Posts
Notes and updates on immigration law.
Children Born Outside of the U.S. / Born Through Assisted Reproductive Technology
On August 5, 2021, USCIS updated its guidance on children born outside of the U.S. and for children born through assisted reproductive technology (ART). USCIS will consider a child to be born in wedlock when their legal parents are married to one another at the time of birth and at least one of the legal…
New I-485 Allows Applicants to Apply for SSN or Replacement Card
Update Post 09/28/2021 Original Post 08/10/2021 USCIS announced on August 9, 2021 that a new Form I-485 (edition date 03/29/2021) will allow applicants to apply for social security number (SSN) or a replacement SSN card. Previously, applicants had to apply for SSN at their local Social Security Office and may require multiple trips. The new…
Biden Grants “Safe Haven” to Hong Kong Residents
On August 5, 2021, President Biden signed a memorandum to defer for 18 months the removal of Hong Kong residents present in the United States. This decision was based on China’s “continued assault on Hong Kong’s autonomy, undermining its remaining democratic processes and institutions, imposing limits on academic freedom, and cracking down on freedom of…
How to Reschedule Biometrics Services Appointment as of July 28, 2021
USCIS no longer accepts written requests. Reschedule requests must now be made via the USCIS Contact Center by calling 1-800-375-5283. Your request to reschedule must: 1) be made before and time of the original appointment and 2) establish good cause for rescheduling. Please also see a sample recent biometrics appt notice without the option to…
Current State of DACA
On July 16, 2021, a district court in Texas ruled against DACA and found it to be unlawful. It’s important to highlight that the decision only affects first-time filers. Existing DACA holders may continue to renew their DACAs and pending renewal application will continue to be processed. Both the White House and the DOJ have…
Still Haven’t Received Biometric Appointment Notice? Not much you can do
Update 10/13/2021 Update 08/11/2021 Two more examples of extremely long wait times for biometrics appointment notice. An I-485 FB was filed on 09/03/2020. Biometrics Appt notice was issued 9 months later. An I-751 was filed on 12/17/2020. Biomtrics Appoint notice arrived 8 months later. Update 08/04/2021 Another example of a late biometrics appointment. I-90 was…
Be mindful of the new DOL address for PERM cases
On July 16, 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) announced a new mailing address for its Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) Atlanta National Processing Center (ANPC) which will become effective on August 25, 2021. What this means for PERM cases, specifically PERM recruitment, is that the notice of filing must show the new address…
Certain Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Applicants Can Now File Forms I-821 and I-765 Online
On July 21, 2021, USCIS made the following announcement regarding the availability of online filing for certain TPS applicants. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that certain Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants can now file Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, online. TPS applicants submitting an initial registration application may apply for TPS…
You may now pay I-140 Premium Processing via Credit Card
On July 20, 2021, The Nebraska Service Center (NSC) will start accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450 for petitioners filing Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, with Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, or when filing Form I-907 to upgrade a pending Form I-140 to premium processing.
Get a I-551 Stamp in Passport if your I-751 is pending longer than 18 months