Washington, D.C. USCIS is updating its NTA policy to address national security, public safety, and the overall integrity of immigration system through enforcement of the immigration law against inadmissible and deportable aliens. Accordingly, USCIS will “no longer” exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement, which includes referring cases to ICE and issuance[Read More]
Legal Alerts
USCIS Reminds Undocumented Foreign Citizens to Register with USCIS
Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump had issued an executive order which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that aliens (foreign citizens) comply with their duty to register with the government under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), and ensure that failure to comply is treated as a civil and criminal enforcement priority. Once[Read More]
USCIS will accept H-1B Electronic Registrations on March 7th, 2025 for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 and Some Useful Tips and Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Adhikari Law PLLC, Washington, D.C. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will start accepting H-1B electronic regisrations for the H-1B lottery (a computer generated random selection) beginning from noon Eastern on March 7th and will continue till noon of March 24, 2025 for the fiscal year 2026. During this period, prospective H-1B employers as the[Read More]
USCIS announces New Rule on H-1B about Specialty Occupation definition, Cap-exempt H-1B, Enterpreneur H-1B, deference to prior petition, employer-employee relationship and other changes
Washington, D.C. Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency within U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has published a final rule governing H-1B with the following changes: Beneficiary owning H-1B Petitioner/Employer: DHS is codifying a petitioner’s ability to qualify as a U.S. employer even when the beneficiary possesses a controlling interest (more than[Read More]
Department of State Announces Creation of a Lightering Visa Classification C-4
Starting on September 5, 2024, the U.S. Department of State will begin implementing two new visa classifications for noncitizens seeking to transit the United States to join a vessel engaged in foreign trade and undertaking lightering activities for a period not to exceed 180 days. Lightering is the ship-to-ship transfer of liquid cargo. The new[Read More]
USCIS Publishes Filing Guide for Keeping Families Together
On Aug. 19, 2024 USCIS will begin accepting requests for, using a new electronic form, Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens. Form I-131F will not be available on uscis.gov until Aug. 19. USCIS is not accepting any other form for Keeping Families Together. Do not file a request for[Read More]
USCIS Increases Fees for Certain Immigration Petitions and Applications
Adhikari Law PLLC. Washington, DC. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a final rule to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. The new fees under the final rule will go into effect on April 1, 2024. USCIS plans to recover a greater share of its operating costs and support more timely processing of new[Read More]
State Department plans to implement Pilot Program to Resume Renewal of H-1B Visa in the United States
Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of State (DOS) has initiated a rule-making process for the visa renewal within U.S. DOS’s draft Federal Register notice, “Pilot Program to Resume Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas in the United States for Certain Qualified Noncitizens,” is currently under review by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), a division[Read More]
USCIS Issues New Instructions for Filing Asylum Applications with USCIS After EOIR Dismissal or Termination of Removal Proceedings
Washington, D.C., USCIS is issuing new instructions for asylum applications submitted by individuals whose removal proceedings were dismissed or terminated by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Effective Oct. 16, 2023, if EOIR dismissed or terminated your removal proceedings and you choose to pursue a claim for asylum, you must submit a current version[Read More]
ICE Form I-9 requirement flexibility ends on July 31, 2023 which granted employers more time to comply
Washington, D.C. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced that the U.S. employers will have 30 days to reach compliance with the Form I-9 requirements after the COVID-19 flexibilities ends on July 31, 2023. ICE had annouced this flexibility for the first time on March 2020 and subsequently extended[Read More]