After Filing Form I-131F Parole in Place

Once you have properly submitted the Form I-131F using your myUSCIS online account, you will receive a I-797 receipt notice from USCIS by mail as proof that your application was submitted. This receipt notice will contain your receipt number which you can use to track your case on the USCIS case tracker.

Please note that the receipt notice can also be accessed on your myUSCIS portal

The Biometrics Appointment

Several weeks after filing Form I-131F, you will receive a biometrics appointment notice, which will indicate the date, time, and location where you must appear for USCIS to collect your fingerprints, photographs, and a signature.

Your biometrics information will be used to run a background check for criminal history, verify your identity and, and to prepare certain immigration documents (for example, an Employment Authorization Document also known as a work permit).

If USCIS has collected your biometrics information in the past, it is possible that they will reuse such information. If that is the case, USCIS will notify you via your myUSCIS online account and send you a notice by mail.

Receiving a Decision

Those who meet the eligibility criteria for parole in place under the Keeping Families Together program, will receive a discretionary grant of parole for a 3-year period.

As part of the decision-making process, USCIS will take into consideration various factors to determine whether a favorable exercise of discretion is warranted in your case such as:

  • Your criminal history
  • The existence of removal proceedings
  • Unexecuted final removal orders
  • The results of background checks, including national security and public safety vetting Positive and adverse factors presented
  • Any other relevant information available to or requested by USCIS.

Those who have any disqualifying criminal history or are found to be a threat to national security, public safety, or border security, may be denied for parole in place.

Factors such as pending criminal charges will make you ineligible for parole in place while the charge remains pending. Certain criminal convictions can also make you ineligible for parole in place under this process.  Please discuss any criminal records with an experienced immigration attorney before filing Form I-131F.

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family-1150995_1280Recientemente, el Servicio de Ciudadanía e Inmigración de los Estados Unidos (USCIS) ha proporcionado nuevos detalles sobre el permiso de permanencia temporal para cónyuges e hijastros indocumentados de ciudadanos estadounidenses, también conocido como “Manteniendo a las familias unidas.”

USCIS comenzará a aceptar solicitudes en línea para “permanencia temporal,” el 19 de agosto de 2024, utilizando un nuevo formulario electrónico llamado Formulario I-131F, solicitud de permanencia temporal para ciertos cónyuges e hijastros de ciudadanos estadounidenses. El formulario no estará disponible para enviarse por correo. USCIS le recuerda al público que cualquier solicitud recibida antes del 19 de agosto será rechazada.

Los solicitantes deben tener en cuenta que información adicional sobre el proceso de solicitud, y otra información clave se detallará en una próxima notificación del Registro Federal. 

Requisitos de elegibilidad para la I-131F Permanencia Temporal

 Un cónyuge o hijastro de un ciudadano estadounidense puede solicitar el permiso de permanencia temporal bajo este proceso si:

  • Están presentes en los Estados Unidos sin admisión ni permiso de permanencia temporal.
  • Han estado continuamente presente físicamente en los Estados Unidos:
    • Desde al menos el 17 de junio de 2014, si busca la permanencia temporal como cónyuge de un ciudadano estadounidense; O
    • A partir del 17 de junio de 2024, si busca la permanencia temporal como hijastro de un ciudadano estadounidense

Y tambien tiene:

  • Un matrimonio legalmente válido con un ciudadano estadounidense desde el 17 de junio de 2024, si busca la permanencia temporal como cónyuge de un ciudadano estadounidense; O
  • Un padre que tuvo un matrimonio legalmente válido con un ciudadano estadounidense desde el 17 de junio de 2024, y antes que el hijastro cumpliera 18 del años, si busca permanencia temporal como hijastro de un ciudadano estadounidense.
  • No tiene antecedentes penales que lo descalifiquen; y
  • No representa una amenaza para la seguridad nacional y la seguridad pública.

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family-1266188_1280We are pleased to provide our readers with important new updates regarding President Biden’s recent executive order that creates a pathway to permanent residency for undocumented spouses of U.S. Citizens who have been living in the U.S. for at least 10 years, as of June 17, 2024.

Those who qualify can apply for “parole in place” a new discretionary program to legalize their status while remaining in the United States.

This program is designed to promote family unity, while eliminating the need for undocumented spouses of U.S. Citizens to travel outside the United States to legalize their status through the extreme hardship “waiver” process.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for a discretionary grant of parole, spouses of U.S. citizens must:

  • Be present in the United States without admission or parole (entered without inspection);
  • Have been continuously present in the United States for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024;
  • Have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024;
  • Not have any disqualifying criminal history or otherwise constitute a threat to national security or public safety; and
  • Otherwise merit a favorable exercise of discretion.

Noncitizen children are also eligible for parole if, as of June 17, 2024, they were physically present in the United States without admission or parole and have a qualifying stepchild relationship with the U.S. citizen.

For complete details regarding the program, please visit our parole in place webpage here.

What We Know

Although we do not yet know what forms must be filed along with the associated filing fees, USCIS has announced that it will begin accepting parole applications on August 19, 2024.

More information about the application process and filing fees will soon be published in a forthcoming Federal Register notice. We will provide those details on our blog as soon as they are available.

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53598884922_4742d81a60_cLa semana pasada el mundo de inmigración vivió un evento sísmico. El Presidente anunció una acción ejecutiva histórica sobre inmigración que cambiará para siempre las vidas de los cónyuges indocumentados de ciudadanos estadounidenses y agilizará el proceso de visas de trabajo de no inmigrantes para los beneficiarios de DACA y otras personas indocumentadas.

En esta publicación, compartimos con ustedes todo lo que sabemos sobre cómo la orden ejecutiva beneficiará a los graduados universitarios estadounidenses que buscan visas de trabajo.

La acción ejecutiva del presidente Biden se anunció en el duodécimo aniversario del programa de Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia (DACA), promulgado por primera vez bajo la administración Obama. Además de brindar protección a las personas contra la deportación, la orden brinda alivio a potencialmente miles de beneficiarios de DACA y otros soñadores que han obtenido títulos académicos en los EE. UU. y están buscando oportunidades de empleo en campos relacionados con su curso de estudio.

Al hacerlo, el gobierno permitirá a los soñadores explorar opciones existentes de visas basadas en empleo, como las visas H-1B, TN, L, O, etc.

Detalles Claves

¿Qué hace la Orden Ejecutiva?

  • Visas de Trabajo: Los beneficiarios de DACA y otras personas indocumentadas pronto podrían solicitar exenciones aceleradas de inelegibilidad y recibir visas de trabajo temporales, otorgándoles estatus legal para vivir y trabajar en los Estados Unidos sin temor a la deportación.
  • Elegibilidad: Para ser elegible para visas de trabajo de no inmigrantes, las personas deben haber obtenido un título en una institución estadounidense de educación superior acreditada en los Estados Unidos y tener una oferta de empleo estadounidense en un campo relacionado con su curso de estudio.
  • Camino hacia la residencia: Existe la posibilidad de que estas visas de trabajo temporal creen un camino hacia la residencia permanente a través de opciones de patrocinio basadas en el empleo.

Importancia

Debido al polémico clima político, el Congreso de los Estados Unidos no ha logrado aprobar una reforma migratoria significativa que proporcione un camino legal para que los soñadores permanezcan en los Estados Unidos y contribuyan positivamente a la economía estadounidense, utilizando las habilidades y la educación que obtuvieron aquí en los Estados Unidos.

Por primera vez, el gobierno ordenará al Departamento de Estado (DOS) y al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) que emitan una guía aclaratoria que haga posible que los beneficiarios de DACA y otras personas sin estatus legal soliciten exenciones aceleradas de inelegibilidad y visas de trabajo temporales.

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53598884922_4742d81a60_cLast week the world of immigration experienced a seismic event. The President announced a historic executive action on immigration that will forever change the lives of undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens and streamline the nonimmigrant work visa process for DACA recipients and other individuals. In this blog post, we share with you everything we know about how the executive order will benefit U.S. college graduates seeking work visas.

President Biden’s executive action was announced on the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, first enacted under the Obama administration. In addition to providing individuals protection from deportation, the order provides relief to potentially thousands of DACA recipients and other Dreamers who have earned academic degrees in the U.S. and are seeking employment opportunities in fields related to their course of study.

In doing so, the government will allow Dreamers to explore existing employment-based visa options such as H-1B, TN, L, O visas, etc.

Key Highlights

What the Executive Order does

  • Work Visas: DACA recipients and other undocumented individuals could soon apply for expedited waivers and receive temporary work visas, granting them legal status to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation
  • Eligibility: To be eligible for nonimmigrant work visas, individuals must have earned a degree at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education in the United States, and have an offer of employment from a U.S. employer in a field related to their course of study
  • Path to Residency: There is potential for these temporary work visas to create a path to permanent residency through employment-based sponsorship options.

Why This Matters

Due to the contentious political climate, the U.S. congress has failed to bring about meaningful immigration reform that provides a legal pathway for Dreamers to remain in the United States and positively contribute to the U.S. economy, utilizing the skills and education they gained here in the United States.

For the first time ever, the government will direct the State Department (DOS) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to issue clarifying guidance making it possible for DACA recipients and other individuals without legal status to apply for expedited waivers and temporary work visas.

How will this process work?

While complete details have not yet been released, the government will facilitate expedited review of waivers of visa ineligibility by clarifying that it is within a Consular officer’s discretion to grant a waiver for such individuals, making it easier for them to apply for work visas.

212(d)(3) Waivers and the Ten-Year Unlawful Presence Bar

Under current immigration law, DACA recipients and other undocumented immigrants face additional barriers to obtaining temporary work visas due to their unlawful presence. Under the law, anyone who has accrued unlawful presence for a year or more is subject to a ten-year bar that is triggered upon departing the United States. As a result, the ten-year bar prevents an individual from re-entering the United States for at least ten-years after their departure. This has been a long-standing problem for undocumented immigrants because the bar is triggered even when an individual leaves to obtain a visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy abroad.

To overcome the ten-year bar, work visa applicants are forced to obtain a discretionary waiver from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Admissibility Review Office. This waiver is known as the INA 212(d)(3) waiver and is designed to excuse certain grounds of inadmissibility including unlawful presence. An approved waiver removes the bar and allows such individuals to apply for temporary work visas at U.S. Consulates and Embassies. Only once the U.S. work visa is issued, can the individual re-enter the United States in nonimmigrant visa status and work for their employer pursuant to the terms of the employment visa.

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