Immigration News and Policy Updates

Effective immediately, USCIS has announced flexibilities for some foreign students whose receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, have been delayed.

Effective immediately, President Biden has revoked Proclamation 10014, which was issued by the Trump administration to suspend the entry of certain foreign nationals into the U.S.

USCIS announced that it has extended premium processing services to E-3 petitioners. The change is effective immediately & applies to Australian nationals performing services in a specialty occupation

The Department of State has released the March 2021 Visa Bulletin. Priority cut-off dates advance in most employment-based categories.

On March 1, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will return to using the 2008 version of its naturalization civics test.

Due to COVID-19, U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada border closures will be extended through March 21, 2021. The border closures were set to expire on February 21, 2021.

President Biden has introduced a comprehensive reform bill, called the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, in Congress. The bill proposes many employment-based changes.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will host two webinars on the H-1B electronic registration process. Registration is available through the USCIS Public Engagement webpage.

On February 4, 2021, Senators Dick Durbin (D-ILL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced the 2021 Dream Act as part of the Biden administration’s initiative for comprehensive immigration reform.

USCIS will open the registration period for FY 2022 H-1B cap-subject petitions on March 9, 2021 at 12:00 PM EST. The registration period will close on March 25, 2021 at 12:00 PM EST.

USCIS rescinded a 2017 Memo on the adjudication of H-1B computer-related positions. The Memo won't be applied to any new or pending requests for H-1B classification, including appeals of denials.

USCIS has delayed the effective date of the final rule for the wage-based H-1B selection process. The final rule will now take effect on Dec. 31, 2021 instead of Mar. 9, 2021.

Alejandro Mayorkas assumed office on February 2, 2021 as the 7th U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

President Biden has issued three executive orders to reform the U.S. immigration system. The executive orders address the Public Charge rule, naturalization, border control, and family reunification.

On January 25, 2021, the Biden administration ordered the withdrawal of a proposed regulation titled “Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses from the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorization"

The Biden administration has issued a new executive order titled “Executive Order on Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers.”

On Feb. 1, 2021, the DOL's Employment and Training Administration will publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing a delayed effective date for the proposed rule.

USCIS is again extending the response period for certain requests, notices and decisions due to COVID-19. The measures were first introduced on March 20, 2020.

On Jan. 29, 2021, the DHS issued a notice in the Federal Register stating its compliance with preliminary injunctions against the USCIS fee rule with effective date Oct. 2, 2020.

President Biden issued a presidential proclamation that bans entry into the U.S. for travelers who were physically present in Brazil, Ireland, the UK, Schengen Area & South Africa in the past 14 days.