Effective immediately, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published new policy guidance that significantly limits the reuse of photos for immigration documents, including Green Cards, Reentry Permits and Certificates of Citizenship. This client alert [...]
Starting October 16, 2025 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has implemented a new statutory $1,000 fee for immigration parole, applicable to most individuals granted parole into the United States. Subsequently around and after November 1, 2025 [...]
U.S. permanent residents (green card holders) who spend extended period of time are likely (or should be) aware that the reentry permit is a document, issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) allowing its holder to remain outside of the U.S. for an extended period of time without causing their green card to be [...]
Our office has recently learned that USCIS is changing their long-standing practice and have started denying Form I-131 Advance Parole applications due to abandonment in cases where the applicant has left the United States while the I-131 Advance Parole application was pending. USCIS has confirmed that this is their actual current policy going [...]
Many USCIS applications (normally those which result in the production of a "secure document") require the applicant provide digital biometrics at a USCIS office. In most cases, the biometrics process includes digital fingerprinting and a digital photo. Many applicants who need to submit to the required biometrics are able to do so in the closest USCIS [...]
Our office serves many first-time and returning reentry permit applicants and our clients and readers often want to know the options for extending (technically, obtaining a new) reentry permit if their circumstances require continued stay outside of the United States. We have addressed the renewal options and strategies in earlier articles; however, an additional follow-up [...]
The United States is one of the few (if not the only one) countries in the world which taxes its citizens and permanent residents on the basis of their worldwide income. As a result, U.S. permanent residents (and citizens) who decide to live and work outside of the U.S. on a temporary basis are normally [...]
Many U.S. lawful permanent residents ("green card holders") who have to or choose to reside abroad are (or should be) aware that there are rules and restrictions on the time they can be outside of the U.S. and maintain their green card status. Specifically, a stay outside of the U.S. of more than one [...]
Many of our clients and readers are familiar with the requirement to submit to biometrics (digital fingerprinting and/or photograph, please see below) in connection with certain USCIS applications. The biometrics are often taken at USCIS Application Support Centers (ASC) after a notice, showing a specific ASC address and appointment date/time, is issued and mailed to [...]
There have been rumors and speculation on this topic (which we did not report until we had final confirmation), but now it is official. USCIS has announced that they will start issuing a combined Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP) card for some applicants for adjustment of status. The new combined EAD/AP card [...]
