US Immigration News

Two American congressman have urged the US House of Representatives to revoke US Visa Waiver Program (VWP) eligibility for countries who sell passports through citizenship by investment. Congressmen Burgess Owens (Democrat) and Steve Cohen (Republican) recently issued a bipartisan bill – the No Travel for Traffickers Act - to the House.

 

The US has increased the fee for its Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that the fee for an ESTA US visa waiver has risen from $14 to $21, taking effect on May 26. The new fee will reportedly be in place until September 2027 and includes a $4 operational fee.

 

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been instructed to suspend immigration enforcement on families affected by the recent Uvalde elementary school shooting, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced. The shooting at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas has shocked and devastated the town.

 

Following a recent meeting between Romanian Interior Minister, Lucian Bode, and US Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, Romania has pledged to reduce its US visa rejection rate from 10% to 3% within ‘two to three years’. This would make Romania eligible for inclusion on the US visa waiver list.

 

A controversial, Trump-era US immigration policy, which was expected to be lifted this month has been blocked by a US district judge. Title 42, which prevents migrants from seeking asylum in the US over COVID fears remains in place, devastating millions of migrants who were led to believe that the restrictions would be lifted.

 

A US presidential advisory committee has unanimously voted to recommend that the Biden administration process all outstanding US green card applications within the next six months. The recommendations were made by the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (PACAANHPI).