Applicants for U.S. immigration benefits have faced (or will face) at some point in the process the need to provide a birth certificate. Both U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) and the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) require applicants to submit a birth [...]
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”) have just announced a change in their policy regarding the validity period of a Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, when filed in support of a Form I-485 Adjustment of [...]
The U.S. State Department has released the April 2024 Visa Bulletin which is the seventh Visa Bulletin for the new fiscal year. The headline in the upcoming month’s Visa Bulletin is positive forward movement: notable forward movement in [...]
The Department of Homeland Security has just released the final rule that significantly changes the USCIS fee schedule, including adding new fees, establishing multiple fees for nonimmigrant worker petitions and increasing the premium processing time limit. The rule and the new fees [...]
One of the happiest moments for an I-485 Adjustment of Status applicant is the day their employment-based I-485 is approved and their green card is ordered for production in mailing. However, [...]
For applicants with pending I-485 applications, understanding the rules and requirements of international travel is essential in order to avoid denial due to abandonment. This article discusses the rules and requirements that must be [...]
USCIS has announced (and already implemented) that certain work authorization documents (EAD) will be issued with validity of up to 5 years; a significant increase from the current 2-year maximum. Similarly, advance parole documents (issued separately or together as [...]
Among the surge of I-485 applications over the past several months, our office has fielded hundreds (at least) questions as to what is the best time to prepare and submit the required I-693 medical exam [...]
Starting December 23, 2022, a new Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule is in effect (see the full USCIS policy alert). The final rule details how USCIS will apply the public charge ground of inadmissibility and [...]
USCIS has recently changed its practices and is no longer issuing the combo EAD/AP card for I-485 applicants who file concurrent I-765 EAD work permit and I-131 AP travel permit applications. Citing efforts to eliminate backlogs in EAD applications, USCIS is approving EAD and AP applications separately -- most often the I-765 EAD application [...]
