📢 Important Update from USCIS! 🌍
Starting 🗓 Sept. 13, 2023, all affirmative asylum applicants must bring their own interpreter to the asylum interview if:
1️⃣ They aren't fluent in English 🗣
2️⃣ They prefer their interview in another language 🌐
🚫 If you don't bring a competent interpreter, without a valid reason (determined case-by-case), your asylum application might be dismissed or referred to an immigration judge.
Interpreter Requirements ✅:
- Fluent in both English and your language 🔄
- 18 years or older 🎂
- NOT:
- Your attorney or representative 🚫👩⚖️
- A witness on your behalf 🚫👤
- A representative/employee from your native country's government 🚫🌍
- Someone with a pending asylum application yet to be interviewed 🚫📑
🔙 Background:
Since Sept. 23, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic 🦠, asylum seekers were required to use USCIS's telephonic interpreters. This measure was extended four times to combat the spread of the virus. The final extension lasts until Sept. 12, 2023. Post this date, we are reverting to the original rule as per 8 CFR 208.9(g) 📜.
Stay informed, and ensure your rights are protected! 🛡
#USCISUpdate #AsylumApplicants #InterpreterRule #ImmigrationNews #StayInformed 🇺🇸
Starting 🗓 Sept. 13, 2023, all affirmative asylum applicants must bring their own interpreter to the asylum interview if:
1️⃣ They aren't fluent in English 🗣
2️⃣ They prefer their interview in another language 🌐
🚫 If you don't bring a competent interpreter, without a valid reason (determined case-by-case), your asylum application might be dismissed or referred to an immigration judge.
Interpreter Requirements ✅:
- Fluent in both English and your language 🔄
- 18 years or older 🎂
- NOT:
- Your attorney or representative 🚫👩⚖️
- A witness on your behalf 🚫👤
- A representative/employee from your native country's government 🚫🌍
- Someone with a pending asylum application yet to be interviewed 🚫📑
🔙 Background:
Since Sept. 23, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic 🦠, asylum seekers were required to use USCIS's telephonic interpreters. This measure was extended four times to combat the spread of the virus. The final extension lasts until Sept. 12, 2023. Post this date, we are reverting to the original rule as per 8 CFR 208.9(g) 📜.
Stay informed, and ensure your rights are protected! 🛡
#USCISUpdate #AsylumApplicants #InterpreterRule #ImmigrationNews #StayInformed 🇺🇸
📣 USCIS News: October 2023 Visa Bulletin Update 📅
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has shared crucial updates on the October 2023 Visa Bulletin. Here's a summary:
🔍 What's Changing?
- Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024) is here, allowing the Department of State (DOS) to allocate employment-based visa numbers from the estimated 165,000 limit.
- Good news: We're witnessing a recovery from the retrogressions of FY 2023 in all categories!
- Every Final Action Date in the Visa Bulletin has advanced or remained the same compared to September 2023.
🗓️ What's Next?
- On October 1, 2023, USCIS and DOS will begin processing applications filed by noncitizens for whom visas have become available.
💡 What This Means:
- More opportunities for employment-based immigration.
- Faster processing and progress in visa availability.
Stay updated and keep an eye on your visa category for potential advancements! 🌐✈️ #VisaBulletin #USCIS #ImmigrationNews #VisaUpdates 🇺🇸🗺️
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has shared crucial updates on the October 2023 Visa Bulletin. Here's a summary:
🔍 What's Changing?
- Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024) is here, allowing the Department of State (DOS) to allocate employment-based visa numbers from the estimated 165,000 limit.
- Good news: We're witnessing a recovery from the retrogressions of FY 2023 in all categories!
- Every Final Action Date in the Visa Bulletin has advanced or remained the same compared to September 2023.
🗓️ What's Next?
- On October 1, 2023, USCIS and DOS will begin processing applications filed by noncitizens for whom visas have become available.
💡 What This Means:
- More opportunities for employment-based immigration.
- Faster processing and progress in visa availability.
Stay updated and keep an eye on your visa category for potential advancements! 🌐✈️ #VisaBulletin #USCIS #ImmigrationNews #VisaUpdates 🇺🇸🗺️
📢 Major USCIS Policy Update on Employment Authorization Documents!🌐
USCIS has updated its policies, now granting a maximum validity period of 5 years 📆 for both initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) 📜 to certain noncitizens, notably including those awaiting adjustment of status under INA 245 (category c)(9) EADs, such as employment-based green card seekers (EB-1/EB-2/NIW/EB-3/EB-4/EB-5)
🔗 [Read Full Policy Update](https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20230927-EmploymentAuthorizationValidity.pdf)
🌟 Highlights:
1. Extended Validity: Now up to 5 years for certain applicants 🌟.
2. Inclusive Categories: Refugees, asylum seekers, those admitted or paroled as refugees, and those seeking employment-based green cards under category c)(9) EAD 🤝.
3. Aim of the Policy: To alleviate the number of renewal forms, and reduce processing times and backlogs 🕒.
4. Employment Authorization: Continuation remains dependent on underlying status and circumstances 📝.
Stay abreast of the latest developments and ensure compliance! 🌐
#USCIS #EAD #PolicyUpdate #EmploymentAuthorization #GlobalMobility #ImmigrationNews #AdjustmentofStatus #EmploymentBasedGreenCard
USCIS has updated its policies, now granting a maximum validity period of 5 years 📆 for both initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) 📜 to certain noncitizens, notably including those awaiting adjustment of status under INA 245 (category c)(9) EADs, such as employment-based green card seekers (EB-1/EB-2/NIW/EB-3/EB-4/EB-5)
🔗 [Read Full Policy Update](https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20230927-EmploymentAuthorizationValidity.pdf)
🌟 Highlights:
1. Extended Validity: Now up to 5 years for certain applicants 🌟.
2. Inclusive Categories: Refugees, asylum seekers, those admitted or paroled as refugees, and those seeking employment-based green cards under category c)(9) EAD 🤝.
3. Aim of the Policy: To alleviate the number of renewal forms, and reduce processing times and backlogs 🕒.
4. Employment Authorization: Continuation remains dependent on underlying status and circumstances 📝.
Stay abreast of the latest developments and ensure compliance! 🌐
#USCIS #EAD #PolicyUpdate #EmploymentAuthorization #GlobalMobility #ImmigrationNews #AdjustmentofStatus #EmploymentBasedGreenCard
🌎 Understanding the Updated J-1 Visa Policy: A Comprehensive Look 🌎
The recent announcement by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) concerning the J-1 nonimmigrant exchange visitor classification has made waves in the global mobility and immigration communities. Here's a deep dive into the implications of the updated guidance and what it means for prospective J-1 visa holders:
1. Clarity and Precision 🧐: The updates seek to bring clarity, particularly regarding the 2-year foreign residence requirement. The guidance elucidates how the USCIS determines if this requirement has been met and underlines the types of evidence that a benefit requestor can submit. This clear-cut approach is a welcome change for many seeking to navigate the often-complex visa process.
2. A Nod to Real-world Challenges 🌪: Recognizing that there might be circumstances where it is virtually impossible for a visa holder to meet the 2-year foreign residence stipulation, the USCIS has set the stage for case-by-case considerations. In such scenarios, collaboration with the Department of State will be pivotal, ensuring a holistic approach to individual cases.
3. Correcting Oversights 🚑: The update also addresses a previous oversight regarding the grounds for waivers of the foreign residence requirement for foreign medical graduates. The inclusion of this ground and the clarification on employment requirements show the USCIS's commitment to refining and perfecting its policy content.
4. The Countdown Begins ⏳: While a travel day, even if just a fraction, will now count towards the 2-year foreign residence requirement, it's pivotal for J-1 visa holders to meticulously document their stays to ensure compliance.
5. For the Family 👨👩👧: Updates have also touched upon the family members of a J-1 exchange visitor, highlighting the USCIS's comprehensive approach to this classification.
While the J-1 visa classification serves as a bridge for knowledge exchange and global mobility, the updated policy guidance ensures that the bridge is robust, clear, and inclusive. As the global community becomes more interconnected, such updates reflect the evolving needs of international exchange and cooperation.
#USCISUpdate
#J1Visa
#GlobalMobility #ImmigrationInsights #PolicyAnalysis #ExchangeVisitors #VisaUpdates #GlobalExchange
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20231024-ForeignResidenceRequirement.pdf
The recent announcement by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) concerning the J-1 nonimmigrant exchange visitor classification has made waves in the global mobility and immigration communities. Here's a deep dive into the implications of the updated guidance and what it means for prospective J-1 visa holders:
1. Clarity and Precision 🧐: The updates seek to bring clarity, particularly regarding the 2-year foreign residence requirement. The guidance elucidates how the USCIS determines if this requirement has been met and underlines the types of evidence that a benefit requestor can submit. This clear-cut approach is a welcome change for many seeking to navigate the often-complex visa process.
2. A Nod to Real-world Challenges 🌪: Recognizing that there might be circumstances where it is virtually impossible for a visa holder to meet the 2-year foreign residence stipulation, the USCIS has set the stage for case-by-case considerations. In such scenarios, collaboration with the Department of State will be pivotal, ensuring a holistic approach to individual cases.
3. Correcting Oversights 🚑: The update also addresses a previous oversight regarding the grounds for waivers of the foreign residence requirement for foreign medical graduates. The inclusion of this ground and the clarification on employment requirements show the USCIS's commitment to refining and perfecting its policy content.
4. The Countdown Begins ⏳: While a travel day, even if just a fraction, will now count towards the 2-year foreign residence requirement, it's pivotal for J-1 visa holders to meticulously document their stays to ensure compliance.
5. For the Family 👨👩👧: Updates have also touched upon the family members of a J-1 exchange visitor, highlighting the USCIS's comprehensive approach to this classification.
While the J-1 visa classification serves as a bridge for knowledge exchange and global mobility, the updated policy guidance ensures that the bridge is robust, clear, and inclusive. As the global community becomes more interconnected, such updates reflect the evolving needs of international exchange and cooperation.
#USCISUpdate
#J1Visa
#GlobalMobility #ImmigrationInsights #PolicyAnalysis #ExchangeVisitors #VisaUpdates #GlobalExchange
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20231024-ForeignResidenceRequirement.pdf
Navigating Visa Denials: Empowering Applicants Against Consular Overreach
Introduction:
The labyrinth of immigration law often presents daunting challenges, notably when applicants confront visa denials that hint at consular overreach. Some recent cases involving EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) applicants in consular interviews before the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro, crystallizes the necessity for vigilance and empowered action in the face of such adversity. This post seeks to shed light on the recourse available to individuals in comparable predicaments, aiming to demystify the process and arm them with knowledge. 🌟 #ImmigrationLaw #VisaDenial
Understanding Your Case:
An EB-2 NIW petition whose I-140 eligibility has been approved by USCIS is unjustly denied during the consular immigrant visa interview, and such decisions are marred by a conflation of licensing requirements, an improper reassessment of the beneficiary's credentials, an unwarranted English proficiency demand, and a misapplication of criteria pertinent to healthcare professionals. Each misstep signifies a deviation from established legal precedents and State Department guidelines. #LegalPrecedents #MatterOfDhanasar
Combatting Misapplication of Licensing Requirements:
Under the INA, professional licensing is not a prerequisite for NIW applicants, which was overlooked in this case. To counter such misapplications, applicants are encouraged to:
1. Present Precedents: The Matter of Dhanasar (AAO Dec. 27, 2016), which underscores that an NIW does not hinge on professional licensing.
2. Highlight Qualifications: Underscore the applicant's potential contributions and how they align with the U.S. national interest.
3. Request Reconsideration: We recommend to address a very persuasive letter to the Visa Chief, referencing applicable sections of the INA and AAO decisions, to elucidate the errors made. 📝 #VisaGuidance #ImmigrationTips
Addressing Erroneous Reassessment of Petitions:
The FAM (Foreign affairs manual) stipulates that a petition's approval by USCIS / DHS is prima facie evidence of eligibility, restricting consular officers from reassessing its merits (9 FAM 502.1-1(C)). Applicants should:
1. Refer to FAM: Invoke the relevant FAM provisions that delineate the consular officer's role in authenticating the veracity of information presented.
2. Affirm the Petition's Credibility: Present additional evidence validating the integrity of the petition.
3. Assert Due Process Rights: Invoke due process protections, as outlined in the FAM, to uphold the applicant's rights. 🛡 #DueProcess #VisaApproval
Challenging the English Proficiency Requirement:
The imposition of an English proficiency requirement where none exists legally is contestable by:
1. Demonstrating Policy: Emphasize that the U.S. does not designate an official language and the INA omits language prerequisites for NIW applicants.
2. Legal Recourse: Explore challenging such impositions under the Administrative Procedure Act as capricious or arbitrary decision-making. 🗣 #LanguageBarrier #ImmigrationLaws
Correcting Misapplication Specific to Healthcare Professionals:
Applicants need to distinguish the criteria for entrepreneurs from those applicable to healthcare professionals, ensuring that each is evaluated under the correct legal framework:
1.Clarify Visa Categories: Elucidate the discrete standards for entrepreneurs, which are free from healthcare licensing or VisaScreen certificate requirements.
2. Document Submission: Provide comprehensive documentation that substantiates the entrepreneurial nature of the undertaking, distinct from healthcare service delivery. 👨💼 #EntrepreneurNIW #HealthcareProfessionals
Introduction:
The labyrinth of immigration law often presents daunting challenges, notably when applicants confront visa denials that hint at consular overreach. Some recent cases involving EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) applicants in consular interviews before the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro, crystallizes the necessity for vigilance and empowered action in the face of such adversity. This post seeks to shed light on the recourse available to individuals in comparable predicaments, aiming to demystify the process and arm them with knowledge. 🌟 #ImmigrationLaw #VisaDenial
Understanding Your Case:
An EB-2 NIW petition whose I-140 eligibility has been approved by USCIS is unjustly denied during the consular immigrant visa interview, and such decisions are marred by a conflation of licensing requirements, an improper reassessment of the beneficiary's credentials, an unwarranted English proficiency demand, and a misapplication of criteria pertinent to healthcare professionals. Each misstep signifies a deviation from established legal precedents and State Department guidelines. #LegalPrecedents #MatterOfDhanasar
Combatting Misapplication of Licensing Requirements:
Under the INA, professional licensing is not a prerequisite for NIW applicants, which was overlooked in this case. To counter such misapplications, applicants are encouraged to:
1. Present Precedents: The Matter of Dhanasar (AAO Dec. 27, 2016), which underscores that an NIW does not hinge on professional licensing.
2. Highlight Qualifications: Underscore the applicant's potential contributions and how they align with the U.S. national interest.
3. Request Reconsideration: We recommend to address a very persuasive letter to the Visa Chief, referencing applicable sections of the INA and AAO decisions, to elucidate the errors made. 📝 #VisaGuidance #ImmigrationTips
Addressing Erroneous Reassessment of Petitions:
The FAM (Foreign affairs manual) stipulates that a petition's approval by USCIS / DHS is prima facie evidence of eligibility, restricting consular officers from reassessing its merits (9 FAM 502.1-1(C)). Applicants should:
1. Refer to FAM: Invoke the relevant FAM provisions that delineate the consular officer's role in authenticating the veracity of information presented.
2. Affirm the Petition's Credibility: Present additional evidence validating the integrity of the petition.
3. Assert Due Process Rights: Invoke due process protections, as outlined in the FAM, to uphold the applicant's rights. 🛡 #DueProcess #VisaApproval
Challenging the English Proficiency Requirement:
The imposition of an English proficiency requirement where none exists legally is contestable by:
1. Demonstrating Policy: Emphasize that the U.S. does not designate an official language and the INA omits language prerequisites for NIW applicants.
2. Legal Recourse: Explore challenging such impositions under the Administrative Procedure Act as capricious or arbitrary decision-making. 🗣 #LanguageBarrier #ImmigrationLaws
Correcting Misapplication Specific to Healthcare Professionals:
Applicants need to distinguish the criteria for entrepreneurs from those applicable to healthcare professionals, ensuring that each is evaluated under the correct legal framework:
1.Clarify Visa Categories: Elucidate the discrete standards for entrepreneurs, which are free from healthcare licensing or VisaScreen certificate requirements.
2. Document Submission: Provide comprehensive documentation that substantiates the entrepreneurial nature of the undertaking, distinct from healthcare service delivery. 👨💼 #EntrepreneurNIW #HealthcareProfessionals
LAST THOUGHTS:
Consular overreach represents a formidable obstacle in visa acquisition. Nonetheless, with accurate knowledge and a calculated approach, applicants can effectively challenge and surmount such impediments. Grasping the legal framework, presenting a thoroughly documented case, and seeking expert legal advice when necessary are pivotal steps to ensure the triumph of justice.
With the right information and strategic approach, underpinned by the tenets of the Presidential Executive Order aimed at refining the immigration landscape, applicants can address and overturn such challenges. A thorough understanding of the legal framework, coupled with a robustly documented case and, if necessary, expert legal counsel, can pivot the scales toward justice.
As we stand in solidarity with those navigating this intricate journey, it becomes imperative to disseminate knowledge and empower one another.
At @HAYMANWOODWARD we are ready to take over your case for a nominal fee of $3500 if you have been denied or placed under administrative processing for this reasons above. We have successfully overturned ALL cases under these circumstances and got our clients' immigrant visas issued.
Share your stories and guidance using hashtags #VisaSuccess and #FightForJustice. In unity, we can form a bulwark against unwarranted legal hurdles. ✊
Consular overreach represents a formidable obstacle in visa acquisition. Nonetheless, with accurate knowledge and a calculated approach, applicants can effectively challenge and surmount such impediments. Grasping the legal framework, presenting a thoroughly documented case, and seeking expert legal advice when necessary are pivotal steps to ensure the triumph of justice.
With the right information and strategic approach, underpinned by the tenets of the Presidential Executive Order aimed at refining the immigration landscape, applicants can address and overturn such challenges. A thorough understanding of the legal framework, coupled with a robustly documented case and, if necessary, expert legal counsel, can pivot the scales toward justice.
As we stand in solidarity with those navigating this intricate journey, it becomes imperative to disseminate knowledge and empower one another.
At @HAYMANWOODWARD we are ready to take over your case for a nominal fee of $3500 if you have been denied or placed under administrative processing for this reasons above. We have successfully overturned ALL cases under these circumstances and got our clients' immigrant visas issued.
Share your stories and guidance using hashtags #VisaSuccess and #FightForJustice. In unity, we can form a bulwark against unwarranted legal hurdles. ✊
DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCIS/bulletins/37a010e
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCIS/bulletins/37a010e