Seattle Immigration Blog

• Update on USCIS Biometrics Appointments

  As you may know, one of the many obstacles we are experiencing is the extreme delay in obtaining biometrics appointments. Some applicants have even received approval notices of employment authorization cards but not received the card itself, because the government still needs to do the biometrics check. I want to share with you the latest

  Read More >>

• New Executive Order August 3, 2020 – Hiring Practices of Employers with Federal Contracts or Sub-Contracts Under Scrutiny

  The president orders executive department and agency review of the use of foreign workers to perform certain government contracts in 2018 and 2019 to determine whether opportunities for US workers were affected. Learn more about this order.

  Read More >>

• Read about the proclamation, which not only suspends US entry for certain non-immigrants, it also rescinds employment authorization for many already in the US.

  Read More >>

• USCIS to Reopen Some Local Offices on June 4, 2020

  The Seattle (Tukwila) USCIS office will open on June 4 for limited purposes (including interviews and naturalization); while other USCIS local offices may remain closed. Learn more.

  Read More >>

• USCIS Extends the Closure of Local Offices to June 4th

  USCIS extends office closures through June 4th. Learn about what appointments have been cancelled, and how they will be rescheduled.

  Read More >>

• Validity of Washington Driver’s License as Federally-Accepted ID Extended for One Year

  On April 27, 2020, the final rule was published delaying enforcement of the REAL ID Act’s prohibition on ID’s that do not contain certain information being accepted on the federal level.  Read about the new applicable date for REAL ID-compliant cards.

  Read More >>

• Executive Order Suspending Immigration: Who is Affected and Who is Not

  The President recently issued an Executive Order limiting the issuance of immigrant visas at U.S. consulates abroad. Learn about the scope of the Order, and who will (and who will not) be affected.

  Read More >>

• New USCIS Policy Allows Certain Electronically Copied Signatures During the COVID-19 Distancing Measures

  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on March 20, 2020, a temporary new policy to accept all applications or petitions for immigration status or documents that contain scanned or “electronically reproduced” original signatures, including the Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker.  The temporary change affects petitions or applications for submissions dated March 21, 2020 or later.

  Read More >>

• USCIS Announces Changes in Deadlines to Respond to RFEs and Other USCIS Notices and to File an Appeal

  Changes in deadlines to respond to RFE’s, other USCIS notices, and to file an appeal. US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced flexibility in submitting required responses to notices that apply to applicants and petitioners who are responding to certain Requests for Evidence (RFE), Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID),  certain Notices of Intent to

  Read More >>

• USCIS Announces that Some Biometrics May Be Reused to Avoid Processing Delays

  On March 30, 2020, USCIS announced that it will reuse biometrics data that was previously collected prior to the March 18th closure in order to avoid delays. Learn about these changes.

  Read More >>