In what might be another chink in the armor of the Administrative State, the Supreme Court on April 23rd heard oral argument on the doctrine of “consular nonreviewability” in the context of a U.S. Citizen whose spouse was denied a visa and given a bare bones reason for that denial.  While it’s unclear what the […] The post Supreme Court hears case on Consular Nonreviewability appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more

Watch the Video explanation below on how to read the Immigration Visa Bulletin:   The post How to Read the Immigration Visa Bulletin appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more

In recent years it often takes two years or more to receive a decision on an I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. Given these lengthy delays, many people wonder whether they can apply for citizenship with a pending I-751. Generally, the answer is yes! Most permanent residents must meet several basic requirements to be […] The post Filing for U.S. Citizenship with a Pending I-751 Petition appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more

As of March 2024, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) is reporting a backlog of 326,415 immigrant visa (IV) applicants, worldwide, with documentarily complete cases who are awaiting their IV interview scheduling. The DOS reported a backlog of 374,532 at the end of February 2024, and reports that 48,117 applicants were scheduled for interview appointments […] The post DOS Immigrant Visa Interview Backlog Reporting for March 2024. And Just When Is A Case “Documentarily Complete” and “In Line” for Interview? appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more

With processing times for most applications at U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) often stretching into years, sometimes it is necessary to request expedited processing on a case.  USCIS publishes detailed guidance on their website on how to submit an expedite request and the criteria they consider in determining whether to grant the request. Recently, […] The post Updated Guidance on Expedite Requests Related to Travel appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more

On March 7th, 2024, USCIS reached the initial cap of 33,000 H-2B visas available in the “second half” of FY2024 (AKA from April 2024 through October 2024). However, as announced last year, 19,000 visas became available for employers seeking returning H-2B workers starting March 22nd, with an additional 5,000 returning worker visas for employers with […] The post H-2B Visa Initial Cap Met but Supplemental Visas Available appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more

On March 9, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Wilkinson v. Garland, holding that the immigration judge’s hardship determinations in cancellation of removal applications can be reviewed by the courts. This decision gives hope to those denied their chance to stay in the U.S. because the immigration judge finds their family would […] The post Wilkinson v. Garland: Cancellation hardship gets judicial review appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more

After several proposed rules, a final change in the lottery structure, and fees set to increase on April 1st, USCIS is finally all set to begin the H-1B lottery process for 2024 (the FY 2025 H-1B lottery).  For those who are being entered, are entering individuals, or are considering entering individuals, here are the key […] The post 2024 H-1B Lottery Dates appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more

On August 10, 2021, ICE issued Directive 11005.3, “Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims.” For immigration attorneys, intricate knowledge of the complex web of immigration laws, regulations, and agency policies is crucial to advocating effectively for our clients. One such policy, Directive 11005.3, titled “Using a Victim-Centered Approach with Noncitizen Crime Victims,” brings […] The post The ICE Victim-Centered Approach Directive appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more

On January 30, 2024, USCIS announced that many of the filing fees for immigration applications will increase starting April 1, 2024. The fees of almost all forms will be increasing, including fiancé(e) petitions, family-based petitions, non-immigrant status extension requests, work permits, travel documents, employment-based petitions, green card applications, and others. One notable change will be […] The post Most USCIS Filing Fees Increasing April 1, 2024 appeared first on Joseph & Hall P.C ..read more