U.S. Alerts

USCIS Announces Launch of Online FOIA Request Processing System U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced the launch of its “Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Immigration Records SysTem (FIRST),” which the agency said “will eventually allow users to submit, manage, and receive FOIA requests entirely online.” Before this change, USCIS only accepted FOIA requests

USCIS Sends Letter on B-1/B-2 Upcoming Proposed Regulation On May 30, 2018, L. Francis Cissna, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), sent a letter to Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-Mich.), who had hosted a May 16, 2018, roundtable on B-1 visa issues. The letter notes that USCIS is reviewing existing regulations, policies, and programs

  USCIS began accepting H-2B petitions on May 31, 2018, under the temporary final rule increasing the numerical limit, or cap, on H-2B nonimmigrant visas by up to 15,000 additional visas through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2018. USCIS said that in the first five business days of filing, USCIS received petitions for more

USCIS Reminds F-1 Students of Automatic Termination of OPT If They Transfer or Begin Study at Another Educational Level U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently reminded F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) that transferring to another school or beginning study at another educational level (for example, beginning a master’s program after completing a

USCIS Recalls Incorrectly Dated Green Cards for Spouses of U.S. Citizens On May 14, 2018, USCIS began recalling approximately 8,500 permanent resident cards (“green cards”) due to a production error. The green cards were for approved Forms I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions of Residence, for spouses of U.S. citizens. The cards were printed with an

DHS Announces Additional 15,000 H-2B Temporary Nonagricultural Worker Visas for FY 2018 Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen announced on May 25, 2018, that an additional 15,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas will be available for fiscal year 2018. Secretary Nielsen said she determined that there are not enough qualified, U.S. workers available to

Guidance Revised on EB-5 Immigrant Investor Cases Involving Tenant Occupancy; Adjustment of Status Interview Guidelines/Waiver Criteria USCIS announced on May 16, 2018, that it is revising guidance on immigrant investor (EB-5) cases involving tenant occupancy. Previously, the USCIS Policy Manual allowed for tenant-occupancy methodologies used by some petitioners to show that their capital created, or

USCIS Issues New Policy on Accrual of Unlawful Presence for F, J, M Nonimmigrants U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum on May 10, 2018, “Accrual of Unlawful Presence and F, J, and M Nonimmigrants.” The memo provides guidance to USCIS officers and “assists USCIS officers in the calculation of unlawful presence

At a Make America Great Again Rally in Washington, Michigan, on April 28, 2018, President Donald Trump was quoted as saying, “For the farmers, OK, it’s going to get good. And we’re going to have strong borders, but we have to have your workers come in.” That appeared to contradict other Trump administration efforts to

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of Justice announced on May 11, 2018, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that “expands their collaboration to better detect and eliminate fraud, abuse, and discrimination by employers bringing foreign visa workers to the United States.” This new effort “improves the way the agencies share information, collaborate