August 23, 2018: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), recently announced two very significant policy changes affecting the way it will adjudicate petitions and applications, including those for employment-based classifications sponsored by NC State. Effective September 11, 2018, USCIS officers can deny any Read More »
USCIS updates
USCIS using more secure mail delivery service for certain documents
Beginning April 30, 2018, USCIS will begin phasing in use of the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery service to mail Green Cards and other secure documents. Per the USCIS announcement (available at https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-begin-using-more-secure-mail-delivery-service): The first phase will affect documents that need to be re-mailed because they have been returned as non-deliverable. These documents include Read More »
USCIS to require interviews for employment-based green card applicants
August 29, 2017: USCIS announced earlier this week that it will begin expanding in-person interviews for individuals filing applications that would allow them to permanently reside in the United States. Effective October 1, 2017, USCIS will begin to phase-in interviews for the following applicants: 1. employment-based adjustment of status applications (I-485), and 2. certain refugee/asylee Read More »
New H-1B Compliance and Enforcement Initiatives
In April 2017, the Trump Administration issued a new Executive Order, as well as several agency initiatives, to increase and enhance inter-agency coordination and enforcement regarding the H-1B nonimmigrant program. The Departments of Labor, Justice and Homeland Security announced new efforts focused on scrutinizing the current H-1B rules and policies, which are expected to lead Read More »