Entries by Diaz Shafer

DHS Previews Federal Register Notice Extending and Separately Redesignating Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status

October 9, 2023 in /by

Redesignation Allows Additional Eligible Venezuelan Nationals Who Arrived in the U.S. on or Before July 31, 2023 to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents  Venezuelan Nationals Who Enter After July 31, 2023 are not Eligible for TPS. Those Who Do Not Enter the U.S. via Lawful Pathways Will be Subject to Enforcement Consequences The Department of Homeland Security […]

USCIS Continues Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processing for Afghan Nationals

October 4, 2023 in /by

  Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced it is extending and expanding previously announced filing fee exemptions and expedited application processing for certain Afghan nationals. These actions will help Afghan nationals resettle, and in many cases, reunite with family in the United States by enabling USCIS to more quickly process their requests for employment authorization […]

USCIS Increases Employment Authorization Document Validity Period for Certain Categories

October 4, 2023 in /by

The updated guidance explains the categories of noncitizens who are automatically authorized to work (also known as being employment authorized incident to status or circumstance) and provides more information on who can present a Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, to an employer as an acceptable document showing employment authorization under List C of Form I-9, Employment […]

NEW TPS (Temporary Protected Status) for all VENEZUELANS in the US prior to July 31, 2023!

September 29, 2023 in /by

  After reviewing the country conditions in Venezuela and consulting with interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas determined that an 18-month TPS extension and redesignation are warranted based on Venezuela’s increased instability and lack of safety due to the enduring humanitarian, security, political, and environmental conditions. This redesignation provides temporary protection from removal, as well as employment authorization […]

USCIS Clarifies Guidance for EB-1 Eligibility Criteria

September 15, 2023 in /by

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the Policy Manual to clarify the types of evidence that they may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) and outstanding professor or researcher (E12) EB-1 immigrant visa classifications. The update adds clarifying guidance describing examples of evidence that may satisfy the relevant evidentiary […]

Affirmative Asylum Applicants Must Provide Interpreters Starting Sept. 13

September 15, 2023 in /by

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reminds affirmative asylum applicants that, starting Sept. 13, 2023, you must bring an interpreter to your asylum interview if you are not fluent in English or wish to proceed with your interview in a language other than English. Sign language interpreters are the only exception to this requirement. USCIS continues […]

Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for South Sudan

September 7, 2023 in /by

Redesignation Allows Additional Eligible South Sudanese Nationals to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension and redesignation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from November 4, 2023, through May 3, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary […]

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance for the “Sought to Acquire” Requirement Under the Child Status Protection Act

August 31, 2023 in /by

This Update: Explains that the Feb. 14 policy change to be an extraordinary circumstance that may excuse an applicant’s failure to meet the sought to acquire requirement. Clarifies that we may excuse an applicant’s failure to meet the sought to acquire requirement if they did not apply to adjust their status because they could not […]

Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine

August 31, 2023 in /by

Redesignation Enables Additional Eligible Ukrainian Nationals to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Document The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced an extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine for 18 months, from October 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that […]

DHS Reopens USCIS Field Office in Havana, Cuba

August 31, 2023 in /by

Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced the reopening of an international field office in Havana, Cuba. The Havana office will assist with U.S. immigration benefits and services, including conducting interviews and processing cases for pending Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) cases and Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee […]