Immigration Updates

As an immigration lawyer, I often see holiday travelers facing numerous challenges and hurdles when it comes to navigating the complex web of immigration laws and regulations. However, there are several pieces of advice I can offer to help improve the travel experience for those seeking to explore new countries and cultures during the holiday…

> The White House’s consideration of significant changes to America’s Asylum System and nationwide expansion of authority to expeditiously remove people from the interior represents a dramatic shift in U.S. immigration policy. The proposed changes are being viewed as a last-gasp effort to garner Republican support for a necessary supplemental spending bill. However, the potential…

On Nov. 08, 2023, The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State (DOS), announced the lists of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in the next year. See here https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/dhs-announces-countries-eligible-for-h-2a-and-h-2b-visa-programs-1. On Nov. 16, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the…

By: Norka M. Schell, Esq.Nov. 08, 2023 Once upon a time, in the land of endless possibilities, there was a young woman named Maria who dreamed of creating a new life for herself in the United States. She had heard stories of the American Dream, and opportunities. With determination in her heart, Maria set out…

Refugee law may be the world’s most powerful international human rights mechanism. Not only do millions of people invoke its protections every year in countries spanning globe, but they do so on the basis of a self-actuating mechanism of international law that, quite literally, allows at-risk persons to vote with their feet. This is because,…

On October 19, 2023, the White House H-2B Worker Protection Taskforce report, the U.S. Department of Labor joined the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State and U.S. Agency for International Development to announce new efforts to strengthen protections for workers in the H-2B program, who are vulnerable to exploitation by their employers. Each agency…

VISA BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2023 This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during November for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center. Unless otherwise indicated on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website at…

By: Norka M. Schell, Esq. Immigration has always been a contentious issue that elicits emotions and stirs debates. One of the many significant global consequences of this phenomenon is its intricate connection to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. While maintaining a cooperative mindset, I aim to shed light on the short-term outcomes and…

As per the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announcement on March 2, 2023. See below. H-2B Cap for the Second Half of FY 2023 USCIS has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the second half of FY 2023. Feb. 27, 2023, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject…

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released its FY 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, which provides a roadmap for the agency’s workforce to better strengthen its capabilities and help the country reach its highest ideals. The plan is grounded in USCIS’ longstanding purpose and core values in support of a meaningful commitment to make the United States…