Puri Law

President Joe Biden is taking executive action to protect undocumented spouses of American citizens — a move that would shield about 500,000 immigrants from deportation.

The new policy would allow noncitizens who have been in the country for at least 10 years and are married to a U.S. citizen, and their children, to apply for permanent residence without leaving the country.

During a ceremony at the White House, Biden called the steps a "commonsense fix" to a system that is "cumbersome, risky and separates families."

He said the order would go into effect this summer and stressed that it would not benefit people who recently came into the country. Instead, it would help people who are "paying taxes and contributing to our country" and their family members.

From USCIS:

If you are applying for an employment-based Green Card and we sent you a Request for Evidence (RFE) for your Form I-693, please respond as soon as possible so we can finalize a decision on your adjustment application. In an effort to limit the potential for employment-based visa numbers to go unused, we continue to increase the pace of these adjudications by prioritizing employment-based adjustment of status applications.

Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status Use this form to apply for lawful permanent resident status if you are in the United States.

Just wow.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/us/sham-marriages-green-cards-fraud.html?smid=fb-nytimes&smtyp=cur&fbclid=IwAR0xan1ugE2A-3kxAMg-1WI0uh4oR7Vr84_zzn1Hk6RWr27PIZntpU0C4m4

11 Set Up Hundreds of Sham Marriages for Green Card Seekers, U.S. Says Clients paid fees up to $30,000 as part of the yearslong scheme, an affidavit said. Some applications falsely claimed the clients had been abused by their spouses, prosecutors said.

It's that time of year again! H1B lottery! FY 2023 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 1.

The initial registration period for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 1 and run through noon Eastern on March 18, 2022. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations using our online H-1B registration system.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/12/20/politics/biden-labor-shortage/index.html

Biden to make additional guest-worker visas available this winter amid labor shortages The Biden administration will make an additional 20,000 seasonal, guest-worker visas available for the winter season for the first time, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/12/20/politics/biden-labor-shortage/index.html

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/05/22/secretary-mayorkas-designates-haiti-temporary-protected-status-18-months

USCIS announced a new 18-month designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This new TPS designation enables Haitian nationals and individuals without nationality who last resided in Haiti currently residing in the United States as of May 21, 2021 to file initial applications for TPS, so long as they meet eligibility requirements.

Secretary Mayorkas Designates Haiti for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced a new 18-month designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

TPS is now available for Haitians! Whoohoo!

The L-1 Visa route to the United States has reopened after Trump's temporary ban came to an end last night. President Biden chose not to renew the ban!

Crazy Backlog...

https://www.state.gov/briefing-with-consular-affairs-acting-deputy-assistant-secretary-for-visa-services-julie-m-stufft-on-the-current-status-of-immigrant-visa-processing-at-embassies-and-consulates/

"I do want to emphasize that we are committed to transparently sharing the current status of our worldwide visa operations. By way of statistics, in January 2020 there were about 75,000 immigrant visa cases pending at the National Visa Center ready for interviews. Thirteen months later, in February 2021, there were 473,000 – about six to seven times greater. The snapshot gives you an idea of how much longer the line has gotten since the beginning of the pandemic. It’s important to note, too, that this number doesn’t include the entirety of that queue. It doesn’t include cases already at embassies and consulates that have not yet been interviewed or applicants still gathering the necessary documents before they can be interviewed, and also, of course, petitions awaiting USCIS approval."

Briefing with Consular Affairs Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services Julie M. Stufft on the Current Status of Immigrant Visa Processing at Embassies and Consulates - United States Department of State MR PRICE: Good morning, everyone, and thanks for joining us for this briefing to discuss the current status of immigrant visa processing at our embassies and consulates around the world, especially given the recent recission of Presidential Proclamation 10014. To help us explain the nuances of the c...

Per USCIS' website:

USCIS Announces Plans to Revert to the 2008 Version of the Naturalization Civics Test

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today it is reverting to the 2008 version of the naturalization civics test.

On Dec. 1, 2020, we implemented a revised naturalization civics test (2020 civics test) as part of a decennial test review and update process. On March 1, 2021, we will revert to the 2008 version of the civics test.

We determined the 2020 civics test development process, content, testing procedures, and implementation schedule may inadvertently create potential barriers to the naturalization process.

This action is consistent with the framework of the Executive Order on Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems, which directs a comprehensive review of the naturalization process to eliminate barriers and make the process more accessible to all eligible individuals.

Applicants who filed their naturalization applications on or after Dec. 1, 2020, but before March 1, 2021, with an initial examination (interview) before April 19, 2021, will have the choice to either take the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test.