Kirkland Immigration, Citizenship and Visa Lawyer

Seattle Immigration Blog

• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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.

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• 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

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• 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.

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• 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

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• 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.”

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