Blog — Nadia Yakoob & Associates

June 2021 Visa Bulletin Released

The Department of State (DOS) has issued its June 2021 Visa Bulletin. Priority dates for both employment-based and family-based petitions are detailed below.

Nadia YakoobMay 24, 2021

USCIS Suspends Biometrics Requirement for Certain Form I-539 Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will no longer require biometrics to be completed by accompanying dependents seeking to change or extend their status in E-1D, E-2D, E-3D, H-4 or L-2 status effective May 17, 2021.

Nadia YakoobMay 13, 2021

USCIS Revives its Program for International Entrepreneurs

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will resume its International Entrepreneur Parole Program (“IEPP”), which will allow certain international entrepreneurs temporary stay in the U.S. so that they may start or scale their businesses here.

Nadia YakoobMay 12, 2021

Restriction on travelers from India will take effect on May 4, 2021; US land borders will remain closed until May 21, 2021.

In response to surging COVID-19 cases in India, President Biden issued a proclamation this afternoon (April 30), banning travelers into the United States from India effective May 4, 2021 at 12:01 AM EST. Travelers on flights en route to the US from India that departed before 12:01 AM on May 4, 2021, will not be subject to the restriction.

The growing cases of COVID-19 abroad has also resulted in Customs and Border Protection (CBP) extending the prohibition on “non-essential travel” at its land borders with both Canada and Mexico for an additional 30 days through May 21, 2021.

Nadia YakoobApril 30, 2021

USCIS Resumes Deference to Prior Approvals for Extension Petitions

USCIS has just released guidance that the agency will resume its previous practice of adjudicating extension petitions with deference to the initial approval where the parties and facts are the same. This is welcome news as processing times for extension petitions have grown dramatically over the last few years from a couple of months to six to ten months.

Nadia YakoobApril 29, 2021

May 2021 Visa Bulletin Released

The Department of State (DOS) has issued its May 2021 Visa Bulletin. Both employment-based and family-based priority dates are detailed below.

Nadia YakoobApril 21, 2021

DHS Extends Option for Remote Verification of Form I-9 to May 31, 2021

For employers who continue to operate remotely, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) has once again extended the ability of employers to remotely verify a new employee’s identify and employment authorization documents for Form I-9 purposes through May 31, 2021.

Nadia YakoobApril 6, 2021

U.S. Land Borders Remain Closed to Non-Essential Travel

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will continue to limit “non-essential travel” at its land borders with both Canada and Mexico for an additional 30 days through April 21, 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nadia YakoobMarch 26, 2021

DOL Further Delays Changes to Prevailing Wage Calculations

The Department of Labor is postponing changes to the way it will calculate prevailing wages for the H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and PERM by an additional 18 months. This new proposal would delay the effective and transition dates by an additional 18 months until November 14, 2022 and January 1, 2023, respectively.

Nadia YakoobMarch 25, 2021

April 2021 Visa Bulletin Released

The Department of State (DOS) has issued its April 2021 Visa Bulletin. Both employment-based and family-based priority dates are detailed below.

Nadia YakoobMarch 23, 2021