Palmer Polaski Blog

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 […]

On October 16, 2023, the United States reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit filed in 2018 on behalf of parents and children separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. Under the proposed court settlement, the federal government would be barred for eight years from implementing “zero tolerance” immigration policies which previously separated thousands of parents […]

DOS announced a pilot program to permit stateside visa renewal for qualified H-1B nonimmigrant visa applicants who meet certain requirements.   For starters, the H-1B visa must have previously been issued at a consular office in Canada or India during specific periods.  The pilot program also lasts only for a very specific, finite period:  1/29/24 to […]

The following is a summary of an article by Bailey Berg at AFAR.com, published on November 2nd, 2023. For those planning international travel and in need of a new passport or renewal, it is advisable to apply well in advance due to the current wait times of eight to 11 weeks for U.S. passports. The […]