Family Based Green Card
Updated USCIS Policy for Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) Age Calculation
The Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) is a crucial immigration law provision that provides relief to children who would otherwise reach the age of majority and lose eligibility for certain immigration benefits. Under CSPA, the age of a child is “frozen” when the initial application for certain immigration benefits, such as adjustment of status to…
Read MoreRedesigned Green Card and EAD to be issued soon
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new designs today to improve the security of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). The redesigned green cards and EAD will be issued by USCIS on January 30, 2023. The new redesigned Green Card and EAD designs use cutting-edge…
Read MoreUSCIS Extends Green Card Validity for Pending Form I-751 or Form I-829
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that it is extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, for 48 months beyond the…
Read MoreUSCIS Extends COVID-19-related Flexibilities – perhaps a Final Extension
Certain COVID-19-related flexibilities are being extended by US Citizenship and Immigration Services until March 23, 2023. Under these flexibilities, if the request or notice was issued between March 1, 2020, and March 23, 2023, inclusive, USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days of the due date in the following requests or notices before…
Read MoreCBP Announces New US Bridge Visa Foil
A visa is a document issued by the U.S. Department of State that allows a foreign national to travel to the United States for various purposes. The visa is typically required to be presented at the port of entry to the United States and is required for the foreign national to be admitted into the…
Read MoreUSCIS Proposes Fee Increase and Imposition of New Fees
The proposed rule by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to increase fees for most immigration benefit requests is likely to have a significant impact on employers in the United States. If implemented, employers will pay significantly more for most nonimmigrant and immigrant filings. One of the key takeaways for employers from the…
Read MoreCross Chargeability to get your Green Card
Foreign nationals from certain countries hoping to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs) in the United States face extended backlogs due to visa number availability. The number of LPRs that can be granted each year is capped and controlled by limiting the visa numbers that are issued. Each family or employment-based immigrant category has its own…
Read MoreGreen Card Validity for Renewals Extended to 24 Months
As of September 26, 2022, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented a new policy to extend the validity of a person’s permanent resident card (green card) for 24 months beyond the expiration date upon filing a Form I-90. Form I-90 is used by lawful permanent residents to renew or replace their…
Read MoreImmigration Consequences for Marijuana
In recent years, many states in the United States have legalized the use, possession, and sale of marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. However, despite these state law changes, marijuana remains illegal under federal law and non-citizens can still face serious immigration consequences for marijuana offenses. First, it is important to understand that marijuana is…
Read MoreVaccination Waiver for Immigration Medical Exam
At the time of filing of the immigrant visa at the US Consulate or an application to adjust status with the US Citizenship & Immigration Status (USCIS), every applicant must include Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, signed by a Panel Physician/Civil Surgeon that documents that the applicant is up to date…
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