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 »
DOS (visa) Updates
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**UPDATE** On February 24, 2021, President Biden rescinded Presidential Proclamation 10014 (issued in April 2020), which suspend entry of certain immigrant visa applicants.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 »
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**UPDATE** On March 9, 2021, DHS rescinded implementation of the new public charge rule that went into effect last year, because the Biden Administration withdrew the prior Administration’s appeal of a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 »
ON HOLD! – New Health Insurance Requirement for Immigrant Visa Applicants
**UPDATE** on November 2, 2019, a District Court judge in Oregon granted a nation-wide temporary restraining order which prohibits the implementation of the new policy based on the presidential proclamation described below. October 15, 2019: On October 4, 2019, the President issued Presidential Proclamation 9945, which will prevent new immigrants from entering the U.S. Read More »
POSTPONED! – New State Department “Public Charge” Rule Applies to Visa Applicants starting 10/15/19
**UPDATE** Late on October 15, 2019, The U.S. Department of State (DOS) decided to postpone implementation of its new public charge regulation. It will first develop new visa application forms and procedures, which are expected to require information related to the visa applicant’s health, finances, education and receipt of public benefits. This means that the Read More »
New Social Media Information is Required on all Visa Applications
June 3, 2019 – The following summary is provided courtesy of Fragomen Worldwide: The State Department now requires foreign nationals to disclose five years of social media and contact history when applying for a nonimmigrant or immigrant visa. New questions about social media use, prior email addresses and prior phone numbers were added late last Read More »