Immigration News and Updates
Update on TPS for Haiti
On Feb. 20, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem partially vacated the July 1, 2024, notice that extended and redesignated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)....
Read More »Tools Outage
USCIS will conduct system maintenance to the Contact Relationship Interface System (CRIS) on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 at 11:50 p.m. through Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 at 2:00 a.m. Eastern....
Read More »FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 7
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and run through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025....
Read More »DHS Terminates the 2023 Designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status
After reviewing country conditions and consulting with the appropriate U.S. government agencies, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has determined that conditions in Venezuela no longer support the 2023 designation…...
Read More »Update on Form I-134A
Due to the Jan. 20, 2025 Executive Order, Securing Our Borders, USCIS is pausing acceptance of Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, until we…...
Read More »USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status Applicants
Effective Jan. 22, 2025, USCIS is waiving any and all requirements that applicants for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident present documentation on their Form I-693,…...
Read More »H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129 Effective Jan. 17, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security’s H-1B final rule and H-2 final rule take effect on Friday, January 17, 2025, modernizing and improving requirements for the H-1B nonimmigrant and H-2 nonimmigrant…...
Read More »USCIS Updates Guidance on EB-2 National Interest Waiver Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating its policy guidance to clarify how we evaluate eligibility for the second preference employment-based (EB-2) classification for immigrant petitions filed with a request for…...
Read More »USCIS Updates Filing Procedures for Form I-140
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a Federal Register notice (FRN) providing updated procedures for submitting a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, accompanied by a permanent labor certification, application…...
Read More »Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the First Half of FY 2025
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of fiscal…...
Read More »USCIS Offices Closed Jan. 9, 2025
President Biden has declared Thursday, Jan. 9, a National Day of Mourning to remember the life and legacy of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th president of the United States,…...
Read More »USCIS to Publish Revised Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
On Jan. 17, 2025, we will publish a revised edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (edition date: 01/17/25). The form has been revised to align with the…...
Read More »USCIS Updates Guidance on Flexibilities Available During and After Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating our Policy Manual to clarify flexibilities that may be available to benefit requestors during and after an emergency or unforeseen circumstance....
Read More »USCIS Updates Guidance on Case Assistance and Feedback
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it is updating Volume 1, Part A, of the USCIS Policy Manual to reflect the available avenues for case assistance or feedback....
Read More »DHS Publishes Final Rule for the Application of Certain Mandatory Bars in Fear Screenings
As part of our continued efforts to deliver more timely consequences for noncitizens encountered who do not have a legal basis to remain in the United States—efforts that have resulted…...
Read More »DHS Strengthens H-1B Program, Allowing U.S. Employers to More Quickly Fill Critical Jobs
Rule will provide greater benefits and flexibilities for U.S. employers and specialty occupation workers, helping to meet U.S. labor needs...
Read More »USCIS Issues Updated Guidance on Evidence for Applicants Under the International Entrepreneur Rule
We are issuing updated policy guidance on the types of evidence that may support an application under the International Entrepreneur Rule....
Read More »USCIS Revised Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
On Dec. 10, 2024, we published a new edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status, which includes updates to questions and instructions. Starting Feb. 10,…...
Read More »USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B Cap
USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for…...
Read More »USCIS Now Requires Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record to be Submitted with Form I-485 for Certain Applicants
We now require certain applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with their…...
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Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration
Information on President Trump’s Recent Executive Order (Travel Ban) [Update, June 27, 2017] The Supreme
Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration
Learn more about what the executive order means, who it will affect, and what is being done to challenge it.
Andres Perez Interviewed About ICE Raids in Austin
Fear of deportation grows as ICE raids increase.
‘Hardware Malfunction’ Slows Down Immigration Courts
A technology breakdown that struck immigration courts a month ago still…
Prosecutorial Discretion on the Rise in Immigration Courts
By Cindy Chang, LA Times January 15, 2014, 3:27 p.m. Immigrants facing deportation are increasingly likely
PRIVACY ALERT! – The government can search your electronic devices at the border and ports of entry!
New York Times Reports District Judge Upholds Government’s Right to Search Electronics at Border Pascal
Budget deal may open doors to immigration reform in January
As reported in USA Today: “Republican leaders, led by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, have
Immigration Lawyers Can Help Employers Petition For H-1B Visas On Time
The USCIS will begin accepting Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2015 H-1B Visa petitions on April 1,
USCIS Now Recognizes Same-Sex Marriages
Do you and your partner think you qualify for immigration benefits (such as a green
New, Updated Form I-9
Don’t get caught unaware! Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 has changed. All employers may no
CBP No Longer Issuing a Paper form I-94
Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) will no longer be issuing paper copies of the arrival/departure
Attorney Andres Perez Interviewed by Fox News About I-9 Audits
Perez & Malik, PLLC attorney Andres Perez featured on Fox News regarding I-9 Audits Perez
Major Reform in Obama Immigration Policy Relieves DREAMers
The Department of Homeland Security announced dramatic reform in the Obama administration’s immigration policy to
Obtaining a Green Card Through Marriage
Green Card Marriage: What Comes After The Walk Down the Aisle? According to the U.S.
I-9 Compliance Tips For Your Business
Within the U.S. business world, employers must meet the demands of the federal government and
Immigration Visas: Revision to Three- and Ten-year Ban
According to USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas, a change to the three- and ten-year re-entry bars placed on undocumented immigrants is anticipated to take effect by the end of this year.
Perez & Malik, PLLC Immigration Lawyers to file TPS Pro Bono for local Syrian Nationals
In response to ongoing violence due to political unrest occurring in Syria, the Department of
Obtain a Green Card Through Employment: PERM Labor Certification
In order to work in the USA, foreign workers need to either obtain a temporary work visa (non-immigrant, short-term) or a green card (permanent residency). Most foreign workers begin working in the USA on a temporary work visa and “convert” it to a green card through the labor certification process (PERM).
Applying for a Family based Immigration Visa: 5 Points to Keep in Mind
The U.S. immigration process is complex and intimidating for both sponsors and applicants, however, highly
