USCIS Issues Updated and Comprehensive Guidance on T Visa Adjudications

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing updated and comprehensive guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on adjudicating applications for T nonimmigrant status (or T visas) submitted by victims of human trafficking, including clarifying how applicants establish eligibility.

Our policy guidance (PDF, 339.32 KB) clarifies the physical presence eligibility requirement, the age-based exemption from the requirement to comply with law enforcement requests, and how the agency evaluates involuntary servitude claims. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-issues-updated-and-comprehensive-guidance-on-t-visa-adjudications

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2022

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated cap on H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural workers for the first half of fiscal year 2022. Sept. 30 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2022. USCIS will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after Sept. 30 that request an employment start date before April 1, 2022. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-reaches-h-2b-cap-for-first-half-of-fy-2022

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

ICE adds additional languages to online appointment scheduler

 WASHINGTON – Noncitizens can now schedule their initial check-in with ICE in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole and French, using the recently announced ICE Appointment Scheduler. The ICE Appointment Scheduler is a web-based, multilingual, and smartphone compatible appointment scheduler for noncitizens. The tool allows noncitizens to schedule their required check-in appointments at ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) offices as they await immigration proceedings. Previously, appointments were made via phone or in person. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-adds-additional-languages-online-appointment-scheduler

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

Most CW-1 Employers Must File Required Semiannual Report (Form I-129CWR)

 USCIS reminds employers of Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Transitional Workers (CW-1) that, if you have a currently-approved CW-1 petition with a validity period of six months or more, you must file Form I-129CWR, Semiannual Report for CW-1 Employers, with USCIS every six months after the petition validity start date. Employers use this report to certify the continued employment and payment of each worker under the terms and conditions of the approved petition. You are not required to file Form I-129CWR if your petition has been withdrawn for all beneficiaries. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/most-cw-1-employers-must-file-required-semiannual-report-form-i-129cwr

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.