USCIS Clarifies Guidance for EB-1 Eligibility Criteria

 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in our Policy Manual to clarify the types of evidence that we 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 criteria or qualify as comparable evidence, as well as considerations for evaluating such evidence, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-clarifies-guidance-for-eb-1-eligibility-criteria .

Please, contact Darren Heyman, a Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.

USCIS Announces Further Updates to Policy Manual Regarding Interpretation of Child Status Protection Act Provisions

 On Aug. 24, 2023, USCIS announced further updates to Chapter 7 of the Policy Manual, made with the goal to expand the number of children who may be able to secure CSPA eligibility for permanent residence as dependents of their parents.

 Read more at: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/uscis-announces-further-updates-to-policy-manual-regarding-interpretation-child

 

Please, contact Darren Heyman, a Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.

Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine

Ukraine TPS

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 prevent individuals from safely returning. In addition, DHS announced a redesignation of TPS for Ukraine for the same reason, allowing Ukrainian nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine) residing in the United States as of August 16, 2023, to be eligible for TPS.Read more at https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/customs-immigration/secretary-mayorkas-extends-and-redesignates-temporary-protected-status-for-ukraine/

 

Please, contact Darren Heyman, a Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.

US restricts visa-free travel for Hungarian passport holders because of security concerns

 

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The United States imposed new travel restrictions on citizens of Hungary on Tuesday over concerns that the identities of nearly 1 million foreigners granted Hungarian passports over nine years weren't sufficiently verified, according to the U.S. Embassy and a government official. Read more at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-restricts-visa-free-travel-for-hungarian-passport-holders-because-of-security-concerns/ar-AA1eCvoF

Please, contact Darren Heyman, a Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.

September 2023 Visa Bulletin Updates

 

The U.S. Department of State (DOS)’s September Visa Bulletin, the last visa bulletin of fiscal year 2023, saw small movement for the EB-2 Final Action Date, except India and China, while all other employment-based Final Action Dates remain unchanged from last month. All dates listed below are based on the Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Preference cases. Applicants must have a priority date that is earlier than the final action date listed for their preference category and country to be eligible to file an employment-based adjustment of status application. Read more at https://www.natlawreview.com/article/september-2023-visa-bulletin-updates

Please, contact Darren Heyman, a Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.

Policy Update: Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF)

 USCIS has expanded its guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual about Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) to clarify steps applicants must take if they cannot submit primary evidence of Liberian nationality to support an LRIF-based application for adjustment of status. The deadline to apply to adjust status under LRIF is Dec. 20, 2021.

At the time of this update, the Department of State’s Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country for Liberia webpage indicates that primary evidence is available. Examples of primary evidence include, but are not limited to, an unexpired Liberian passport or Liberian certificate of naturalization. However, if an applicant cannot provide primary evidence at the time of filing (for example, if they have applied for but have not yet received primary evidence), they must demonstrate this. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/policy-update-liberian-refugee-immigration-fairness-lrif

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

US appeals court finds immigration policy does not violate equal protection.

 

May 24, 2023 02:46:17 am

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled Monday that US immigration law regarding the reentry of migrants who have already once been removed from the US is “facially neutral as to race,” overturning a lower court’s decision. US officials first brought charges in a Nevada court against Gustavo Carrillo-Lopez under 8 USC § 1326. A lower court judge threw out the case on the grounds that § 1326 violated the US Constitution’s Fifth Amendment protection against discrimination on the basis of race.

 Read more at https://www.jurist.org/news/2023/05/us-appeals-court-finds-immigration-policy-does-not-violate-equal-protection/ 

 Please, contact Darren Heyman, a Las Vegas Immigration Attorney, for more information.