Immigration Update

Immigration News and Analysis
for Clients and Friends of Borene Law Firm


August 2020

New Immigration Fee Increases Start October 2, 2020 - Large Increases for Citizenship Applications and Many Work Visa Categories


United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced significant increases in required filing fees for many of the most frequently-used applications including an increase to $1,160 per person for Citizenship applications from $640, and increases of up to 50% or more for many work visa categories used by U.S. employers (L-1, O-1, H-1B, H-2, H-3, TN, E, P, Q and J).



Read from Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Fact Sheet: Immigration Fee Increases and Fee Waiver Charges
2020 Election Update: Biden vs. Trump - Immigration Plans and Policies Are Very Different


On August 20, former Vice President Joe Biden accepted the Democratic nomination for President. Donald Trump was officially nominated as the Republican candidate on August 24. The Trump campaign is redoubling its efforts to build a border wall, increase deportations and add more restrictions on temporary visas and green cards. The Biden campaign promises to expand relief for DACA children and refugees, push for comprehensive immigration reform legislation and to reverse most Trump Executive Orders on immigration.


Read from the White House, Issues: Immigration

Tip of the Month

Applications for Employment Authorization
Must Use Only the New Form I-765 Effective August 25, 2020

Applicants for Employment Authorization submitting Form I-765 to USCIS must use only the new edition of the form dated 8/25/20.

Read from USCIS,

For the latest Official Processing Times from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services for Visa Petitions and Immigration Applications

For the latest information from the U.S. Department of State on Immigrant Visa “Green Card” Quota Backlog (Priority) Dates
Federal Court Issues Permanent National Injunction Barring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from Enforcing New "Unlawful Presence Rule" Which Could Adversely Affect Many Foreign Students and Thousands of U.S. Colleges and Universities

On August 4, the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals permanently dismissed the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's appeal of a prior Federal District Court Permanent Nationwide Injunction stopping enforcement of a new DHS policy applying new harsher penalties potentially affecting more than 1 million international F & J students and thousands of schools in the U.S. The attempted new "unlawful presence" penalties included 3 year bans from the U.S. for minor violations of complex and ambiguous rules governing F & J students.



Borene Law Firm In the News
Borene Law Firm rated "AV Preeminent" in 2020 - "the highest possible Peer Review Rating in legal ability and ethical standards" for 25th consecutive year from "the gold standard in attorney ratings" - The Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, All Editions, 1994 - present.


Scott Borene recognized by other lawyers as 2020 Immigration Lawyer of the Year in Minnesota as noted by


Jeanne Kildow was an expert speaker on "Employment-Based Immigration Preference Categories"
at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) National Annual Conference


George Maxwell was an expert speaker on the topic of "Recent Trends in Employment Based Immigration" in a program sponsored by the
Copyright Borene Law Firm, P. A., 2020
 Immigration Update is a publication of:
Borene Law Firm
U.S. & Global Immigration
3950 IDS Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
United States of America
Phone: 612.321.0082
The information in this Immigration Update should not be considered specific legal advice; it is intended for informational purposes only. Anyone seeking specific legal advice should contact an appropriately experienced lawyer for a confidential, personalized consultation.