News
4/27/2021: Department of State announces “National Interest Exceptions” standards to all banned countries due to Covid-19: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/national-interest-exceptions-for-certain-travelers-from-china-Iran-brazil-south-africa-schengen-area-united-kingdom-and-ireland.html
4/26/20221: Latest announcements from US consulates in India. https://in.usembassy.gov/visas/. Mumbai, New Delhi, and Chennai, are closed temporarily. Others may follow.
Due to surge of Covid cases in some countries, this may happen in other countries with little or no warnings. We continue to advise against non-essential foreign travel, especially if one needs to apply for a new visa to return to the U.S.
4/1/2021: Presidential Proclamation 10052 suspending visas processing for H1B, H2B and some J visas expired on 3/31/2021.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/update-on-presidential-proclamation-10052.html
Visa applicants should still exercise caution in planning international travel and visa applications due to limited consulate operations and Covid related restrictions.
3/11/2021: USCIS to discontinue the use of I-944 Declaration of Self-Sufficiency.
The ill-conceived Form I-944 has finally been discontinued. While on the face of the it, the form seems to support the notion that each immigrant must be able to support himself or herself. However, this safeguard was already in the law, and applicants for permanent residence had to demonstrate sufficient means to remain in the US already. However, the I-944 was conceived and applied primarily against individuals with less resources – asylum seekers, families from south and central America, etc, adding one more hurdle for these migrants to seek new lives in the U.S.
https://www.uscis.gov/i-944
3/3/2021: Department of State rescinds National Interests Exceptions for certain Travelers from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland.
National Interests Exceptions (NIE) is now much harder to obtain for holders of H1B visas, L1 visas, E2 visas, P1 visas, and their dependents. This means if they apply for a new visa, they may not get it. If they need a NIE to travel to the US, they may not get it, unless they meet the new standards.
People in these categories from the affected areas SHOULD NOT travel if they must apply for a new visa or new NIE at a US consulate.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/national-interest-exceptions-from-certain-travelers-from-the-schengen-area-uk-and-ireland.html
2/25/2021 State Department’s Guidance Based on Rescission of Presidential Proclamation 10014
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/rescission-of-presidential-proclamation-10014.html
Presidential Proclamation 10014 has been revoked
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/24/a-proclamation-on-revoking-proclamation-10014/
Employment-based and family-based immigrants are no longer subject to the ban.
2/18/2021: Democrats unveil Biden’s immigration bill, including an eight-year path to citizenship
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-unveil-bidens-immigration-bill-including-an-eight-year-path-to-citizenship/ar-BB1dMZUA?li=BBnb7Kz
2/8/2021: USCIS provided updates on H-1B Lottery Registration 2021
USCIS has announced that the registration period will be from March 9 to March 25 for this year (vs. March 1 to March 20 last year). This means there is a shorter period of time to register this year. Also, the selection will remain “random” this year, and the new rules favoring positions with higher wages will not be used this year.
1/25/2021: Covid related travel restrictions will be in place for certain countries. (Schengen Area, UK, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa – China and Iran remain on the list)
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/proclamation-on-the-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-non-immigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease/
1/18/2021: Termination of Presidential Proclamation to ban travel from the Schengen Area, U.K., Ireland, and Brazil.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-terminating-restrictions-entry-certain-travelers-schengen-area-united-kingdom-republic-ireland-brazil/
1/15/2021: Starting on 1/26/2021, all international air passengers arriving in the U.S. require negative Covid-19 test results with in 3 days.
https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/fr-proof-negative-test.html
1/12/2021: USCIS to replace “sticker” to extend green cards
https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-to-replace-sticker-that-extends-validity-of-green-cards
1/5/2021: USCIS to provide free interactive citizenship education webinar on January 7 and January 14, 2021 about the new citizenship test. Please see attached flyers.
OoC_training_webinar_01_14_21.pdf OoC_training_webinar_01_07_21.pdf
1/1/2021: President Trump has extended the travel ban through 3/31/2021.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-continue-present-risk-united-states-labor-market/
Expansion of Interview Waiver Eligibility to March 31 2021
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/expansion-of-interview-waiver-eligibility.html
10/11/2020: Members of these Organizations are Exempt from Presidential Proclamation 10052 on banning J-1, H-1B, H-2B, and L-1 Visa:
National Association of Manufacturers
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America
National Retail Federation
Technet
Intrax, Inc.
See this press release from Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/court-order-regarding-presidential-proclamation-10052.html
9/30/2020: USCIS Fee increase has been blocked by a judge.
https://www-forbes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2020/09/30/judge-blocks-uscis-fee-increases-heres-why-it-happened/amp/?usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D&_js_v=0.1#aoh=16014771447076&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fstuartanderson%2F2020%2F09%2F30%2Fjudge-blocks-uscis-fee-increases-heres-why-it-happened%2F
Excellent video for “National Interest Exception” from consulate officers from US Embassy in Switzerland. The same principles apply to other countries as well:
https://ch.usembassy.gov/webinar-on-business-travel-to-the-u-s-during-covid-19/
9/15/2020: Form I-9 Requirements Flexibility Extended for an additional 60 Days
https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-related-news/form-i-9-requirements-flexibility-extended-for-an-additional-60-days
8/31/2020: Department of State to resume K-1 fiancee visa processing
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-notice-for-k-visa-applicants-affected-by-covid-19.html
8/25/2020: Department of State Expands Interview Waiver Eligibility
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/expansion-of-interview-waiver-eligibility.html
Employer may accept approval notice for work permit for I-9 purposes, instead of actual work permit due to Covid related delay in work permit production
https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-verification-during-ead-production-delays-due-to-covid-19
I-9 flexibility rule extended to September 19
ICE announcement: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-announces-another-extension-i-9-compliance-flexibility?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Here is the original announcement back in March: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/dhs-announces-flexibility-requirements-related-form-i-9-compliance
8/14/2020: Department of State provides additional guidance on exceptions under Presidential Proclamation for certain travel in the national interest by nonimmigrants in H-1B, H-2B, L1, and J1 categories:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/exceptions-to-p-p-10014-10052-suspending-entry-of-immigrants-non-immigrants-presenting-risk-to-us-labor-market-during-economic-recovery.html
FAQ related to Covid-19 from ICE for F and M students. Please see attached PDF file.
ICE FAQ for F and M students last updated 8-7-2020.pdf
U.S. Lifts Global Health Coronavirus Travel Advisory
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-08-06/us-lifts-global-health-coronavirus-travel-advisory
Judge blocks administration from implementing ‘public charge’ rule for immigrants during pandemic
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/29/politics/public-charge-coronavirus/index.html
Amendment to “June 22, 2020” Proclamation.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-amendment-proclamation-10052/
President Trump issued a new proclamation today (June 22, 2020), which extends the effect of his “April 22, 2020” Proclamation, and adds additional classes of individuals who cannot enter the U.S. We will provide analysis of this Proclamation shortly. See this link for the “June 22, 2020” Proclamation: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/
Summary and Analysis of June 22, 2020 Presidential Proclamation
https://jclimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Proclamation-6.22.2020-revised-6-23-2020-word-format.docx
June 18, 2020: Supreme Court rules Trump administration illegally ended DACA:
https://www.axios.com/supreme-court-daca-immigration-trump-0f0b0791-a62a-4d00-841f-6a1aaa9e3e12.html
https://www.yahoo.com/huffpost/supreme-court-leaves-daca-in-place-dreamers-140550113.html
USCIS offices are closed till at least April 1, 2020 to the public due to COVID-19. All interviews and biometric appointments are cancelled and will be rescheduled. https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19
Travel Ban countries due to COVID-19: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/cn/index.html?firstTime=No
COVID-10 White House and CDC website: https://www.coronavirus.gov/
April 25, 2020: Know Your Rights: Understanding Benefits You Can Receive During The COVID-19 Crisis
April 2020: https://immigrantjustice.org/know-your-rights/know-your-rights-understanding-benefits-you-can-receive-during-covid-19-crisis
April 23, 2020: USCIS Offices Closure for In-Person Interviews and Biometric Appointments Extended to June 4: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-covid-19
April 22, 2020: Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-immigrants-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-economic-recovery-following-covid-19-outbreak/
