November 2021 Visa Bulletin
This Department of State Visa Bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during November 2021. <-- Back to News Updates...
News Updates
2023 DIVERSITY VISA LOTTERY – ONLINE ENTRY PERIOD
Begins at Noon EDT on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 Ends at Noon EST on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 The Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (also known as the Green Card or DV Lottery) provides immigrant visas each fiscal year for persons from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. Essentially, this program provides certain nationalities with the opportunity to win the chance to apply for a green card, without having to qualify in one of the family-based or employment-based categories. For fiscal year 2023, 55,000 diversity visas will be available. There are various bills pending before Congress which call for the...
Biden Administration Plans to Rescind COVID-19 Travel Bans and Instead Required Proof of Vaccination
The below summary is courtesy of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Please note that the restriction on non-essential travel at the U.S. / Canada and U.S./ Mexico land borders remains in place and has been extended until at least October 21, 2021. _________________________________________________ [On Monday, September 20th, 2021] the White House announced that it plans to ease travel restrictions on all international travelers coming into the United States beginning in early November 2021. The White House will rescind the current geographic COVID-19 related travel bans implemented for individuals from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, U.K., Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India and will...
IMMIGRATION UPDATE 9.16.2021
IMMIGRATION UPDATE - September 16, 2021 HEADLINES DHS Continues TPS Designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, and Nepal – DHS announced the automatic extension of temporary protected status designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, and Nepal. The automatic extension of TPS-related documentation includes EADs through December 31, 2022. USCIS Is Expediting Afghan Petitions, Observers Say – According to anecdotal reports, USCIS has issued instructions to pull all files for Afghan nationals and expedite them, including backlogged petitions. USCIS Extends Evidence of Status for Conditional Permanent Residents to 24 Months With Pending Form I-751 or I-829 – USCIS...
State Department Issues October 2021 Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Department of State has posted the Visa Bulletin For October 2021 (state.gov). In addition to the Chart A/ Final Action priority dates and Chart B/ Dates for Filing priority dates, the bulletin includes the Diversity Visa FY2022 results; information on the scheduled expiration of the Employment Fifth Preference I5 and R5 Regional Center (Investor) Visa Categories and Employment Fourth Preference Religious Worker category; predictions of visa availability in the coming months; and the next “Chat with Charlie”. Chart A – Final Action No changes from September 2021 Chart B – Dates for Filing Moderate advancement from September 2021: China EB-2 no change; China...
What is the importance of the timing of the filing of the required Form I-693, Medical Examination and Vaccination Report for Adjustment of Status, I-485 Applicants?
All green card applicants seeking adjustment of status in the U.S. through the filing of Form I-485 are required to complete Form I-693, Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (“Medical Report), prepared by a USCIS authorized civil surgeon (https://my.uscis.gov/findadoctor). The U.S. Citizenship and immigration Service (USCIS), however, does not require the Form I-693 medical report to be submitted at the same time as the I-485 application. The USCIS specifically permits I-485 applicants to bring the medical examination report to an interview (if any) or wait until USCIS issues a Request for Evidence (RFE) requesting the medical examination report. On August 12, 2021,...
Announcement: Teodora D. Purcell, Partner has joined LAC
Larrabee Albi Coker LLP is pleased to announce the admission of Teodora D. Purcell as a Partner of our firm. Ms. Purcell is a certified specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, with almost 20 years of diverse immigration experience. She is an LLM graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law and has worked at Am100 Law Firm, a global immigration law firm, a boutique immigration law firm, as well as a nonprofit organization in San Diego, CA. Ms. Purcell is sought-after as counsel for her legal expertise and personable client-centered...
WEEKLY IMMIGRATION UPDATE 8.09.2021
IMMIGRATION UPDATE - August 9, 2021 HEADLINES 1. Biden Administration Develops Plan to Require Full Vaccination for Most Travelers to United States – The Biden administration is developing a "phased" plan to require most travelers to the United States to be fully vaccinated, with exceptions. The idea is to make it possible to safely re-open travel to the United States and lift pandemic-related restrictions on foreign travelers. 2. 125 Indian and Chinese Nationals Sue USCIS Over Risk of Green Card Loss – Plaintiffs argue that delayed processing is risking the potential loss of up to 100,000 "rollover" green cards. They ask the court...
USCIS Conducts Second Random Selection from Previously Submitted FY 2022 H-1B Cap Registrations
In March 2021, USCIS conducted an initial random selection on properly submitted electronic registrations for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B cap, including for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption. Per regulation, USCIS uses historical data related to approvals, denials, revocations, and other relevant factors to calculate the number of registrations needed to meet the H-1B cap for a given fiscal year. Only those petitioners with selected registrations for FY 2022 are eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions. The initial filing period for those with selected registrations for FY 2022 was from April 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021. USCIS determined that it needed...
WEEKLY IMMIGRATION UPDATE 7.27.2021
IMMIGRATION UPDATE - July 27, 2021 HEADLINES International Travel 1. U.S. Extends Nonessential Travel Restrictions at Canada, Mexico Land Borders through at least August 31; Canada Opens to U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents August 9 – Canadians and many other U.S.-bound international travelers can fly into the United States if they receive a negative COVID-19 test. DACA 2. Justice Dept. Issues Reminder for DACA Recipients and Employers – Among other tips, DOJ noted that "existing DACA recipients are allowed to retain their grant of DACA and apply for renewal" and that employers are not expected to know which employees, if any, have DACA. 3. New DACA Applications Blocked...