New USCIS Policies for Expedited Processing of Cases and Reduction of Backlogs

USCIS New Policies Expanding Premium Processing Services and Reducing Backlogs

Ekaterina PowellApril 1, 2022EAD, Immigration Law, EB-2 NIW Green Card, EB-1A Extraordinary Ability Green Card, reducing backlogs, USCIS, Extension of Status, Change of Status, Expedited Processing, Premium ProcessingComment

How to Expedite EAD and Travel Documents

Learn how to expedite EAD and Travel Documents

Ekaterina PowellDecember 21, 2021EAD, employment authorization, travel document, advance parole, i-131, i-765, Expedited Processing, Immigration LawComment

How to Begin and Settle in Germany with "German Job Seeker Visa"

Ekaterina PowellNovember 3, 2021german visa, Immigration LawComment

How an immigration bill can become law

Recently, there have been many immigration-related bills introduced by Congress. It is exciting as some of these bills may provide significant benefits to you. However, it is important to have realistic expectations about the legislative process.

Ekaterina PowellJune 21, 2021Immigration Law, bill, congress, immigration benefits, enacted lawComment

District Court Vacates DHS Public Charge Rule Nationwide

On November 2, 2020, a district court vacated the DHS final rule on public charge and denied DHS’s request to stay the judgment. This ruling is to take effect immediately thus DHS may not apply the public charge after the date of the order. (Cook County, et al. v. Wolf, et al., 11/2/20)

Ekaterina PowellNovember 3, 2020Adjustment of Status, Immigration Law, Visas, public chargeComment

U.S. Supreme Court Lets DACA Stay

Supreme Court Upholds DACA, Says DHS’s Decision to Rescind Was Arbitrary and Capricious

Ekaterina PowellJune 19, 2020Supreme Court, DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DREAM Act, Dreamers, Immigration Law, immigrant childrenComment

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa is Implemented for Israeli Nationals

Beginning May 1st of 2019, the E-2 Treaty Investor will be made available to qualifying citizens of Israel.

Ekaterina PowellApril 18, 2019Employment-Based Visas, Employment Immigration Attorney, E-2, E-2 Treaty Investor Visa, Investor Visas, Israel, Israeli Citizens, Immigration Law, Immigration Lawyer, Immigration Attorney, California, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los AngelesComment

New CBP Directive on Search of Electronic Devices and How to Ensure Ethical Responsibility Over Confidential Information

Details concerning CBP’s recently announced directive on its practice of searching electronic devices at U.S. ports of entry, and how attorneys can best ensure they are protecting their clientele’s privileged information.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 26, 2019San Francisco, San Diego, Customs and Border Protection, CBP, Immigration Law, Immigration Attorney, Silicon Valley, California, Los AngelesComment

H-1B Visas for FY 2020: USCIS Announces Filing Date, Updates, & Changes

Along with the filing date for cap-subject fiscal year 2020 H-1B specialty occupation visas, USCIS has announced a number of other important changes and updates to the program.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 25, 2019Employment-Based Visas, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Immigration Law, Employment Immigration Attorney, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Form I-907, Form I-129, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Department of Homeland Security, DHSComment

USCIS Validity Rule Change for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record

An outline of what has been modified in evaluating a Form I-693 medical examination report’s validity and how forms submitted before and after the policy change are affected.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 4, 2019Immigration Lawyer, Immigration Attorney, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, Immigration Law, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Form I-485, Form I-693, Medical Examination and Vaccination RecordComment

Success Story: Petition for the EB-2 National Interest Waiver in Business

A success story transcribing the process in which Powell Immigration Law, PC obtained approval for a EB-2 NIW petition, allowing an accomplished entrepreneur to direct his new bakery venture in the United States.

Ekaterina PowellFebruary 27, 2019Success Story, Immigration Law, Immigration Lawyer, Business Immigration Attorney, EB-2, EB-2 NIW Green Card, Visa, Employment-Based Visas, California, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, San Diego, San Francisco, Entrepreneur, National Interest Waiver, BakeryComment

TN Visa for Mexican and American Citizens - A Technical Writer's Success Story

A success story from our firm elucidating how an initially rejected petition for the TN Visa for Mexican and Canadian Citizens was triumphantly revised after a technical publications writer sought our help.

Ekaterina PowellJanuary 17, 2019Immigration Law, Immigration Attorney, Employment-Based Visas, TN Visa for Mexican and Canadian Citizens, CBP, Customs and Border Protection, California, Los Angeles, Immigration Lawyer, Employment Immigration Attorney, Technical Publications Writer, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San DiegoComment

DHS’s Proposed Changes to the H-1B Visa Lottery Process

DHS has proposed rule changes that will significantly impact the H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa program, namely the process petitioners will apply under and the order by which applications will be selected.

Ekaterina PowellDecember 14, 2018H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Employers, Employees, Employment-Based Visas, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Law, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, DHS, Department of Homeland Security, California, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los AngelesComment

USCIS's Changes to Unlawful Presence for Exchange Visitors and Students

Some considerations and tips for avoiding lasting consequences due to changes in the accrual of unlawful presence for F and M students and J exchange visitors.

New USCIS Policy on Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs)

A new USCIS memo has gone into effect modifying its policy pertaining to the issuance of Notices to Appear before an immigration judge, or NTAs, in response to certain applications and circumstances.

USCIS Update: H-1B Cap for Fiscal Year 2019 Reached

USCIS has announced that the cap for next years H-1B non-cap exempt visa petitions has been reached.

Ekaterina PowellApril 9, 2018United States Citizen and Immigration Services, USCIS, H-1B Specialty Occupation Visa, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Law, California, Los Angeles, San Diego, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Employment-Based VisasComment

USCIS Update: Power of Attorney Signatures No Longer Accepted

Signatures must now be provided solely by valid applicants and petitioners on all USCIS forms.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 16, 2018Immigration Law, Business Immigration Attorney, Immigration Attorney, USCIS, United States Citizen and Immigration Services, Guidance, Signatures, updateComment

Timur's O-1A Petition for Extraordinary Ability in Web Technologies & Mobile App Development

Another example of a successful case we have handled, this one dealing with a client's extraordinary ability in web technologies and application development.

Ekaterina PowellMarch 15, 2018Immigration Law, Business Immigration Attorney, O-1A Visa, Web Technologies, App Development, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, CaliforniaComment

The Pitfalls of Changing Status to the F-1 Student Visa

There are often cases in which a nonimmigrant in the U.S. decides that he or she wishes to attend school or enroll in an educational program and therefore change status from one nonimmigrant category to an F-1 student visa. If the person is qualified, obtaining such a change of status should be simple enough. So why isn't it?

Ekaterina PowellDecember 26, 2017Change of Status, F-1 Student Visa, B-1, B-2, USCIS, Extension of Status, Immigration Law, Immigration Attorney, Education, Form I-539, Form I-20, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon ValleyComment

Mandatory Interviews for Employment-Based AOS Applicants

USCIS is now expanding the requirement for in-person interviews to employment-based adjustment of status applications, a visa category largely untouched by such interviews before. This new burden has wide-reaching implications, and may affect the entire immigration process.

Ekaterina PowellDecember 21, 2017Adjustment of Status, EB-1, EB-2, Eb-3, EB-5, Employment-Based Visas, USCIS, Interviews, Immigration Law, Business Immigration Attorney, San Diego, Los Angeles, Silicon ValleyComment

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Supreme Court Upholds DACA, Says DHS’s Decision to Rescind Was Arbitrary and Capricious

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