US Immigration News

Delegates at the 2021 NAFSA: Association of International Educators conference were warned that US visa processing delays are ‘unlikely to be resolved anytime soon’. Large numbers of US Embassies and Consulates around the world have not been processing visas amid the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Israeli nationals looking to apply for a US travel visa are being told that the next available appointments for an interview by US consular services is August 2020. Amid the pandemic, the backlog in consular services means that US visas for tourists have fallen down the priority list behind those applying for work or study visas or those traveling for medical reasons.

 

The US Supreme Court has blocked immigrants with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from accessing US green cards. The ruling applies to TPS immigrants living legally in the US, but may have initially entered the country without legal permission. The news comes as a blow to thousands of immigrants who rely on TPS and are looking to secure US permanent residence.

 

According to a report published by The Guardian, the Biden administration has tasked six humanitarian groups with making recommendations on which migrants should be allowed to remain in the US. The move comes in a bid to reduce the rapid expulsion of people from the US under federal pandemic-related powers that prevent people from seeking asylum.  

It’s understood that the groups will determine who is the most vulnerable, on the Mexican side of the border, but the criteria on which their choices will be based have not been made public. 

Bipartisan legislation to remove the per-country cap on US employment-based green cards has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. The bill has been tabled by US Congresswoman, Zoe Lofgren, and Congressman, John Curtis. If passed, the bill is likely to benefit Indian IT professionals who have waited decades to secure a green card.

 

Humans rights groups are urging the Biden administration and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to end the digital surveillance of immigrants. According to a new report, ICE monitors nearly 100,000 migrants using ‘questionable tactics’ that do more harm than good and prevent progress in enabling immigrants to thrive in their communities.