San Francisco Immigration Law Blog

USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form(s): Update to Form I-102, Application for Replacement/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document 11/13/2017 12:00 AM EST New edition dated 10/19/17. Starting 01/12/2018, we will only accept the 10/19/17 edition. Until then, you can use the 12/23/16 edition. Litwin & Smith often assist foreign nationals with obtaining or replacing a Nonimmigrant Arrival – Departure Document. Should

https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/changes-direct-filing-addresses-form-i-129-petitions On October 12, 2017, USCIS will change the direct filing addresses for certain petitioners of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. The changes are as follows: Petitioners will now file Form I-129 according to the state where the company or organization’s primary office is located. Previously, petitioners filed Form I-129 based on the beneficiary’s temporary employment or training

US DOS Announced Limited Resumption of Visa Services in Turkey https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/11/275326.htm The US Department Of State announced the security posture in Turkey has improved sufficiently to allow for the resumption of limited visa services in Turkey. This is based on preliminary high level assurances from the government of Turkey that there are no additional local employees of the US Mission

DHS Terminates TPS For Nicaragua, Extends TPS for Honduras for Six Months https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/11/06/acting-secretary-elaine-duke-announcement-temporary-protected-status-nicaragua-and Acting Secretary Elaine Duke Announced the termination of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Nicaragua with a termination date of 1/5/19. DHS also determined that additional information was necessary regarding the TPS designation for Honduras so TPS was automatically extended to 7/5/18.

Fact Sheet: Temporary Protected Status in the United States https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/research/temporary-protected-status-united-states The American Immigration Council provides information about Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti. As of August 2017, an estimated 325,000 TPS beneficiaries live in the U.S. TPS Beneficiaries from El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti have integrated into U.S. society; are active members of the U.S.

DOL provided Litwin & Smith a practice alert about delivery delays of up to three weeks for certified PERMs. DOL confirmed with Litwin & Smith on 10/24/17 that this issue is resolved and, though there are residual delays, PERM cases certified 10/24/17 or later should be received within standard timelines.

http://www.aila.org/infonet/reports-delayed-delivery-certified-perm-apps AILA’s DOL Liaison Committees provides a practice alert about delivery delays of up to three weeks for certified PERMs. DOL confirmed on 10/24/17 that this issue is resolved and, though there are residual delays, cases certified 10/24/17 or later should be received within standard timelines. AILA Doc. No. 17101104

On Oct. 8, 2017, the White House released the promised https://www.whitehouse.gov/ make it a link named ‘Trump Immigration Principles & Policy Statement’ which outline the Trump Administration’s position on immigration. This document is broken into three parts: 1) Border Security, 2) Interior Enforcement, and 3) Merit-Based Immigration. “The current immigration system prioritizes extended family based chain migration over skills-based immigration