USCIS Extends Closure of Local Offices; Announces Appointment Cancellations and Reschedulings
What appointment cancellations due to USCIS office closure will be automatically rescheduled? On April 1, 2020, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the current closure of all local offices will be extended at least through the end of May 3rd, unless the closure is extended further. The closure affects all in-person activities including - Read More
When Will H1-B Petitions Get Receipt Notices, Be Processed, and Notifications Made?
On April 13, 2020, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced delays in entering data and generating receipt notices for FY 2021 Cap-subject H-1B petitions until “at least” May 1, 2020. Due to delayed data entry and notice generation, there will be a general delay in processing FY 2021 cap-subject petitions. USCIS advises it is, “mindful of petitions with sensitive expiration and start dates, such as cap-gap petitions, and will strive to process these petitions as efficiently as possible.” - Read More
What Should You Do if Your Visa Status is Expiring, and You Can’t Leave the US?
The COVID-19 crisis and the associated suspension of many international flights are impacting many people in the US under a variety of visas which require that a person leave the US by a certain date. The steps to take to seek to extend a period of stay vary according to the type of status held, - Read More
Surge in Unemployment Filings Raises Potential Document Conflicts
Learn about the notices being sent to some employers by the WA Employment Security Department (ESD) that potentially raise questions about possible conflicts in employment authorization documents. - Read More
Temporary Suspension of In-Person Inspection of I-9 New Employee Documentation Announced By DHS
Learn about the new I-9 Compliance Procedures for new employees during the COVID-19 crisis, and what actions your company must take. - Read More
2021 Diversity Visa Lottery REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
U.S. State Department announces registration period open for the 2021 Diversity Visa Lottery Program. Learn about the visa lottery, and whether you may qualify. - Read More
Barbara Marcouiller Invited to Speak to National Conference of Immigration Lawyers
On June 19, 2019 Barbara Marcouiller addressed a couple hundred immigration lawyers at the national conference of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). AILA is the American Bar Association-recognized immigration bar. - Read More
New Interview Locations for Many Suburban Seattle Naturalization Applicants
Beginning at the end of June 2019 USCIS District 20 began moving naturalization interviews from the Seattle field office to other offices in the district including specifically Yakima, WA and Portland, OR. Learn about the effects of these changes. - Read More
The Invisible Wall: New Barriers to Legal Immigration in 2018
While the media focuses on the proposed wall, critical new policies are taking effect that substantially affect the procedures for applicants seeking legal immigration. Learn about these substantive changes. - Read More
New Immigration Rules for Students: Unlawful Presence & Re-Admission into the US
USCIS has announced harsh new rules for students and exchange visitors taking effect on August 9, 2018. Learn about these rules, and how they affect leave and re-entry into the US. - Read More