DHS Announces Registration Process for Temporary Protected Status for Haiti

 WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today posted a Federal Register notice on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. The notice provides information about how to register or re-register for TPS under Haiti’s extension and redesignation for an additional 18 months, from February 4, 2023, through August 3, 2024. Last month, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the 18-month extension and redesignation of Haiti for TPS. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-announces-registration-process-for-temporary-protected-status-for-haiti

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Announces Final Phase of Premium Processing Expansion for EB-1 and EB-2 Form I-140 Petitions and Future Expansion for F-1 Students Seeking OPT and Certain Student and Exchange Visitors

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is implementing the final phase of the premium processing expansion for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications.

Unlike previous phases of the expansion, this phase applies to new (initial) petitions, in addition to all previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational executive and manager classification or E21 classification as a member of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a national interest waiver (NIW).

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-announces-final-phase-of-premium-processing-expansion-for-eb-1-and-eb-2-form-i-140-petitions

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

DHS Announces Process Enhancements for Supporting Labor Enforcement Investigations Release Date 01/13/2023

 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that noncitizen workers who are victims of, or witnesses to, the violation of labor rights, can now access a streamlined and expedite deferred action request process. Deferred action protects noncitizen workers from threats of immigration-related retaliation from the exploitive employers. Effective immediately, this process will improve DHS’s longstanding practice of using its discretionary authority to consider labor and employment agency-related requests for deferred action on a case-by-case basis. Workers will be able to visit DHS.gov for additional information in English and Spanish and to submit requests. These improvements advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to empowering workers and improving workplace conditions by enabling all workers, including noncitizens, to assert their legal rights.  Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-announces-process-enhancements-for-supporting-labor-enforcement-investigations

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Issues Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration and Naturalization Fees

 WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. The new fees would allow USCIS to more fully recover its operating costs, reestablish and maintain timely case processing, and prevent the accumulation of future case backlogs. USCIS receives approximately 96 percent of its funding from filing fees, not from congressional appropriations. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-issues-proposed-rule-to-adjust-certain-immigration-and-naturalization-fees

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

DHS Implements New Processes for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans and Eliminates Cap for Venezuelans

 On Jan. 5, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a safe and lawful way for qualifying Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans with U.S.-based supporters to travel by air to and temporarily reside in the United States. Individuals arriving under this new process may also apply for work authorization. DHS also announced elimination of the numerical cap for a similar process for Venezuelans announced earlier this year. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/dhs-implements-new-processes-for-cubans-haitians-and-nicaraguans-and-eliminates-cap-for-venezuelans

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

Filing Location Change for Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is changing the filing location for Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, to streamline workloads in an ever-increasing electronic environment. Previously, this petition was filed either at the Texas Service Center or the Nebraska Service Center depending on the state where the petitioner resides. With this change, all Form I-730 petitions should be filed at the Texas Service Center.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/filing-location-change-for-form-i-730-refugeeasylee-relative-petition

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information. 

ICE releases FY 2022 annual report

 WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released today the agency’s annual report showcasing how the agency has responded to increasingly complex transnational security threats in fiscal year (FY) 2022. The FY 2022 annual report highlights how ICE is helping secure the Southwest Border and rebuilding a humane and orderly immigration system; combatting transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) including disrupting the supply of opioids coming to U.S. communities; improving transparency to stakeholders and the public; and supporting its dedicated, resilient workforce. Read more at: https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-releases-fy-2022-annual-report

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.