USCIS
While Federal Firings Focus on Immigration Processing, Funding for Immigration Enforcement Expands
In recent weeks, significant personnel reductions throughout the federal government made in the name of eliminating “waste” have caused concerns about the government’s ability to continue providing timely services. Agencies that provide immigration-related services have not been spared from these cuts, including those within the Department of Homeland Security… Read More
The Supreme Court Cuts Off Judicial Review of USCIS Decisions Again
The Supreme Court recently cut off another path for judicial review of decisions by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudicators. In Bouarfa v. Mayorkas, the Court held that a decision to revoke the prior approval of an immigrant visa petition filed by a U.S. citizen on behalf of… Read More
H-1B Modernization Rule Provides Some Comfort But Also Raises Concerns
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued its long-awaited H-1B modernization rule. The final rule takes effect on January 17, 2025. USCIS describes several of the regulations as codifying policies the agency has followed for years. The agency also emphasized that several of the regulations were enacted to… Read More
Businesses and Workers Get Win with Permanent Work Permit Extension Rule
On December 13, the Biden administration issued a permanent rule that automatically extends the validity of certain work permits by up to 540 days if they are timely renewed. The American Immigration Council and many other organizations and businesses made this a key ask to the outgoing administration… Read More
Biden Should Use His Authority to Protect Vulnerable Immigrants Before He Leaves Office
President-elect Donald Trump vowed to deport millions of immigrants in his successful bid for a second term at the White House. This week, we gained a clearer picture about how he aims to fulfill this promise. Tom Homan, former acting chief for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), will oversee… Read More
State Department Streamlines Temporary Visas for College-Educated Noncitizen Workers—But Questions Remain About Its Impact
Some immigrants who have graduated from college in the United States and have a pending job offer will have an easier time receiving a temporary employment-based visa, thanks to recent changes from the Biden administration. This will include Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) beneficiaries and other college-educated noncitizens. The… Read More
USCIS Re-Issues Temporary Rule to Extend Work Permits for 800,000 Immigrant Workers
Thousands of immigrant workers with pending work permit renewals, and their employers, breathed a sigh of relief last week. On April 8, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a temporary rule that automatically extends the validity period of their work permits for up to 540 days, or about… Read More
STEM-Related Petitions Increase Following USCIS’ Updated Policy Guidance
A recent analysis by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) found that the number of petitions by, or on behalf of, foreign-born workers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) increased following a pair of guidance clarifications the agency made in January 2022. One outlines how foreign-born… Read More
USCIS Reduces Its Backlog for the First Time in Years
On February 9, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released data about its progress toward meeting its strategic goals in fiscal year (FY) 2023. For the first time in years, the agency reduced its net backlog, despite having received a record 10.9 million filings. This represents welcome news for… Read More
DHS Changes H-1B Registration Process to Give Noncitizens an Equal Chance of Selection
Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently issued a final rule that changes H-1B registration selection and makes other changes related to the registration process. Beginning in March 2024, registration selection for the opportunity to file an H-1B petition subject to the annual “cap” on… Read More
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