Immigration

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through Oct. 23, 2022, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors. Under these flexibilities, USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date set forth in the following requests or notices before taking any action, if the request or notice was issued […]

USCIS is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding Afghan and Iraqi nationals seeking special immigrant classification. The new guidance is effective immediately. The updated guidance: Explains that noncitizens seeking an Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) on or after July 20, 2022, must file Form DS-157, Petition for Special Immigrant Classification for Afghan SIV […]

Reports have indicated that despite the government’s stated commitment to support Afghan nationals who helped the United States’ mission in Afghanistan, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has processed only a small fraction of the humanitarian parole applications filed by or on behalf of people who have been unable to reach the United States. Humanitarian parole is […]

These exemptions will allow the U.S. Government to protect Afghans allies by alleviating certain obstacles to immigration benefits WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State took steps to ensure that vulnerable Afghans who have supported and worked with the United States in Afghanistan, and who have undergone rigorous screening and […]

This lawsuit, filed on behalf of U.S. citizenship applicants whose naturalization petitions have been pending, challenges U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) unreasonable delay in processing naturalization applications that were filed in 2020 and has prevented applicants from becoming U.S. citizens.  The suit seeks to require the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) and USCIS to prioritize […]

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented a risk-based approach to waive interviews for conditional permanent residents (CPR) who have filed a petition to remove conditions on residence (form I-751). This replaces the previous policy, which had mandated interviews for virtually all CPRs who obtained such status through consular processing. Background on CPR […]

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted for public inspection a Federal Register notice on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghanistan. This notice provides information about how to register for TPS under Afghanistan’s designation. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas previously announced the 18-month designation of Afghanistan for TPS. The registration process begins on May 20, 2022. All individuals who want […]