Immigration News and Policy Updates

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.

The U.S. State Department has expanded its list of individuals who are eligible for a National Interest Exception.

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.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received enough initial electronic registrations to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B cap, including the master’s cap.

On Thursday, March 18, 2021, the House approved the American Dream and Promise Act and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

USCIS will restore text regarding the Public Charge Rule in the CFR to the version issued before August 2019

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

USCIS announced that it may reconsider denials made on H-1B petitions if the denial was based on one of three rescinded policy memos.

The State Department and DHS granted consular officers greater authority to waive in-person interview requirements for individuals who are applying for a nonimmigrant visa in the same classification.

USCIS has issued guidance on the end of the 2019 Public Charge Rule’s application. Effective immediately, USCIS will apply Public Charge guidance put in place in 1999.

The DOL has updated prevailing wage determination (PWD) and permanent labor certification (PERM) processing times.