The Biden Administration recently proposed a price increase for nearly all nonimmigrant visas. Government officials say the increase is necessary to fund immigration services, which are already stretched to their limit, but critics suggest it could be a financial barrier to noncitizens seeking to enter this country. Proposed Rule in the Federal Register According to the proposed rule by the Department of State (“DOS”), the U.S. government READ MORE READ MORE

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) recently announced the initial registration period for the 2023 H-1B visa program will begin at noon on March 1, 2022, and run through March 18, 2022. Petitions filed within this window afford prospective employers the opportunity to vie for one of the limited H-1B visas for their employees for next year. What is the H-1B Visa? The H-1B is a temporary, READ MORE READ MORE

United States Continues Controversial Border Policy The Biden Administration decided this week to continue a policy implemented by the Trump administration that authorized the rapid deportation of noncitizens stopped at the U.S./Mexico, citing safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1.5 million people have been expelled under this program without the opportunity to apply for any form of relief. This measure permits U.S. border officials to READ MORE READ MORE

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) recently issued policy guidance to clarify how to determine the appropriate visa classification for persons of extraordinary ability in the arts. Given the massive changes in the entertainment industry in the past year, including the increasing popularity of internet and streaming services, this guidance provides essential insight for those seeking to understand the nuances of O-1B nonimmigrant visas and determine READ MORE READ MORE

According to a recent report by Axios, USCIS has begun to issue denials for Afghan applications for humanitarian parole. These denials highlight the ongoing struggle for thousands of Afghan evacuees to resettle following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from their war-torn country.  Crisis in Afghanistan You may remember the powerful images of individuals fleeing Afghanistan following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country late last summer. With the impending Taliban READ MORE READ MORE