Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record f you’re applying for a green card in the United States, you have to submit Form I-693, which is a medical exam and vaccination record completed by a specific doctor. This form shows that you’re eligible to enter the United States based on health reasons. If [...]

DOS Stateside Visa Renewal Pilot Begins January 29, 2024 On December 20, 2024, the Department of State (DOS) announced that the greatly anticipated stateside visa renewal pilot will begin on January 29, 2024, and end on April 1, 2024. This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact us via [...]

H-2 Non-Immigrant Visa Changes The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State (DOS), has made several changes to the H-2 program that occurred on November 9th and November 17th. November 9th Changes A key change that occurred on Nov. 9, 2023, was the decision to add add Bolivia to the list [...]

Why Hasn’t My Case Been Decided Yet? Nationwide, you and millions of families, businesses, and individuals applying for immigration benefits are waiting longer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to process and approve applications and petitions. Based on previously available USCIS data, in Fiscal Year (FY)2017, an average case took about 6.4 months to [...]

U.S. Pathways to Residency The U.S. provides several pathways for permanent immigration. New permanent immigrants receive a “green card” and become lawful permanent residents (LPRs). Once they meet residency requirements, they are able to become naturalized U.S. citizens. Below are some examples of pathways to residency in the U.S. Admitting Relatives The U.S. reunites families and [...]

USCIS Updated Eligibility Criteria for Compelling Circumstances Employment Authorization Document On June 14, 2023, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released detailed guidance regarding the eligibility criteria for the Compelling Circumstances Employment Authorization Document (EAD) application. The new guidance delineates seven eligibility criteria applicants must meet to qualify for the Compelling Circumstances EAD, and provides specific [...]

  USCIS Launches Online Appointment Request Form Release Date : 08/21/2023 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched a new online form for individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request an in-person appointment at their local field office without having to call the USCIS Contact Center. This online appointment request form allows individuals or [...]