Posts By: cbrownlaw

Trump H-1B Rules Reversed Under Biden

On day one, President Biden reversed two H-1B rules recently issued by the Trump Administration that have stymied H-1B employers and employees. Trump H-1B Regulations – What Are They? The Trump Administration issued 2 new H-1B rules in the past few months. The first, “Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program,” narrowly amends a regulation… Read more »

Biden Prioritizes Immigration Reform

In a drastic change from the past several years, President-Elect Biden has announced that on Day 1, January 20, 2021, he will propose his immigration reform plan to Congress. According to the Washington Post, “the centerpiece of the plan from Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris is the eight-year pathway, which would put millions… Read more »

Federal Court Rules to Fully Re-Implement DACA

Good news for DACA advocates this week! A federal judge in New York ruled that the Trump Administration should re-install the program as established under the Obama Administration in 2012 to its “full” capacity. What Happened Since 2017, the Trump Administration has attacked the DACA program as unconstitutional. However, after several court fights, the Supreme… Read more »

Applying for Citizenship? New Test Effective December 1, 2020

USCIS announced that the citizenship civics test would be revised as of December 1, 2020. Those applying on December 1st or later, will be subject to the new test. Those who applied previously and are still pending, will be subject to the old test. The government last revised the test in 2008. The government refers… Read more »

EOIR – Denver Immigration Court Extends Opening Delay to May 29, 2020

EOIR Operational Status Update Hearings in non-detained cases are postponed through May 29, 2020. For the operational status of EOIR operations nationwide, please visit the EOIR website. If you have a case pending with immigration court, keep checking the hotline 1-800-898-7180 for rescheduling and be sure to keep updated the Court where you live on… Read more »

Important COVID-19 Updates Dates for Immigration Agencies

Immigration Attorney Boulder USCIS is open

USCIS Nationally This week, USCIS announced that it will be preparing to re-open to the public on June 4, 2020. This includes in-person interviews and Infopass appointments for non-emergency services at our local offices and biometrics in-person appointments at Application Support Centers. For the latest information on the status of an office, visit https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings. As has… Read more »

Lost My H-1B Job? What are My Rights and Options?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, I received several questions from H-1B workers who are losing their jobs. The H-1B non-immigrant work visa allows foreign workers to temporarily work in the U.S. in specialty fields such as IT, architecture, engineering, mathematics, science, and medicine. While many advantages to H-1B status, one drawback is that your rights to… Read more »

I Am In H Status and Am Terminated, Furloughed, or Wage Reduced: H-1B and H-2B Life after Covid-19

Covid-19 has turned the US labor market into a bloodbath – but it’s even worse for those foreign persons who work here temporarily on visas like the H-1B (professional) or H-2B (seasonal workers). First, try to get the employer to give the H worker time to change into a different status before the effective termination… Read more »

Drastic Change in application of Public Charge Rule effective February 24, 2020

In B.C. (Before Coronovirus), USCIS and the US Department of State were permitted after litigation favored the Trump Administration in January 2020, to proceed with their much expanded application of the “public charge” rule. The new rules take effect for both agencies on February 24, 2020. The essence of the rule has remained the same… Read more »

Recap of Southern Border Crisis This Summer

The southern border of the United States has long been a point of entry for people migrating from or through Mexico into the States. Due to a surge of undocumented Central Americans seeking asylum in the States at the southern border, a crisis at the border was declared by the Obama Administration in 2014. The… Read more »

Recap of H-1B Season 2019-20

On August 15, 2019, United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) formally announced the return of all rejected H-1B cases who lost in the H-1B lottery this fiscal year. The lottery was completed on 11th April 2019. Here’s a quick recap of the H-1B Season 2019-20: More petitions were filed 201,011 foreign nationals put in… Read more »

USCIS Expands Interviews – Will Slow USCIS Denver Processing Times

Business Visas for Foreign Nationals

USCIS today confirmed reports from Politco.com and NBC News that it would be expanding interviews to employment-based permanent resident (aka “green card”) applicants and others who file their applications in the US. Currently, employment-based applicants are generally waived of an interview, which normally does take place for family-based applicants. This will likely slow down processing times…. Read more »

Comprehensive Immigration Reform Trump Style – The Raise Act

On August 2, 2017, Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and David Perdue (R-GA) introduced a new comprehensive immigration reform bill — Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act. The plan was endorsed by President Trump on the same day. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) summarizes the highlights of this immigration reform bill: Aims… Read more »

Dream Act of 2017 – What’s It All About?

Dream Act of 2017 Introduced With Bipartisanship in the Senate Now here is some legislation both parties can support! The Dream Act was introduced in light of concerns that the Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (DACA) Program may not survive a legal challenge in the courts this year. This is driving the push for Congress to… Read more »

Supreme Court Allows Partial Travel Ban to Proceed

Today the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decided to take up the “travel ban” case that has arisen in the 4th and 9th Circuits, and has postponed President Trump’s efforts to ban for 90 days all nationals from entering the United States who are from the following countries: Libya, Yemen, Syria, Somalia and… Read more »