Immigration Law

Recent Posts

USCIS Policy Alert: 212(a)(9)(B) Policy Manual Guidance
Posted on 27 Jun 2022 by Daniel M. Kowalski

USCIS, June 24, 2022 "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on inadmissibility under section 212(a)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), specifically, the effect of... Read More

EOIR Rescinds Three Policy Memos (Apr. 18, 2022)
Posted on 21 Apr 2022 by Daniel M. Kowalski

EOIR, Apr. 18, 2022 "As EOIR continues to review existing agency policies and practices, the following Policy Memoranda (PM) are rescinded: 1. PM 19-05, Guidance Regarding the Adjudication of Asylum Applications Consistent with INA § 208... Read More

Tags: policy memo , eoir

USCIS Revised Guidance on Informal ("Camp") Marriages (Feb. 14, 2022)
Posted on 15 Feb 2022 by Daniel M. Kowalski

USCIS, Feb. 14, 2022 "As of the date of this memorandum, RAIO is rescinding marriage guidance previously issued by RAIO divisions: "Guidance for the treatment of refugee cases that include an informal marriage to an RE-2 derivative spouse... Read More

Rescission of 2017 Policy Memorandum PM-602-0142
Posted on 10 Feb 2022 by Daniel M. Kowalski

USCIS, Feb. 3, 2022 "Effective immediately, USCIS rescinds PM-602-0142 “Rescission of the December 22, 2000 ‘Guidance memo on H1B computer related positions.’” USCIS officers should not apply PM-602-0142 to any pending or... Read More

USCIS Policy Memo: Bona Fide Determination Process for Victims of Qualifying Crimes, and Employment Authorization and Deferred Action for Certain Petitioners
Posted on 14 Jun 2021 by Daniel M. Kowalski

USCIS, June 14, 2021 "U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is publishing guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on employment authorization and deferred action for principal petitioners for U nonimmigrant status and qualifying family... Read More

EOIR PM on Enforcement Priorities (June 11, 2021)
Posted on 11 Jun 2021 by Daniel M. Kowalski

EOIR, June 11, 2021 "... Immigration judges should be prepared to inquire, on the record, of the parties appearing before them at scheduled hearings as to whether the case remains a removal priority for ICE and whether ICE intends to exercise some... Read More

Three New USCIS Policy Updates (June 9, 2021)
Posted on 9 Jun 2021 by Daniel M. Kowalski

USCIS, June 9, 2021 " Expedited Processing Under the updated expedite criteria policy (PDF, 293.62 KB) , benefit requestors and USCIS officers are provided further guidance on when expedited processing may be warranted. Additionally, nonprofit... Read More

Tags: ead , noid , policy memo , rfe , USCIS

EOIR Cancels Trump-Era Policy Memos (May 14, 2021)
Posted on 17 May 2021 by Daniel M. Kowalski

PM 21-19 : "As part of EOIR’s ongoing efforts to improve operations and review existing policy memoranda, the following Policy Memoranda (PM) are rescinded: 1. PM 19-02, Guidelines Regarding New Regulations Governing Asylum and Protection Claims... Read More

Tags: policy memo , eoir

USCIS Issues Policy Guidance on Deference to Previous Decisions
Posted on 27 Apr 2021 by Daniel M. Kowalski

USCIS, Apr. 27, 2021 "USCIS is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual instructing officers to give deference to prior determinations when adjudicating extension requests involving the same parties and facts unless there was a material... Read More

EOIR Asylum Processing Policy Memo (Dec. 4, 2020)
Posted on 7 Dec 2020 by Daniel M. Kowalski

EOIR, Dec. 4, 2020 "This Policy Memorandum (PM) consolidates and replaces Operating Policies and Procedures Memoranda (OPPM) 00-01, Asylum Request Processing, OPPM 13-02, The Asylum Clock. Much of the information in those OPPM has become outdated... Read More

Two New EOIR Policy Memos (Feb. 13, 2020)
Posted on 14 Feb 2020 by Daniel M. Kowalski

PM 20-08 Definitions and Use of Adjournment, Call-Up and Case Identification Codes PM 20-09 The Immigration Court Practice Manual and Orders Read More

Recent EOIR Policy Memos
Posted on 19 Aug 2019 by Daniel M. Kowalski

1. July 15, 2019, Guidelines Regarding New Regulations Governing Asylum and Protection Claims 2. Aug. 16, 2019, Use of Status Dockets 3. Aug. 16, 2019, Allegations of Misconduct by EOIR Adjudicators and Ex Parte Communications Read More

Tags: policy memo , eoir

USCIS NTA Policy Memo Update (Nov. 8, 2018)
Posted on 8 Nov 2018 by Daniel M. Kowalski

USCIS, Nov. 8, 2018 - "On June 28, 2018, USCIS issued a new Notice to Appear (NTA) policy memorandum (PM) (PDF, 140 KB) providing guidance on when USCIS may issue Form I-862, Notice to Appear. An NTA is a document that instructs an individual to... Read More

USCIS Policy Memo: Signatures on Paper Applications, Petitions, Requests, and Other Documents Filed with USCIS
Posted on 19 Feb 2018 by Daniel M. Kowalski

USCIS, Feb. 15, 2018 - "This policy memorandum (PM) finalizes the interim memorandum under the same title issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on June 7, 2016. It provides the current USCIS policy regarding the signature requirement... Read More