Articles Posted in Immigration News

The United Nations has reported that over 11 million Ukrainians have been displaced since the Russian invasion which began on February 24, 2022. The Russia invasion of Ukraine has forced over 4.4 million Ukrainians to cross its border into any neighboring countries which will accept them, also making this the largest displacement of people since World War II. Poland have taken in over 2.5 million Ukrainians, the largest number of any other country. 

For more information review the Forbes News Article, “As 4.4 Million Ukrainian Refugees Flood Europe, U.S. Stalls Pondering Options”. 

 
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Wednesday, March 30th, as part of their credit card payment pilot program, the USCIS service centers are now accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for all their forms. The future goal of this USCIS pilot program is to at some point accept digital payments using credit cards at all their service centers. The program that started at the Nebraska Service Center will expand at that location first before being introduced to other service centers. For more information, please see the USCIS web page Pay with a Credit Card. 

For more details, please read the USCIS news alert, “USCIS Service Center Expands Credit Card Payment Pilot Program to All Forms”! 

 
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List of some of the Top News Stories related to Immigration:

 
The Hill (Thehill.com), 3/24/22:

DHS implements rule to streamline asylum applications 

As of June 4th, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that they will resume public services at their buildings! Not all services and buildings will be available immediately but will open as staffing allows. For more detailed information review the USCIS News Alert, “USCIS Preparing to Resume Public Services on June 4”. For the latest information on the status of offices, check online for individual office closures at the USCIS office closures page.

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USCIS (USCIS.gov), 3/15/22, News Alert:

 This is a video interview that was on ABC 7 WJLA with Allen Orr, President of American Immigration Lawyers Assocation (AILA) about US visa options for Ukrainians! He discusses options for displaced individuals from Ukraine including embassy backlogs, potential for humanitarian parole, use of TPS, and others.

 
YouTube Video: ABC 7 WJLA Interview on Ukraine/ US visa options 

Source of Information:

List of some of the Top News Stories related to Immigration:

US News & World Report (usnews.com), 3/4/22: 

Ukrainians in US Consider Taking Advantage of New Status 

On Friday, February 18th, the USCIS released a news alert urging eligible applicants to switch, if possible, to the employment-based categories! The overall employment-based annual limit for fiscal year 2022 is twice as high as usual numbers, because that limit includes all unused family-sponsored visa numbers from fiscal year 2021. There were approximately 140,000 unused family-sponsored visa numbers added to the new total. 

The News Alert states, “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services encourages eligible applicants to consider requesting to transfer the underlying basis of their adjustment of status application to the first (priority workers) or second (noncitizens in professions with advanced degrees or with exceptional ability) employment-based preference categories, because there is an exceptionally high number of employment-based immigrant visas available in these categories during this fiscal year (October 2021 through September 2022).” 

Review the USCIS News Alert for more information: USCIS Urges Eligible Applicants to Switch Employment-Based Categories! 

On Wednesday, February 9th, the Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Ur M. Jaddou announced in a news release that they had created a new mission statement for the agency. The Director stated, “USCIS is committed to ensuring that the immigration system we administer is accessible and humane. As we look towards the future, my commitment will remain the same – USCIS will continue to serve the public with respect and fairness, and lead with integrity to reflect America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility today and for generations to come.”

The new USCIS mission statement: “USCIS upholds America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve.”

Review the USCIS News Release for more details: USCIS Announces New Agency Mission Statement

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published their semiannual regulatory agenda in the Federal Register. This Addenda summarizes the inventory of rulemaking actions under development. 

 
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

Office of the Secretary