Posts From April, 2020

Originally published by Kristin Macleod-Ball on Immigration Impact In a 5-4 decision on April 23, the U.S. Supreme Court expanded the types of criminal offenses that bar green card holders from seeking a form of relief from deportation. The case, Barton v. Barr, is about who is eligible to apply for a form of relief from […]

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services On March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASCs) to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). USCIS is readying offices to re-open in compliance with local and state orders, on or after June 4. Employees […]

What Is the Temporary 60 Day Immigration Ban? President Trump signed a new executive order that will stop green cards from being issued to overseas applicants for sixty (60) days. When the Suspension on Immigration Is in Effect The Executive Order takes effect at 11:59 PM EDT, Thursday, April 23, 2020, and will remain in […]

Originally published by Lennet Penate, Immigration Impact Individuals participating in the J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program were faced with a difficult choice in the hours after President Trump issued travel restrictions to Europe: leave their program in the United States or risk getting stuck until the coronavirus was contained. From then on, the clock was […]

Originally published by Leslie Dellon on Immigration Impact U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been denying many H-1B petitions by misinterpreting the law. On April 16, 2020, the American Immigration Council and partners filed a nationwide class action lawsuit challenging the agency’s pattern of unlawfully denying H-1B petitions for market research analysts. The plaintiffs—who are suing on […]

Last year, the Trump administration expanded the type of benefits that could be considered in a public charge determination. The expanded rule includes any use of Medicaid, food stamps, and more. The Supreme Court has previously allowed the rule to go into effect while litigation proceeds. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, three states, as […]

 Though USCIS did not announce any freezes in deadlines or uniform procedures on how delayed filings will be treated, the agency did publish guidance on how immigration lawyers can handle delays in extension and change of status filings. If there will be a delay in filing, USCIS suggested that petitioners file for an Extension of Stay […]

On Tuesday, a judge certified a class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration. The lawsuit is challenging the requirement that immigrants must acquire health insurance before they are granted visas. Prospective immigrants may join the class if they are unable to demonstrate to a consular officer that they will be covered by health insurance within 30 days of […]

Published by Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Immigration Impact Immigrants living in the United States are eligible for unemployment benefits. But as the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus spread across the country, many are reportedly afraid to file for unemployment and other government benefits. Much of this fear stems from the Trump administration’s public charge rule. The […]

More than 4000 medical graduates are set to begin residency programs in the U.S. this summer. However, under immigration requirements, they may not arrive sooner than one month before their program starts, meaning almost all would not arrive until June. Some immigration attorneys have suggested that they should arrive sooner to assist with the pandemic, […]