Biden Administration to End COVID-19 Travel Bans, Require Proof of Vaccination
In early November 2021, the United States plans to end its COVID-19 travel restrictions. The US will reopen to fully vaccinated air travelers from all countries.
U Visas: Qualifying for an EAD and Deferred Action while your Application is Pending
Chugh, LLP Partner and Attorney Angelita Chavez leads a conversation on U visas, including how certain individuals with pending U visas can now get deferred action and an employment authorization document (EAD). She also discusses how to qualify for those benefits, what to expect from the U visa application process, and what requirements individuals must meet to qualify for U visas in general.
Interview Waivers for Academic Visa Applicants
Consular officers can now expand the categories of F, M, and academic J visas that can be processed without an interview through the end of 2021.
Build Back Better Bill Passes House Committee: Would Provide Pathway to Green Cards for DACA, TPS, Other Immigrants
The Build Back Better reconciliation bill has passed the House Judiciary Committee without any amendments. The plan contains a pathway to green card status for recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS), farmworkers, and essential workers. It is unclear whether the bill will be passed into law, and if so, whether it will change from its current form.
Court Orders DOS to Process Diversity Visas Faster
A United States District Court has ordered the Department of State (DOS) to make an effort to expedite diversity visa (DV) 2021 application processing by September 30, 2021. Consular sections have been instructed to prioritize the scheduling and adjudication of additional DV-2021 applications.
The L-1A Visa for Company Transferees: What it Takes to Qualify
Learn about how your company can utilize the L-1A visa to transfer employees from foreign offices to US ones. Chugh, LLP Join Immigration Attorney Joy Dungca shares important details on what is required of US employers and employees to qualify for the L-1A visa. This conversation was recorded on August 26, 2021.
International Travel When Your Adjustment of Status is Pending: Things to Consider
Many individuals may need to travel internationally while their green card application is pending. However, international travel during this stage can be complicated and may carry serious consequences.
USCIS Extends Evidence of Status of Certain Receipt Notices
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will extend the time certain receipt notices can be presented as evidence of immigration status. Beginning on September 4, 2021, petitioners filing Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status can use receipt notices for 24 months, an increase from the previous 18-month limit. The change is part of USCIS’s efforts to combat the effects of processing delays.
Don’t Have Your Indian Birth Certificate? Solutions and Practical Advice for Adjusting Status to Lawful Permanent Resident
Chugh, LLP Attorney Diya Mathews addresses common concerns of Indian nationals who are ready to adjust status to US permanent resident or green card holder but are missing their Indian birth certificate or have an unregistered birth. She discusses what documentation you can use instead when applying for your green card.
DHS to Provide Parole to Certain Eligible Afghan Citizens
Based on the current situation in Afghanistan, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a memo stating that the United States will relocate vulnerable Afghan nationals to the United States. The agency will focus first on Afghans with pending family-based immigration, special immigrant visas, and refugee program cases. DHS will also work on cases for Afghans who have already begun the process of entering the United States, and those who were eligible but never applied to immigrate.