Palmer Polaski Blog

On March 22, 2024, DHS extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma for 18 months, through November 25, 2025. Burmese TPS holders need to file TPS re-registration applications between March 25, 2024, and May 24, 2024. Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) are automatically extended for Burmese TPS beneficiaries through May 25, 2025. DHS also redesignated TPS […]

On January 26, 2024, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the extension and redesignation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from April 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Syria that prevent individuals from safely returning.  

On February 14, 2024, President Biden issued an executive order authorizing Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and employment authorization for 18 months for eligible Palestinians. USCIS will issue a Federal Register notice as soon as possible to provide additional information about implementation of the President’s memorandum.

USCIS is [updated] its government filing fees on April 1, 2024, in large part increasing the filing fees for most immigration petitions. USCIS’s significant changes to fees are in response to inflation adjustment and allegedly to provide increased service. The agency last updated its filing fees in 2016. Nevertheless, on March 19, 2024, a new […]

A recent U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report reveals that refugees and asylees have significantly contributed to the U.S. economy, generating tens of billions of dollars more in tax revenues than they have cost in government services over the past 15 years, leading to a net fiscal gain. Between 2005 and 2019, they […]

USCIS filing fees for most petitions and applications are increasing effective April 1, 2024. In a final rule just issued, USCIS advises that any benefit request postmarked on or after April 1 must be accompanied with the new fees. This is the first increase in fees since December 2016. The following are some of the […]

Recently,  DHS announced a Family Reunification Parole Process for Ecuador. This parole process applies to certain Ecuadorian nationals who are beneficiaries of an approved I-130 petition. To apply for this process, the petitioner of an approved I-130 must first receive an invitation from the Department of State. The petitioner can then file an application to […]

Alien smuggling is a ground of inadmissibility that is often overlooked when applying for admission, seeking adjustment of status, or applying for a provisional waiver. U.S. immigration law (INA §212(a)(6)(E)) states “[a]ny alien who at any time knowingly has encouraged, induced, assisted, abetted, or aided any other alien to enter or to try to enter […]

On October 16, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued new instructions for asylum applications submitted after court dismissal or termination of an applicant’s removal proceedings. If a respondent’s removal proceedings are dismissed or terminated and they choose to apply (or re-apply) for asylum with USCIS, they must file a new paper Form I-589, […]

On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order (EO) addressing the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The order signals that the administration understands the inevitability of AI and is committed to fostering a safe and productive industry. As part of the Executive Order, the President addressed the […]