The Compass Immigration News to help Employers, Families and Individuals navigate the legal system to successfully achieve their immigration goals.
USCIS Increases Green Card Validity Extension Period
Effective Sept. 26, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is automatically extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) to 24 months for lawful permanent residents who file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. Lawful permanent residents who properly file Form I-90 to renew an expiring or expired Green […]
News from DHS About Asylum Cases
The Department of Homeland Security has released new I-765 and I-589 forms which are very important for asylum and work authorization through asylum. You will be required to use the updated forms starting Nov. 7, 2022, and any old forms after that date will not be accepted. What Are Forms I-589 and I-765? Forms I-589 […]
The US State Department and AILA Announce Changes to Nonimmigrant Visa Applications
Once form DS-160 has been submitted to the US State Department, it cannot be “reopened†to make changes. However, both the US Dept. of State and AILA have announced ways in which changes can still be made to applications before they get to an Officer at the US Consulate: For either option, if the original […]
The USCIS Has Now Reached FY2023 H-1B Cap
USCIS announced it has received sufficient petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for FY2023. However, USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are exempt from the cap. See more details in the PDF below: […]
“Dual Representation” in U.S. Employment-Based Immigration Law
An immigration attorney who files employment-based immigration cases represents both the petitioning employer and the employee beneficiary. This concept is known as “dual representation.†This dual representation implicates two fundamental principles in the attorney-client privilege: Loyalty: Attorneys have a duty of loyalty to their clients, and when an attorney represents multiple clients in the same […]
The Supreme Court “Stays” the Prosecutorial Discretion of the Immigration Service
Believe it or not, the Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency (ICE) will occasionally consider using its discretion to help a person or family in very rare situations. One of the best examples of this, and one we have used dozens of times since 1978, involves a family (it is almost always a family) which is […]
United for Ukraine
President Biden Announces United for Ukraine program, Expanding Opportunities for Ukrainian Citizens to Come to the United States. Provided by: Alexander Farquhar David Swaim Tidwell, Swaim & Farquhar, P.C.
Secretary Mayorkas Designates Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status
and Security (DHS) today announced the designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Only individuals who are already residing in the United States as of March 15, 2022, will be eligible for TPS.
Did The National Interest Waiver Just Get Easier?
Last week we provided an article on updates to the adjudication of NIW cases. Today we highlight how this new guidance will help investors who apply for NIW petitions. It is important that investors that employ US workers appear to have an advantage now in these cases. The below paragraphs are from the article “Did […]