Immigration

On July 13, 2018, USCIS issued a policy memorandum, providing guidance to adjudicators regarding the discretion to deny an application, petition, or other benefit request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) if required evidence is not submitted with the initial petition/application package, or if the evidence in the record does not establish eligibility for the benefit sought. This guidance is effective September 11, 2018.This policy memo [...]

On May 10, 2018, USCIS issued a Policy Memorandum offering new guidance to immigration officers on the calculation of unlawful presence for those in student (F nonimmigrant), exchange visitor (J nonimmigrant), or vocational student (M nonimmigrant) status and their dependents, admitted for “duration of status” or until a specific date.Under prior USCIS policy, foreign students and exchange visitors who were admitted for, or present in the United States in, duration of status (D/S) [...]