US Immigration News

US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, has formally nominated Croatia to join the US Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Croatia will become the newest country to be added to the program and the first since Poland back in 2019. Blinken announced Croatia’s nomination for acceptance into the VWP on his official Twitter account.

 

US President Joe Biden’s nomination to lead United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been confirmed by the Senate. Ur Jaddou becomes the first ever female to occupy the role and ends the years-long cycle of USCIS acting leaders. 

 

US Attorney General, Merrick Garland, has ordered Texas governor, Greg Abbott to overturn a controversial US immigration order issued without federal government authority.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has dropped US visa fraud charges against five Chinese scientists. In 2020, Workpermit.com reported on several instances of Chinese researchers, reportedly with connections to China’s military, charged with US visa fraud and espionage. 

 

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have announced changes to F1 student visa rules. The new rules mean that international students will no longer have to submit multiple applications to extend their non-immigrant status. The announcement is also expected to benefit H1B visa holders and their children in the future.

 

The White House is reportedly throwing its support behind an increase in the number of US Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) that can be issued to Afghans who have supported American troops. As US forces withdraw from Afghanistan, there are fears that Afghans who helped American troops will be targeted by the re-emergent Taliban.