San Francisco Immigration Law Blog

The Administration Appeals Office (AAO) of the USCIS made it easier for professionals with advanced degrees and individuals with exceptional ability in the sciences, arts, or business to qualify for green cards by self-petitioning for National Interest Waiver (NIWs) of the employer sponsored labor certification requirement. Matter of New York State Dept. of Transportation Reversed The AAO vacated NIW test

Technical Update – Clarifying Intent to Reside in United States for Naturalization Purposes January 05, 2017 USCIS publishes a technical update to clarify that naturalization applicants are not required to intend to reside permanently in the United States after becoming U.S. citizens. This update is in accordance with current statutes; prior to 1994, a person who became a naturalized U.S.

Effective January 17, 2017, USCIS may request, or an employment-based applicant for adjustment of status who is filing or has previously filed Form I-485 as the principal beneficiary of a valid Form I-140 may seek, in connection with a Form I-485, to: Confirm that the job offered to the applicant in the Form I-140 is the basis of the Form

We encourage all Canadian visitors to routinely check the CBP I-94 website after being admitted to the U.S. to avoid an unintentional overstay. Canadians, when entering the U.S. by air, like all travelers, are issued electronic I-94 cards. To determine the duration of their authorized admission travelers should check the CBP I-94 website for their authorized period of stay in

The DOS announcement stated, starting 1/1/17, the National Visa Center (NVC) will accept photocopies and scanned versions of these documents original or “wet ink” signatures are no longer required on submitted Forms I-864, Affidavit of Support. This also applies to the I-864A, I-864W, and I-864EZ. https://travel.state.gov/

DHS final rule removes the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) Regulation for certain nonimmigrants of identified Islamic Countries. Final rule is published in the Federal Register 12/23/16. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2011/04/28/2011-10305/removing-designated-countries-from-the-national-security-entry-exit-registration-system-nseers

USCIS asks you to please download the Historic Records Reports by March 31, 2017, if you have you been using E-Verify more than 10 years In April 2017, USCIS must dispose of transaction records that are over 10 years old. USCIS has created a Historic Records Report that contains transaction records dated on or before Dec. 31, 2006. E-Verify employers

Starting December 23, 2016, applicants must use the 12/23/16 edition of Form N-400, Application for Naturalization ONLY! USCIS will reject earlier versions of the form after that date. Also, please note applications postmarked or filed on or after Dec. 23 must include the new fees or USCIS will not be able to accept them. Special Note for Applicants at Group

NOVEMBER 29, 2016 https://travel.state.gov/ As of November 21, 2016, the National Visa Center (NVC) no longer accepts documents submitted by email for cases processing at the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez. The only applicants affected by this change are those whose case number begins with the three letter code “MEP.” If you are sending documents to NVC on behalf of