Change of Address for Non-Citizens & Citizens

In most cases, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) requires only non-U.S. citizens to report a change of address. However, if you are a U.S. citizen serving as a sponsor for a non-U.S. citizen, you may have to submit a Form I-865 to update your most recent address. Non-U.S. Citizens If you are…

Read More

What is a Notice to Appear? (NTA): New Memos Hit Legal Immigration

In the last couple of weeks, the buzz surrounding recent memos released from the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) have left many on edge. In such a short period of time, USCIS has made historic levels of change to immigration law. Now, with talk of NTAs, RFEs, and NOIDs those affected by recent…

Read More

Unpacking the USCIS Memorandum: NOID & RFE (Part 2 of 2)

In the past few weeks, two memorandum out of the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) have upturned years of immigration procedures. In the first memo, USCIS announced a new direction to encourage USCIS officers to freely issue notices to appear (NTA), notably for cases in which a visa application is denied. In a separate…

Read More

USCIS Can Now Deny at Will: NOID & RFE (Part I of 2)

For many years, USCIS adjudicators have provided applicants & petitioners with the benefit of the doubt. As such, applications, petitions, and requests were not outright denied if a USCIS officer noticed an absence of evidence or if evidence was insufficient for eligibility. For years, USCIS officers instead issued requests for evidence notices (RFE) or a…

Read More

Advance Parole for Canadian Citizens

Advance Parole for Canadian Citizens is an important topic for those who wish to travel internationally while their U.S. immigration application is pending. Leaving the United States, even for a brief period of time, can be extremely complicated for foreign nationals. This risk increases if an individual wishes to leave the United States while an…

Read More

Threats to Non-Immigrant Workers: USCIS Gains Deportation Referral Power

Recently, the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) released a policy memo endowing every adjudicating officer, and all USCIS employees, the power to issue a notice to appear, or NTA. With this policy change, USCIS employees may now initiate the removal and deportation of an individual that does not maintain lawful presence. Background Although…

Read More

The Trump Administration Threatens Citizenship

According to the Washington Post, the Trump Administration aims to threaten naturalized citizens through the use of decades old fingerprint analysis. Denaturalization, or revoking citizenship, is extremely rare and occurs only in extreme cases of fraud or criminal activity.  Now the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS)…

Read More

Certificates of Citizenship and Naturalization: New Design, Greater Security

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) issued an announcement for new, redesigned Citizenship and Naturalization certificates. The change comes after a successful pilot launch of the improved certificates at several field offices across the country. These eight certificates will have a new design to provide a fresh look and, more importantly, greater safeguards…

Read More

Request Naturalization Hearing/Replacement Naturalization Certificate Online

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announced yet another initiative to bring immigration filings into the twenty-first century. Now, applicants can request a replacement naturalization certificate (Form N-565) and a naturalization hearing (Form N-336) online. The change follows several other programs for online filing of some of the most requested immigration documents. Says USCIS director…

Read More

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) Requests Now Online

On May 30th, USCIS announced the launch of an online processing system, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Immigration Records SysTem (FIRST). The online platform will allow users to submit, manage, accept FOIA requests online. Previously, such requests only were processed through mail, fax, and email; documents were then transferred via mailed compact disc. USCIS…

Read More