Rajiv's Article - View: Trump’s Immigration - Destruction, not disruption - The Economic Times
Published by : The Economic Times - Date: October 14, 2020
By Rajiv Khanna
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USCIS Forms Update
USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
Application for Civil Surgeon Designation
USCIS recently updated the following form:
Visa Bulletin For March 2021
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during March 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.
Rajiv's News Clips - Trump administration fires another bullet on H-1B program: Random lottery to be replaced with wagebased selection process - Times of India
Published by : The Times of India - Date: October 29, 2020
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
“USCIS is proposing changes in the H-1B selection process so that the H-1B quota selection is made from the highest wage down. This looks more like an election stunt than regulations that are properly thought out,” Rajiv S. Khanna, Arlington based, 1/3 managing attorney at Immigration.com told TOI.
When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: November 2020
Are you seeking to adjust your status and become a U.S. permanent resident under a family-sponsored or employment-based preference immigrant visa? If you have not yet had a relative or employer file an immigrant visa petition on your behalf, please learn more about the Adjustment of Status Filing Process.
Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant - USCIS Form Update
Updated USCIS form(s):
Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant06/09/2020 09:15 AM EDTStarting Jan 4, 2021, USCIS will only accept the 06/09/20 edition. Until then, you can use the 04/12/18 and 12/23/16 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.For more information, please visit Forms Updates page.
PERM Processing Times (as of 10/31/2020)
These dates reflect the month and year in which cases were filed and are currently being adjudicated. The Reconsideration Request to the CO date reflects the month and year in which cases that are currently being reviewed were appealed.
Please visit this page for PERM Processing Times (as of 10/31/2020)
Rajiv's News Clips - Indian nationals in Green Card queue to benefit from Biden administration - Economic Times
Published by : The Economic Times - Date: November 09, 2020
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
“On the green card side, Mr Biden has expressly stated that he wants to remove the percountry quota. This change can also be introduced relatively quickly and the benefits could manifest within a year potentially,” said Rajiv S Khanna, Managing Attorney at immigration.com.
For more details please see the attachment below.
USCIS Announces a Revised Naturalization Civics Test
Release Date 11/13/2020
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today plans to implement a revised version of the naturalization civics test. The agency first announced plans to revise the civics test in July 2019.
USCIS Updates Policy Manual Guidance on the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA)
Release Date 11/13/2020
USCIS is clarifying existing guidance on the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) in the USCIS Policy Manual to address:
USCIS Updates Policy Guidance Regarding Discretionary Factors for Adjustment of Status Applications
Release Date 11/17/2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating existing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the exercise of the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security’s discretion in adjudications of adjustment of status applications.
DHS Proposes to Limit Work Permits for Aliens with Final Orders of Removal
Release Date 11/17/2020
Rule will encourage these aliens to depart the country
USCIS Updates Policy Guidance on Naturalization Applicants Who Did Not Properly Obtain Lawful Permanent Resident Status
Release Date 11/18/2020
On Nov. 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the circumstances when USCIS would find applicants ineligible for naturalization because they were not lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2021
Release Date 11/18/2020
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated cap on H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural workers for the first half of fiscal year 2021. Nov. 16 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2021. USCIS will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after Nov. 16, that request an employment start date before April 1, 2021.
DHS Extends Form I-9 Requirement Flexibility (11/18/20)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19.
USCIS Expands Interviews for Refugees and Asylees Petitioning for Family Members
USCIS has issued a policy memorandum (PDF, 277.32 KB) directing the phased expansion of in-person interviews for petitioners filing Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition.
USCIS Forms Update Notice
USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
Immigration benefits through Armed Forces - MAVNI
MILITARY ACCESSIONS VITAL TO NATIONAL INTEREST (MAVNI) RECRUITMENT PILOT
The Secretary of Defense authorized the military services to recruit certain legal aliens whose skills are considered to be vital to the national interest. Those holding critical skills - physicians, nurses, and certain experts in language with associated cultural backgrounds - would be eligible. To determine its value in enhancing military readiness, the limited pilot program will recruit up to 1,000 people, and will continue for a period of up to 12 months.
Rajiv's News Clips - Court strikes down Trump admin's H-1B restrictions- Times of India
Published by : Times of India - Date: December 02, 2020
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
Rajiv's News Clips - US Senate passes Bill to do away with country-caps on employment-based green cards; hurdles remain - The Economic Times
Published by : The Economic Times - Date: December 03, 2020
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
Rajiv's Article - Immigration law meets Facebook: Decoding the discrimination lawsuit against the social media giant - The Economic Times
Published by: The Economic Times - Date: December 11, 2020
Synopsis
USCIS Updates Discretionary Criteria for Case-by-Case Interview Determinations of Adjustment of Status Applications Based on Refugee or Asylee Status
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced updated guidance (PDF, 319.68 KB) expanding the discretionary criteria USCIS officers use to determine whether to interview applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, based on refugee or asylee status.
USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors who are responding to certain: