Dear Readers,

President Biden officially ended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11, 2023, after concluding the National Emergency in April. As a result, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program’s (SEVP) COVID-19 guidance is now defunct. Active F and M nonimmigrant students can continue their 2022-23 academic year under the temporary COVID-19 flexibilities until the summer of 2023. However, they can no longer count online classes beyond regulatory limits towards their full course of study for the 2023-24 academic year. Initial and re-entering students must comply with distance learning regulations.

On May 23, 2023, a new and interesting Bill was introduced in Congress. The Dignity Act of 2023 revolutionizes U.S. immigration by fortifying border security, expanding infrastructure, legalizing undocumented immigrants, and crafting new pathways for economic migrants, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied minors. By leveraging technology, funding and personnel, it strengthens border control and protects vulnerable communities. It also addresses visa backlogs and reforms guest and worker visa policies, promising significant change in the U.S. immigration landscape, contingent upon successful implementation and sustained bipartisan support.

Please feel free to contact the immigration lawyers us at NPZ Law Group by e-mailing us at info@visaserve.com or by calling us at 201-670-0006 (extensions 104 or 204). At VISASERVE - NPZ Law Group, our US and Canadian immigration and nationality lawyers are eager to assist you, your friends, colleagues, and family members with any complex immigration and nationality law matters. We pride ourselves on providing rapid and personalized service to our clients.

USCIS ANNOUNCES PREMIUM PROCESSING EXPANSION FOR FORM I-539 APPLICANTS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently made an exciting announcement that's bound to make waves in the immigration sector. Beginning June 13, 2023, the USCIS is expanding its premium processing services to include applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. This change is especially pertinent for individuals seeking to change their status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status.

To read more, please click here . . .

UNVEILING THE UPDATED USCIS POLICY GUIDANCE: AN OVERVIEW OF THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR EADS UNDER COMPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES.

Today, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced its latest policy guidance pertaining to the eligibility criteria for the initial and renewal applications of employment authorization documents (EADs) under compelling circumstances. This development is grounded in existing regulatory requirements, as stipulated at 8 CFR 204.5(p).

To read more, please click here . . .

UNDERSTANDING USCIS'S INTERPRETATION OF H-1B MULTIPLE FILINGS: A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE MATTER OF S- INC. CASE.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) delivered a landmark ruling on the issue of multiple H-1B filings in March 2018, shedding light on the complex and often misunderstood topic of "related entities." The Matter of S- Inc. case clarified the stringent regulation prohibiting multiple H-1B filings for the same beneficiary by the same or related entities in the same fiscal year.

To read more, please click here . . .

END OF SEVP COVID-19 FLEXIBILITIES ANNOUNCED AS PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY TERMINATES.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced the termination of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program’s (SEVP) COVID-19 flexibilities effective from May 11, 2023, following the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and National Emergency.

To read more, please click here . . .

US NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION FEES TO RISE FROM JUNE 17, 2023.

The US Department of State has announced an increase in the nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application processing fees, effective from June 17, 2023. The fees for business or tourist visas (B1/B2s and BCCs), student, and exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J visas) will increase from $160 to $185. Fees for temporary worker visas (H, L, O, P, Q, R categories) will rise from $190 to $205, while those for treaty traders, investors, and specialty occupation applicants (nonimmigrant E category) will go up from $205 to $315.

To read more, please click here . . .

UNDERSTANDING H-1B AND L-1 MAXIMUM PERIODS OF STAY: A GUIDE FOR EMPLOYERS.

In the intricate web of US immigration policies, one of the key points that employers need to comprehend involves the H-1B and L-1 maximum periods of stay. The knowledge of these periods ensures smooth operations for businesses employing foreign nationals. It is essential to initiate an employment-based green card process in a timely manner. In this guide, we'll shed light on the H-1B, L-1A, and L-1B maximum periods of stay, along with important considerations for extensions and recapture.

To read more, please click here . . .

UNPACKING THE DIGNITY ACT OF 2023: AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS.

The Dignity Act of 2023 is a comprehensive, bipartisan bill aimed at overhauling border security, infrastructure, offering legal status to undocumented immigrants in the United States, and instituting new pathways for economic migrants, asylum seekers, and unaccompanied minors. This article delves into each section of the bill, elucidating the benefits it offers and its potential impact on the future of immigration in the US.

To read more, please click here . . .

DHS REINSTATES AND EXTENDS TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR EL SALVADOR, HONDURAS, NEPAL, AND NICARAGUA.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reversed a decision by the previous administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations for El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua. The TPS designations for these countries have now been extended by 18 months. This decision is relevant to ongoing litigation challenging the earlier termination of the designations. DHS will continue to monitor global conditions to determine if new TPS designations are required.

To read more, please click here . . .

DOS VISA BULLETIN UPDATE: VISA BULLETIN FOR JULY 2023 - IF YOUR "PRIORITY DATE" IS CURRENT, PLEASE LET US KNOW?

The Visa Bulletin shows no movement in EB1 and EB2 categories; cutoffs for India and China remain unchanged. EB3 sees a significant retrogression for India to January 1, 2009, with minor changes for other countries. EB3 Other Workers also retrogresses for India, with other countries stable. EB4 and EB5 categories remain unchanged with previous cutoff dates for all countries. No expected relief in EB3 until October 2023.

To view the current cutoff dates for each visa preference category and country of chargeability, please click here to access two charts provided by the U.S. Department of State's monthly visa bulletin.

CANADA INTRODUCES NEW ECONOMIC IMMIGRATION STREAMS FOR SKILLED REFUGEES.

Canada has recently expanded the opportunities for refugees and displaced individuals to continue their careers in the country through the launch of two new streams under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP). This initiative allows refugees to leverage their acquired skills, training, education, and experience, hence reducing the need for them to start their careers from scratch upon migration.

To read more, please click here . . .

On May 10, 2023, the Canadian government introduced a redesigned passport, bolstering its reputation as one of the world's most secure travel documents. The new design includes state-of-the-art security features like a laser-engraved polycarbonate data page and a Kinegram over the main photo, making it more resistant to tampering and counterfeiting.

To read more, please click here . . .

NAVIGATING THE US NATURALIZATION PROCESS: AID FOR DISABLED PARENTS. (AUDIO).

In this insightful episode of our podcast, we're joined by David H. Nachman, Esq. one of the Managing Attorneys at the NPZ Law Group, as we delve into the process of naturalization for disabled parents. We explore the steps, forms, and accommodations offered by USCIS to facilitate the citizenship application process. Mr. Nachman offers comprehensive information and practical examples about utilizing disability waivers, highlighting the expertise of NPZ Law Group for handling US and Canadian immigration matters. Tune-in to learn about the process, from filing the initial application to the final interview, ensuring that every eligible person gets a fair chance at US citizenship.

ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS VS CONSULAR PROCESSING: WHICH IS BEST FOR YOU? (AUDIO)

In this episode, immigration attorney David Nachman discusses the differences between Adjustment of Status and Consular Processing for obtaining a green card in the US. He explains benefits and drawbacks of each process and provides valuable insights to help listeners decide which approach is best for their situation. Whether you are already in the US or planning to immigrate from abroad, this episode will give you the information you need to make an informed decision about your green card application. Listen now to learn more!