Immigration Compliance

In a significant policy shift, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that, effective January 22, 2025, applicants for adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (Green Card applicants) will no longer be required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. Under...

In his first few days in office, President Trump and his administration have introduced a slew of measures aimed at reducing Immigration.  On his first day, he signed a number of executive orders that will reshape the Immigration landscape as we know it for the foreseeable future.  This article will focus on the changes that...

Filing Form I-751, the Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, is a critical step for conditional permanent residents striving to secure their full 10-year green card. While the process might seem straightforward, there are several mistakes an individual can make which could lead to processing delays, requests for additional evidence (RFEs), or even denial. Within...

When an employer is unfamiliar with the H-1B process, the most common question I hear after approval is, “What should we do next?”  When an employee changes their status to H-1B, there are several important steps and considerations to ensure compliance with U.S. immigration laws. Here is a comprehensive guide for employers navigating this process:...

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency has made significant strides in modernizing the admission process for foreign nationals entering the U.S., most notably through the implementation of “Simplified Arrival” and the move to stampless entry for most admission categories in 2022. However, despite these technological advancements, errors in admission records continue to occur....

A new trend has emerged where USCIS is approving employment-based green cards even when the applicant’s priority date is not current. Normally, to receive a green card, there must be a visa number available, corresponding to the applicant’s priority date. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), visa numbers are generally assigned at the...

Separate filing fees required for I-765 and I-131 when filing I-485 after April 1, 2024. It’s been 3 months since the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) implemented significant fee increase, including the fee for the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Previously.  The previous fee for Form I-485 was...

Permitted Activities on H-1B Status While Being a Member of a Multi-Owner LLC The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa category that allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations. This visa is highly sought after by skilled professionals from around the world, as it provides a pathway to work and potentially...