Entries by Cyrus Mehta

Proposals for Shattering Barriers and Obstacles to Legal Immigration Without Waiting for Congress to Act

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In response to the Biden administration’s invitation to comment, I submitted several proposals to reform the immigration system through executive actions so that many can be quickly helped without waiting for Congress to act. You too can submit a proposal  by May 19, 2021 at https://www.regulations.gov/document/USCIS-2021-0004-0001    May 19, 2021 Samantha Deshommes Regulatory Coordination Division […]

US Imposes Covid Travel Ban on India: How Effective Are Such Travel Bans?

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By Cyrus D. Mehta and Kaitlyn Box* In previous blogs we have discussed the Trump administration’s numerous COVID travel bans that were extended by President Biden, and provided suggestions for overcoming them. On Friday, April 30, 2021, a new COVID-related travel ban was implemented, this time by the Biden Administration. President Biden issued a Presidential […]

What Happens to a Lawful Permanent Resident Who Has Been Stranded For Over One Year Abroad and the Green Card Validity Has Expired?  

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By Cyrus D. Mehta and Kaitlyn Box* COVID-related restrictions have caused difficulties for many noncitizens traveling abroad during the pandemic, but lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who traveled overseas in recent months face a unique set of issues. Many LPRs who traveled overseas in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic quickly became trapped there for […]

Coping with Delays Facing H-4 and L-2 Spouses When They Have a Pending Adjustment Application – Part 2

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By Cyrus Mehta and Isabel Rajabzadeh* Although H-4 and L-2 extensions continue to be delayed since our  last blog  “Coping with Delays Facing H-4 and L-2 Spouses”,  we highlight another issue,  which adds further hardship for H-4 and L-2 spouses faced with unjust processing delays. In October 2020, the EB-3 Dates for Filing in the […]

Coping with Delays Facing H-4 and L-2 Spouses

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By Cyrus D. Mehta & Isabel Rajabzadeh*  In March 2019, the Trump administration implemented a new biometrics requirement for some employment-based and nonimmigrant dependents. H-4 and L-2 dependents must complete biometrics each time an extension of status is filed on Form I-539. This superfluous mandate, paired with the already backlogged queue due to Covid-19 processing […]

End the Arbitrary H-1B Lottery and Visa Quotas – and other practical considerations for the winners!

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By Cyrus D. Mehta and Kaitlyn Box* On March 30, 2021, USCIS announced that it had received sufficient H-1B registrations during the initial period to reach the Fiscal Year 2022 cap, including Master’s Cap registrations. All prospective petitioners whose registrations were selected should now have been notified. These petitioners may file H-1B petitions for the […]

President Biden Must Reject Trump Era H-1B Lottery Rule and Work Visa Travel Ban

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By: Cyrus D. Mehta and Kaitlyn Box* On March 3, 2021, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin and Republican Charles Grassley submitted a letter to new DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the DHS to implement the Trump administration’s H-1B lottery final rule entitled “Modification of Registration Requirement for Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions”, which was […]

Overcoming a COVID Travel Ban Through the National Interest Exception

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By Cyrus D. Mehta & Kaitlyn Box* Although the Trump era has ended, some of its draconian immigration policies continue to linger, including the COVID travel bans. On January 25, 2021, President Biden issued Presidential Proclamation 10143, entitled “Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Non-Immigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a […]