USCIS Agrees to Improve Work Authorization Process (EAD) for H-4 and L-2 Spouses
In a legal settlement effective as of November 10, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has agreed to change its policies regarding L-2 and H-4 employment authorization document (EAD) applications. USCIS was challenged in a lawsuit (Shergill et al, v Mayorkas, 21-cv-1296-RSM) as a result of long-delayed EAD applications for certain nonimmigrant spouses. Under the settlement, USCIS has agreed [...]
Croatia Designated a Visa Waiver Program Country
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that as of December 1, 2021, citizens of Croatia will be able to apply to travel to the United States for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without obtaining a U.S. visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). ESTA Authorization Required Under the Visa Waiver Program, citizens [...]
Biden Administration Lifts COVID-19 US Travel and Visa Bans Starting November 8
The Biden Administration has just announced details about the anticipated rescission of the per-country travel restrictions on international travelers coming into the United States from certain countries. The travel and visa bans for all affected countries are being lifted starting November 8, 2021. The bans are replaced by more stringent vaccination and testing U.S. entry requirements - non-citizen, non-immigrant air [...]
November 2021 Visa Bulletin – EB-3 India and China Significant Retrogression; End of the EB-3 India Downgrade Period?
The U.S. State Department has just released the November 2021 Visa Bulletin which is the second Visa Bulletin for the new fiscal year. The headline in the upcoming month’s Visa Bulletin is the significant (but expected) retrogression in EB-3 India and China and the closing of the window for EB-3 India downgrades. There are not many changes across the other [...]
DV-2023 Diversity Visa (Green Card) Lottery Opens October 6, 2021
The Department of State has announced the DV-2023 Diversity Visa (a.k.a. “green card”) lottery dates. The dates for electronic entry submission for this year’s lottery are between noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), Wednesday, October 6, 2021, and noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5), on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. Applicants may access the electronic Diversity Visa entry form (E-DV) at [...]
Biden Administration to Rescind COVID-19 Travel Bans Starting Early November
The Biden Administration announced this week that it plans to ease travel restrictions on all international travelers coming into the United States from certain countries beginning in early November 2021. The administration will rescind the COVID-19 related travel bans implemented for individuals from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, U.K., Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India and will instead require vaccination. [...]