News

The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) issued a formal recommendation addressing areas of improvement for processing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative to address handing of family-based petition submissions.

The White House is completing the final step for the H-1B modernization program introduced in October 2023. The first half of the program was finalized. In this the second and final half of the proposed program, deferral requirements, the cap-gap, and education requirements are under consideration.

The January 2025 Visa Bulletin shows modest advancement in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, with minor advancement for select countries in the family-based categories. Take action as soon as eligible to leverage current immigration policy.

DHS announced the permanent extension of validity for timely filed renewals of employment authorization documents. The extension period is moved from up to 180 days to up to 540 days after the expiration date on the EAD.

USCIS announced all Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, submissions must include Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Report. This is in response to the number of Request for Evidence issuance when adjudicating the Adjustment of Status.

DHS posted an update to the Federal Register for Lebanon Temporary Protected Status. Registration for the program runs from November 27, 2024 through May 27, 2026. The program offers 18 months TPS status and offers qualifying students with an F-1 nonimmigrant student visa benefits as well.

President-elect Trump's nominee for Attorney General, Pam Biondi, has supported state immigration enforcement laws in her previous roles, making it seemingly likely if confirmed, she will not continue the current legal challenges to these laws supported by the Biden administration.

President-elect Trump confirmed the use of military resources to complete mass deportation of undocumented individual in the United States. Mr. Trump has stated he will take action his first day in office which will be January 20, 2025.

Recent President-elect Trump appointments include the Border Czar, Thomas Homan, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, Stephen Miller. Both men served in Trump's previous presidency as key architects of his U.S. immigration policy. These roles do not require Congressional approval.

The Temporary Protected Status program appears to be in question under the incoming Trump administration. While nothing is certain, working with an experienced attorney to review options to maintain legal status in the U.S. as early as possible is a good idea.