USCIS Eases Visitor Restrictions for Fully Vaccinated Individuals

 Due to updated guidance from the CDC, USCIS has updated its visitor policy. Fully vaccinated individuals no longer have to wear a face covering. Individuals two years old and older who are not fully vaccinated must still wear a face covering.

To be considered fully vaccinated, it must be at least two weeks after receiving a second dose in a two-dose series or at least two weeks after receiving a dose of a single-dose vaccine. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-eases-visitor-restrictions-for-fully-vaccinated-individuals

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

ICE announces extension, new employee guidance to I-9 compliance flexibility

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was initially granted last year. Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend this policy until Aug. 31, 2021. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-announces-extension-new-employee-guidance-i-9-compliance-flexibility-0

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

DHS Announces Open Registration for Temporary Protected Status for Burma

 WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice (FRN) designating Burma for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, effective May 25, 2021, through Nov. 25, 2022. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas previously announced on March 12 that Burma would be designated for TPS. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/dhs-announces-open-registration-for-temporary-protected-status-for-burma

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Labor Issue Joint Rule Supplementing H-2B Visa Cap

 WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have published a joint temporary final rule making available an additional 22,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural guest worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2021 to employers who are likely to suffer irreparable harm without these additional workers. Of the supplemental visas, 6,000 are reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/us-departments-of-homeland-security-and-labor-issue-joint-rule-supplementing-h-2b-visa-cap

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

DHS Issues Final Rule to Remove Vacated H-1B Rule from Code of Federal Regulations

 The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule that removes from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) an interim final rule (IFR) issued in October 2020, which has since been vacated by a federal district court.

On Oct. 8, 2020, DHS issued an IFR titled, Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa
Classification Program. On Dec. 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated the IFR. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/dhs-issues-final-rule-to-remove-vacated-h-1b-rule-from-code-of-federal-regulations

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Announces Open Application Period for Citizenship and Integration Grant Program

 WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. The grant opportunities will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.

These competitive grant opportunities are open to organizations that prepare lawful permanent residents for naturalization and promote civic integration through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics. USCIS received support from Congress through appropriations to make these funding opportunities available to communities. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-announces-open-application-period-for-citizenship-and-integration-grant-program

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

ICE removes Guatemalan citizen for alleged human rights violations in connection with 1982 Dos Erres massacre

 

WASHINGTON — Jose Mardoqueo Ortiz Morales, who was wanted in his native country for his role in the killing of hundreds of innocent civilians in Dos Erres, Guatemala, in 1982, was turned over by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to law enforcement authorities in Guatemala Friday, May 7.

Ortiz Morales, 59, a former member of an elite Guatemalan army unit known as the Kaibiles, is accused of taking part in the massacre in which Guatemalan special forces executed 200 unarmed villagers, including women and children. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-removes-guatemalan-citizen-alleged-human-rights-violations-connection-1982-dos

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Temporarily Suspends Biometrics Requirement for Certain Form I-539 Applicants

 Effective May 17, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will temporarily suspend the biometrics submission requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrant status. USCIS will allow adjudications for those specific categories to proceed based on biographic information and related background checks, without capturing fingerprints and a photograph. This suspension will apply through May 17, 2023, subject to affirmative extension or revocation of the suspension period by the USCIS director. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-temporarily-suspends-biometrics-requirement-for-certain-form-i-539-applicants

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

Rescheduling Biometric Services Appointments by Phone

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that applicants, petitioners, requestors and beneficiaries may now call the USCIS Contact Center (800-375-5283) to reschedule their biometric services appointments scheduled at a USCIS Application Support Center. Previously, applicants had to submit requests in writing to reschedule their biometrics appointments. This change helps eliminate undue paperwork and allows USCIS to track the request through a more efficient process.  Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/rescheduling-biometric-services-appointments-by-phone

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

DHS Announces Continuation of International Entrepreneur Parole Program

 WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that the Department of Homeland Security is withdrawing a 2018 notice of proposed rulemaking that proposed to remove the International Entrepreneur program from DHS regulations. The International Entrepreneur (IE) parole program, first introduced in 2017, will remain a viable program for foreign entrepreneurs to create and develop start-up entities with high growth potential in the United States. The program will help to strengthen and grow our nation’s economy through increased capital spending, innovation, and job creation. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/dhs-announces-continuation-of-international-entrepreneur-parole-program

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

HSI investigation leads to seizure of 9th fraudulent website seeking to capitalize on COVID-19

 BALTIMORE — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has seized “freevaccinecovax.org” which purported to be the website of an actual biotechnology company developing a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus but instead was allegedly used to collect the personal information of individuals visiting the site, in order to use the information for nefarious purposes, including fraud, phishing attacks and/or deployment of malware. Individuals visiting the site will now see a message that the site has been seized by the federal government and be redirected to another site for additional information. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/hsi-investigation-leads-seizure-9th-fraudulent-website-seeking-capitalize-covid-19.

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.