Legal Articles, Immigration

New POMS Evidentiary Requirements for Stateless Persons

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has updated the evidentiary requirements for demonstrating “statelessness” in RS 02640.040 of its Program Operations Manual System (POMS). The SSA will use information from the Department of State about an individual to determine whether he or...

December 11 Expiration Date for Three Immigration Programs (Including EB-5)

Three significant immigration programs are slated to expire on December 11, 2015. These three programs are the: EB-5 Regional Center Program; Conrad 30 J Waiver Program; Special Immigrant Non-Minister Religious Worker Programs. This blog will discuss the programs' prospects..

O Visas

O visas are nonimmigrant employment visas for limited classes of aliens. The O-1A (O1A) visa is for “aliens of extraordinary ability” who are seeking to enter the United States to work in their areas of expertise. The O-1B visa (O1B) is for an alien of “extraordinary achievement” in motion..

Life Act and Adjustment of Status

Who Was Eligible to Take Advantage of LIFE Act Adjustment of Status? The Original Filing Requirements for LIFE Act Adjustment of Status and Grandfathering. LIFE Act Adjustment of Status in Proceedings. Advice for LIFE Act Adjustment of Status

Refugee Numbers for Fiscal Year 2016

Section 207 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) gives the President the authority to allocate a limited number of refugee numbers for each fiscal year (subject to consultation with Congress and certain other concerns). This effectively sets the limits for how many refugees...

Update: DHS Proposes New Rule to Extend STEM OPT Program

In a blog two months ago, I discussed a district court decision titled Washington Alliance of Technology Workers v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, wherein the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) rules extending occupational practical training (OPT) for certain STEM students..

An Important Decision for the Attorney-Client Relationship

I would like to share with you an important decision rendered by Judge Harry Leinenweber of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on August 31, 2015.

Special Rule Cancellation of Removal or Suspension of Deportation for ABC Class Members and Certain Eastern Europeans

The American Baptist Churches v. Thornburgh (ABC) Settlement Agreement was a class action settlement between a class of Guatemalan and Salvadoran nationals and the United States government rendered in American Baptist Churches v. Thornburgh, 760 F. Supp. 796 (N.D. Cal. 1991) on January 31, 1991.

Bars to Asylum Application

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) established three bars to applying for asylum. The three bars, found in section 208(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) are: Safe Third Country Bar, Time Limit, Previous Asylum Applications.

Enhanced H1B Portability

The American Competitiveness in the Twenty First Century Act of 2000 (AC21) introduced the concept of “enhanced H1B portability.” Prior to the enactment into law of AC21, H1B Visas were portable from one employer to another. However, an H1B Visa-holder was not permitted to begin employment...

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