Matthew Hoppock, Apr. 7, 2019 "After an informal policy shift last year led the USCIS to start denying human trafficking visas by misreading the statutory text, creating a requirement that never existed before, we’ve won our first appeal... Read More

"While the beneficiary is required to apply his business expertise in carrying out his job duties and perform some operational or administrative tasks, the petitioner has established by a preponderance of the evidence that the majority of the day... Read More

Official Headnotes: (1) The definition of “doing business” at 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(j)(2) (2014) contains no requirement that a petitioner for a multinational manager or executive must provide goods and or services to an unaffiliated third... Read More

" U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites you to participate in a stakeholder teleconference and listening session on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 , from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern) regarding recent developments relating to the Administrative... Read More

"The AAO agrees with counsel's argument. Unlike the definition of a religious occupation under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(m)(5), the definition of religious vocation includes no requirements regarding the qualifying nature of the beneficiary's... Read More

Sarah E. Murphy writes: " The AAO reversed the decision of the USCIS Detroit field office director, which denied the application for permission to reapply for admission after removal [Form I-212], and concluded that the applicant had established... Read More

USCIS, Mar. 9, 2016 - "This policy memorandum (PM) designates the attached decision of the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) in Matter of H-V-P- as an Adopted Decision. Accordingly, this adopted decision establishes policy guidance that applies... Read More

Matter of K-S-Y-, ID# 14269 (AAO Mar. 9, 2016) - "Today we have occasion to explore how an individual may demonstrate eligibility for a first preference immigrant visa during a career transition from competing as an athlete to coaching the next generation... Read More

Matter of I-S-O-A-, Inc., ID# 13560 (AAO Mar. 9, 2016) - "[N]otwithstanding the regulation at 8 C.F.R. 204.5(m)(4) and (11) as currently written, in accordance with the Policy Memorandum, we find that the Petitioner has established that the Beneficiary... Read More

USCIS, Nov. 4, 2015 - Initial Field Review of Appeals to the Administrative Appeals Office "This policy memorandum (PM) and accompanying revisions to the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) provide guidance to employees of U.S. Citizenship... Read More

"The Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) conducts administrative review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers’ decisions regarding immigration benefit requests in order to promote consistency and accuracy in the interpretation... Read More

"The applicant's argument that the IWWTF will be a ghost plant if it does not obtain bridge financing is inherently an argument that touches on preservation of jobs, not creation of jobs. The regulation at 8 C.F.R. § 205.6(j)(4)(ii) allows... Read More

Jerry Friedman writes: "Attached is a decision from the AAO reinstating an I-140 that was revoked by the Texas Service Center. The revocation was based on the Service Center’s lack of understanding of the reduction in recruitment procedure... Read More

"The record ... reflects that the applicant has expressed remorse for her actions and that she has paid taxes on her earnings as a nanny while in the United States. In addition, the applicant submits statements from friends and family describing... Read More

Hats off to Michael Carlin for this Aug. 24, 2015 AAO victory! Read More