Managing Attorney of Williams Global Law, Simone Williams, appeared as a special guest on ABC Channel 7's program “Diplomacy and Business with Ambassador Audrey Marks” on March 22, 2020. In a special edition dedicated to Women's History Month, Ms. Williams discussed her journey as an attorney entrepreneur, the prevalent immigration issues affecting our nation and the United States, immigration investment and business immigration options for foreign entrepreneurs and businesses. Watch the show on the Williams Global Law Youtube channel! For Part 1 click here. For Part 2 click here.
The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the disease COVID-19, is a pandemic threatening populations worldwide. The following are a few highlights of new immigration-related developments in the short term: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended its suspension of routine in-person services until at least May 3, 2020. USCIS staff will continue to perform duties that do not involve contact with the public. The agency said it will provide emergency services in limited situations. To schedule an emergency appointment, contact the USCIS Contact Center. All US Consulates and Embassies have essentially shut down until further notice. Both non-immigrant and immigrant v
The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting the legal immigration system of countries around the world. Since government offices are closed, services such as in-person interviews and biometric appointments will be delayed. This means that decisions made by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and other immigration agencies will be on hold. Maintenance of status is another complication. Many workers and business visitors are finding that their nonimmigrant visas can’t be extended. This means that works must be terminated from employment. If they are out of status or unlawfully present, they’ll violate immigration laws. Business visitors have to file extensions for an additional 30-days
On March 27, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it has reached the congressionally mandated cap of 65,000 H-1B visas for FY 2021. USCIS plans to notify petitioners with selected registrations by March 31, 2020, that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary. USCIS said registrants’ online accounts will now show one of the following statuses for each registration (that is, for each beneficiary registered): “Submitted”, “Selected”; or “Denied”. Only petitioners with selected registrations may file H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY 2021, and only for the beneficiary in the applicable selected registration notice. However, be
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its historical processing time chart and there’s some great news: I-526 processing plummeted from an average time of 19.8 months in FY 2019 to just 12.6 months so far in FY 2020 (Oct. 1 to Jan. 31). Therefore, EB-5 experts see “positive signs” with I-526 processing since COVID-19 started.
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is adopting a measure to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs) dated between March 1 and May 1, 2020. For applicants and petitioners who receive an RFE or NOID dated between March 1 and May 1, 2020, any responses submitted within 60 calendar days after the response deadline set forth in the RFE or NOID will be considered by USCIS before any action is taken.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”)announced that beginning February 1, 2020, Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, will only be processed domestically by USCIS or internationally by the Department of State (“DOS”) in specific circumstances. Going forward, the DOS will assume responsibility for services provided at USCIS international offices. Eligible active duty service members assigned overseas will file their Forms I-130 locally with DOS. The DOS already provides these services in countries where USCIS does not have a presence. Generally, DOS will process Form I-130 locally if the petition falls under blanket authorization criteria, as defined by USCIS: Temporary b
