Understanding the I-94 document is extremely important for all non-immigrants who enter the U.S. It serves as proof of entering the U.S. lawfully and it also shows your non-immigrant status and the date that your status expires. The date your status expires is generally the date you MUST leave the U.S. unless you timely filed to extend or change your status.
Here are some of the most common issues and related tips.
New Version of Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Released Includes Alternate Procedure for E-Verify Employers to Remotely Examine Employee Documents
All employers must use Form I-9 to verify the identity and employment authorization of their employees. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, employers had to physically inspect employees’ I-9 documents. During…
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DHS Adds 8 New STEM Fields to Their List
On July 12, 2023, DHS announced the addition of 8 new STEM fields to the list of fields that qualify for STEM OPT (Optical Practical Training). This helps foreign students…
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Selecting gender on USCIS forms: USCIS to begin accepting self-identified gender markers for individuals requesting immigration benefits
On March 31, 2023, USCIS published a Policy Memo which announced: "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that, effective immediately, USCIS will…
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USCIS Extends Validity of Conditional Resident Green Cards for 48 Months
USCIS announced that it will be extending the validity of conditional green cards yet again for permanent residents with pending Forms I-751 or I-829. This time, the automatic extension is…
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Global Entry Glitch resolved for Brazilian applicants
An IT glitch between the United States’ Global Entry program and the Brazilian government that had prevented applicants from completing their applications has been resolved. The New York Field Office…
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Employment Authorization Update for Spouses of E and L Nonimmigrant Visa Holders
On November 12, 2021, USCIS clarified that E and L spouses are employment authorized automatically as a result of having valid dependent E or L nonimmigrant status. This does not…
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NIE Validity Extended to One Year
"On June 29, 2021, the Department of State extended the validity of National Interest Exceptions (NIE) for travelers subject to restrictions under Presidential Proclamations (PPs) 9984, 9992, 10143, 10199, and…
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Nonimmigrant Visa Ban Lifted for L-1, H-1B, H-2B, and Certain J Visa Applicants (Presidential Proclamation 10052)
Presidential Proclamation 10052 banning the issuance of L-1, H-1B, H-2B and certain J-1 visas expired on March 31st and will not be renewed. Applicants applying for these visas for the…
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Immigrant Visa Ban Lifted (Presidential Proclamation 10014)
Presidential Proclamation (P.P.) 10014, entitled “Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak,”…
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Biden Inaugurated 46th President of the United States Signs Executive Actions on First Day in Office
President Biden was inaugurated on January 20, 2021 as the 46th president of the United States. On his first day in office, President Biden already signed several executive actions on…
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New COVID-19 Testing Requirement for International Travelers Goes into Effect January 26, 2021
Effective January 26, 2021, the CDC will require all air passengers traveling to the US from a foreign country to get tested for COVID-19 no more than 3 days before…
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Summary of the Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants
Effectively immediately, no new H-1B, J, or L-1 visas will be issued outside the U.S. until the end of this year. This includes derivative visas for spouses and children such…
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Some USCIS Offices Reopening June 4th
USCIS announced that it is preparing some domestic offices to reopen and resume non-emergency public services on or after June 4. While certain offices are temporarily closed, USCIS continues to…
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Brazil Travel Ban
On May 24th, President Trump added Brazil to the list of countries that would be impacted by the temporary travel ban due to COVID-19. The Presidential Proclamation restricts and suspends…
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Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants
On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation suspending the entry of any individual seeking to enter the United States as an immigrant who: Is outside the United States…
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IMMIGRATION UPDATE: CORONAVIRUS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): As of March 18, 2020, USCIS temporarily suspended routine in-person services until May 3. USCIS continues to be operational as staff perform duties that…
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USCIS to Reuse Biometrics for Employment Authorization Applications
USCIS announced today that it will reuse biometrics for employment authorization applications for applicants who had an appointment scheduled with an ASC on or after March 18 or who filed…
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USCIS Temporary Office Closures Due to COVID-19
Effective March 18, 2020, USCIS offices are temporarily closed to the public. USCIS is suspending in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices and Application Support Centers (ASCs) to help…
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PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION PROHIBITING TRAVEL FROM SCHENGEN AREA DUE TO COVID-19
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic and President Trump signed a proclamation restricting travel to the United States from foreign nationals…
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Public Charge Update
On January 27, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Department of Homeland Security may implement their new rule relating to the “public charge” ground of inadmissibility. DHS will…
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Birth Tourism – DOS Amends B-Visitor Visa Regulations
Effective January 24, 2020, foreign nationals who apply for a B-1 or B-2 non-immigrant visitor visa to enter the U.S. with the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a…
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USCIS Expands Guidance Related to Naturalization Requirement of Good Moral Character
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expanded its policy guidance regarding unlawful acts that may prevent an applicant from meeting the good moral character (GMC) requirement for naturalization. The commission…
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9th Circuit grapples with nationwide injunctions in 2 cases
Both involve Trump administration immigration policies. A federal appeals court panel wrestled Monday with how to handle two immigration-related legal disputes that triggered howls of protest from the Trump administration…
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Judge halts Trump’s insurance mandate for immigrants
A federal judge stopped the State Department from suspending legal immigrants' entry to the U.S. if they can't pay their own way through our nation's health care system.
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Trump Says There’s a “Crisis” at the Border. Here’s What the Data Says (PBS.org)
President Donald Trump’s argument for building a border wall has boiled down to one word: crisis.
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Trump Immigration Plan Offers a Ticket to the American Dream. The Poor Need Not Apply. (New York Times)
The Trump administration has said the immigration overhaul it announced this week will ensure that new legal residents carry their own weight, without prejudice or favor. Yet the new rule…
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DHS Publishes Final Rule on “Public Charge”
On August 14, 2019, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a final rule governing public charge grounds of inadmissibility. Unless litigation stops the rule from going into effect, it…
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Visa Bulletin Retrogression August 2019 – Delays for Employment-Based Applicants
The Department of State (DOS) Visa Bulletin published for August 2019 shows significant retrogression in employment-based categories. The EB-1 category final action dates have retrogressed to July 1, 2016 for…
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