Premium Processing Expansion for Certain F-1 Students The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) has expanded premium processing for F-1 Students who have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization with USCIS and are seeking pre- or post-Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (“STEM”) OPT extensions. As of March 6,
Loss of Accreditation Determination by the U.S. Department of Education Based on the recent determination by the U.S. Department of Education that it no longer recognizes the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (“ACICS”) as an accrediting agency, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is having to revisit the effect of same on the
COVID-19 Flexibilities Extended through October 23, 2022 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has announced another extension of coronavirus (“COVID-19”)-related flexibilities due to the ongoing pandemic. The flexibilities, which were set to expire on July 25, 2022, have been extended through October 23, 2022 for certain receipts and notices issued between March 1, 2020 and
COVID Testing Mandate for International Air Travel into the U.S. Lifted On June 12, 2022, the Biden Administration lifted coronavirus (“COVID-19”) testing mandates for air travel into the U.S. after Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) officials determined the requirement was no longer needed because of widely available COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Since January
Receipt Notice Delays Due to COVID-19 restrictions and filing increases, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is currently experiencing a four to six week delay in issuing receipt notices for applications and petitions filed at a USCIS lockbox facility. The delay period varies according to the lockbox facility and application/petition filed, with more
Receipt Notice Delays Due to COVID-19 restrictions and filing increases, USCIS is currently experiencing a four to six week delay in issuing receipt notices for applications and petitions filed at a USCIS lockbox facility. The delay period varies according to the lockbox facility and application/petition filed, with more significant delays for individuals filing Form I-485,
In light of the on-going pandemic, our usual travel advisory has been updated to include a few safety tips if you plan to travel internationally for the holidays: Travel Bans: Travelers from a number of countries in Africa (Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe) where the Omicron COVID-19 variant has been
International Travel Update: On November 26th, 2021, the White House issued a proclamation suspending and limiting entry into the United States for certain individuals traveling from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe which are the countries where the COVID-19 Omicron variant has been detected in substantive numbers thus far. Restrictions began
The Department of State Releases Changes to Vaccine Requirements for Immigrant, Nonimmigrant, and K Fiancé(e) Visa Applicants Effective October 1, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) instructions for panel physicians requires all immigrant visa, K visa applicants, and nonimmigrant visa applicants who are referred to the panel physicians to receive a full
USCIS Announces Completion of H-1B Cap Lottery U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that they have received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap) including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap), and that they have now notified all prospective petitioners with