Beginning January 22, 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will require non-U.S. individuals entering the U.S. via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, and to present proof of vaccination. These new requirements will apply to non-U.S. individuals traveling both for Read More »
Author: jmguzman
Update to COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions: Vaccination Requirement on November 8
October 15, 2021: The Biden Administration plans to lift travel restrictions for international travelers coming to the U.S. from countries that are currently subject to COVID-19 travel restrictions (as well as National Interest Exception [NIE] waivers) on November 8. In place of the travel restriction and/or NIE requirement, all international travelers, including those coming from Read More »
COVID-19 Vaccinations Required for Most Green Card Applicants Starting October 1
Starting on October 1, 2021, most permanent residence (green card) applicants will be required to show proof of having received a complete series of COVID-19 vaccinations to be eligible to receive permanent residence, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC added COVID-19 to the list of vaccines already required for green Read More »
New Proclamation Suspending Certain H-1B (and other) Entries
**UPDATE** On February 24, 2021, President Biden rescinded Presidential Proclamation 10014 (issued in April 2020), which suspend entry of certain immigrant visa applicants. HOWEVER, please note that Presidential Proclamation 10052, which suspended the entry of certain nonimmigrant visa applicants through March 31, 2021, is still in effect. **UPDATE** On December 31, 2020, President Trump Read More »
Travel and USCIS Updates
**UPDATE** On October 20, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) indicated that it will continue to implement the ban on non-essential travel across U.S. land borders with Canada and Mexico through January 21, 2022. However, these restrictions will be lifted on November 8, 2021 for fully COVID-19-vaccinated foreign nationals only, to align with the Read More »
Premium Processing Update
**UPDATE** On October 19, 2020, USCIS raised the premium processing fee to $2,500 for Forms I-140 and I-129. The law that increased this fee also expanded premium processing to other types of cases and benefits, but as of December 21, 2020, USCIS has not indicated when it plans to implement this expansion. **UPDATE** On Read More »
USCIS Offices Reopening Starting June 4
**UPDATE** On May 27, USCIS announced that it is preparing to reopen some local offices om June 4. According to USCIS, it “is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines to protect our workforce and the public. For the latest information on the status of individual offices, check our office closures page. While certain Read More »
New Travel Restrictions Related to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
**UPDATE** On April 30, President Biden issued a proclamation suspending entry into the U.S. of certain nonimmigrants who were physically present in India during the 14-day period immediately preceding their attempted entry. This proclamation takes effect on May 4. On the same day, the U.S. Department of State made a national interest determination regarding categories Read More »
UPDATE to Implementation of New DHS Public Charge Rule
**UPDATE** On March 9, 2021, DHS rescinded implementation of the new public charge rule that went into effect last year, because the Biden Administration withdrew the prior Administration’s appeal of a pending federal lawsuit, which had the effect of reinstating a lower court decision which invalidated the 2019 Public Charge rule. As of March 9, Read More »
Updates on Executive Order “Travel Bans”
**UPDATE** On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, President Biden issued a new Presidential Proclamation that revoked the previous travel bans related to people from predominantly Muslim and African countries. A link to this new proclamation is available here. The State Department has been charged with creating a plan for immigrant visas denied under the prior ban Read More »