Blog

While having a green card (permanent residence) allows you to live and work in the United States indefinitely, U.S. citizenship affords you many more rights and benefits. Generally, a permanent resident can apply for citizenship 57 months after their green card is issued (33 months for spouses of...

As of Nov. 29, all applicants eligible to file for TPS under one of the current designations may file Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online. The following countries are currently designated for TPS: Burma (Myanm...

In settlement of several lawsuits, the USCIS recently announced significant changes to its policy regarding employment authorization documents (EAD) for certain H-4, E-2, and L-2 dependent spouses.  The following policy guidance is effective as of November 12, 2021: The automatic extension rul...

Social security cards are available for certain immigrants, including those who have an employment authorization document (EAD) or green card.  Recently, the USCIS and the Social Security Administration (SSA) have made it a little easier for EAD and green card applicants to request a social secur...

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will exempt filing fees and streamline application processing for Afghan nationals who were paroled into the United States for humanitarian reasons on or after July 30, 2021. These actions will help facilitate their resettlement i...

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will honor Veterans Day this year by holding more than 90 ceremonies naturalizing more than 4,440 current and former members of the military and their families. Each year, on Nov. 11, the nation honors members of the U.S. armed forces who have served our ...

The Department of State publishes immigrant visa availability information in a monthly Visa Bulletin which establishes cut off dates for filing of adjustment of status applications or immigrant visa applications. The cut-off dates are determined based on predictions of immigrant visa demand. The ...

On November 8, 2021, the COVID-19 regional travel bans, which prohibited entry into the United States of persons physically present in Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, will end. Instead, all adult foreign national travelers, with some e...

Due to the pandemic, DHS is seeking public input on its proposed modifications for employers when reviewing I-9 employment eligibility documents: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking comments from employers, employer organizations, employee groups, and other members of the public ...

Eligible Hong Kong Residents May Apply for EADs and Travel Authorization U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today issued a Federal Register notice with information on how to apply for employment authorization for eligible Hong Kong residents covered under the president's Aug. 5 mem...

The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Labor today announced separate settlement agreements with Facebook regarding its use of the permanent labor certification program (PERM). The Justice Department's settlement resolves its claims that Facebook routinely refused to recruit, c...

Most doctors get a green card through an employer's sponsorship of the labor certification process. Depending upon your country of birth, it can take anywhere from two to 10+ years to get a green card this way. And if you don't have an employer willing to sponsor, then labor certification is not ...

Whenever you send an application or petition to the USCIS, you should expect a “receipt notice,” or Form I-797C which is titled Notice of Action.  Typically, applicants get the receipt notice about 2 to 4 weeks after the USCIS receives the application.  Here are a few pointers to keep in mind abo...

In recent years, support for a pathway to legal status  for undocumented people has become increasingly popular, especially because many are essential workers and have community ties such as spouses and children. FWD.us polling has shown that the majority of the U.S. public favor creating a pathw...

Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, in coordination with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, designated Croatia as a new participant in the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  Starting no later than December 1, 2021, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be...

If Congress and the President don't reach an agreement on the budget by September 30, 2021, the government will shut down on Friday. That means all but essential government employees will be furloughed and not allowed to work. Consequently, many government services will be available.  Immigration...

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day this year by welcoming 21,000 new citizens in 335 naturalization ceremonies across the country between Sept. 17 and 23. “It is an honor to welcome so many new Americans this Citizenship Day and Constitut...

Starting October 1st, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) will require proof of  COVID-19 vaccination for all green card applicants and refugees.  Vaccination requirements for immigration are not new.  In fact, proof of many other vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Pr...

Have you ever had an interaction with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), during which you believe your civil rights and civil liberties were infringed? Did you know that you can file a formal complaint with the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)? The CRCL supports DHS ...

The Department of Homeland Security has announced the automatic extension of TPS designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. TPS beneficiaries from these six countries will retain their status, provided they continue to meet all the individual requirements for TPS ...

Starting Sept. 4, 2021, USCIS is extending the time that receipt notices can be used to show evidence of status from 18 months to 24 months for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permane...

Did you know that the USCIS has an official ombudsman?  The CIS Ombudsman's Office works with applicants to improve the quality of citizenship/immigration services  by helping applicants with resolving certain case issues. The current seventh Ombudsman is Phyllis Coven. Her office can help with: ...

The Department of Justice announced today that it reached a settlement with Ascension Health Alliance (Ascension), a Missouri-based health care organization with more than 2,600 sites – including 146 hospitals and more than 40 senior living facilities – in 19 states and the District of Columbia. ...

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking data and information from the public that DHS intends to use to develop a public charge regulatory proposal. The purpose of public comment is to ensure that the proposal is fair, consistent with law, and informed by relevant data and evidence. P...

As of Aug. 13, 2021, the USCIS has received enough petitions for returning workers to reach the additional 22,000 H-2B visas made available under the FY 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule. We will reject and return any cap-subject petitions for H-2B returning workers received after ...