Immigration News and Policy Updates

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that individuals who entered the U.S. without permission cannot obtain status as permanent residents from within the U.S. through the TPS program.

USCIS has updated its COVID-19 policy for in-person visitors.

The U.S. State Department and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have announced that certain U.S. citizens may return to the country using expired passports.

DHS has announced an 18-month extension of TPS designation for Haitian nationals. The designation will begin on the date that the notice is published in the Federal Register.

DHS has announced that it will allow Burmese nationals to apply for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

The State Department has released the June 2021 Visa Bulletin, which brings advancement in multiple employment-based categories.

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule in the Federal Register that removes an interim final rule.

On May 17, 2021, a group of employers filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

President Biden has released a presidential proclamation revoking Proclamation 9945, which suspended the entry of immigrants who would “financially burden the U.S. healthcare system.”

The Department of Labor has published a final rule in the Federal Register to further delay the effective date of the prevailing wage rule.

Effective May 12, 2021, USCIS is permitting individuals to reschedule their biometrics services appointment.

DHS will issue a proposed rule to cancel the elimination of the International Entrepreneur (IE) Parole program.

Effective May 17, 2021, USCIS is expected to remove biometrics requirements for certain dependent applicants filing Form I-539 including H-4, L-2, E-1, E-2 and E-3.

The U.S. State Department has announced that it will begin using a tiered system at U.S. Embassies and Consulates to reduce immigrant visa application backlogs.

ICE announced that it will continue to allow international students to take more courses online during the 2021-2022 academic year.

President Biden is scheduled to impose a new COVID-19 travel restriction suspending all non-exempt travel from India to the U.S. The suspension will take effect on May 4, 2021 at 12:01am ET.

USCIS has issued policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual instructing officers to revert to long-standing guidance originally issued in 2004.

The State Department has released the May 2021 Visa Bulletin, which brings advancement in multiple employment-based categories.

USCIS announced that F-1 students seeking OPT can file their Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, electronically if they are filing in certain categories.

Presidential Proclamation 10052, which temporarily suspended the entry of certain H-1B, H-2B, J, and L nonimmigrants into the U.S., expired on March 31, 2021.