Immigration News
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months.
Registration: The registration period for eligible individuals to submit TPS applications begins April 19, 2022 and will remain in effect through October 19, 2023.
Please contact us for additional information.
Vaccination against COVID-19 is required to the U.S. Immigrant visa applicants.
All U.S. immigrant visa applicant are required to undergo a medical examination. Effective October 1, 2021, as a part of U.S. immigrant visa medical examination, a completed COVID-19 vaccination is required. Although an immigrant visa applicant may request a waiver based on religious or moral convictions, such waiver application needs to be submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS will determine if a waiver is granted, not the medical panel or CDC. If the applicant refuses vaccination that is medically appropriate and available to the applicant, such applicant will be inadmissible to the U.S. More information about COVID-19 vaccination requirement can be found athttps://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/panel-physicians/covid-19-technical-instructions.html.
Controlled Substance-Related Activity and Good Moral Character Determinations guidance in Naturalization.
Number of states have legalized certain control substances, as such U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy guidance clarifying how Federal Controlled Substances Law applies to Naturalization Determinations, specifically, Controlled Substance-Related Activity and Good Moral Character Determinations. On April 19, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued policy guidance clarifying that despite the fact that a number of states have laws that legalize the cultivation, possession, distribution, and use of both medical and non-medical (recreational) marijuana in their respective jurisdictions, federal law classifies marijuana as a “Schedule I” controlled substance whose manufacture, cultivation, possession, or distribution may lead to criminal1 and immigration consequences. As such the policy USCIS clarifies that that violation of federal controlled substance law, including for marijuana, established by a conviction or admission, is generally a bar to establishing Good Moral Character for naturalization even where the conduct would not be a violation of state law. Thus, an applicant who is involved in certain marijuana related activities may lack Good Moral Character if found to have violated federal law, even if such activity is not unlawful under applicable state or foreign laws.
Great News For Israeli Citizens as a Treaty Investment agreement has been signed between the U.S. and Israel. As such eligible Israeli citizens will be able to apply for an E2 visa (Investment Visa).
New Forms can now be filed online.
On January 29, 2019, USCIS announced that that applicants can now complete and file Form N-600, Application for Certificate of Citizenship, and Form N-600K, Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 online. Applicants can file Form N-600 to obtain a Certificate of Citizenship for themselves or their minor children if they:
• Were born abroad and are claiming U.S. citizenship at birth through their parents; or
• Automatically became a U.S. citizen after birth, but before they turned 18 years old.
Applicants can file Form N-600K if they regularly reside in a foreign country and want to claim U.S. citizenship based on their parents. Applicants must secure lawful admission to the U.S. to complete Form N-600K processing. Children of U.S. service members have separate requirements for naturalization under INA Section 322. To file a Form N-600 or N-600K online, an applicant must first create a USCIS online account. Through an online account, the applicant can securely and conveniently: • Complete Form N-600 or N-600K; • Submit accompanying evidence; • Upload passport-style photos; • Pay the filing fee; • Respond to USCIS requests for evidence; • Monitor the status of their application; and • Manage their contact information, including updating their address. USCIS still accepts the latest paper version of Forms N-600 and N-600K. Because military service members do not pay a filing fee when submitting Form N-600 on their own behalf, they cannot currently file this application online.