On January 20, 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order titled“Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program.” The order suspends naldecisions on refugee cases and refugee entries to the United States. However, the StateDepartment also indenitely suspended new applications and case processing, eectiveimmediately. This explainer analyzes the implications of the executive order. 1. What...Read More

Release Date 01/22/2025 Effective Jan. 22, 2025, USCIS is waiving any and all requirements that applicants for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident present documentation on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that they received the COVID-19 vaccination. USCIS will not issue any Request for Evidence or Notice...Read More

On Jan. 15, 2025, President Biden issued a memorandum extending eligibility for Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Hong Kong residents. The president also directed the secretary of homeland security to provide certain Hong Kong residents continued work authorization through Feb. 5, 2027. For this reason, certain Hong Kong residents are employment authorized incident to DED. In addition,...Read More

Release Date: January 10, 2025 Extension Allows Eligible Ukrainian Nationals Who Arrived on or Before August 16, 2023, to Maintain TPS and Employment Authorization Following Vetting WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security announced today the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine for 18 months. The extension of TPS is due to ongoing armed conflict...Read More

Release Date 01/15/2025 WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security announced on Jan. 10, 2025, the extension of the 2023 designation of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela for 18 months, from April 3, 2025, to Oct. 2, 2026, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Venezuela that prevent individuals from safely returning. The corresponding Federal Register notice provides information about re-registering...Read More

Release Date 01/15/2025 WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security announced on Jan. 10, 2025, the extension of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan for 18 months, from April 20, 2025, to Oct. 19, 2026, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Sudan that prevent individuals from safely returning. The corresponding Federal Register notice provides information about registering for...Read More

Release Date: January 10, 2025 Extension Allows Eligible Sudanese Nationals Who Arrived on or before August 16, 2023, to Maintain TPS and Employment Authorization Following Vetting WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security announced today the extension of Temporary Protected Status- (TPS) for Sudan for 18 months. This extension is due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and...Read More

U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityU.S. Citizenship and Immigration ServicesOffice of the DirectorCamp Springs, MD 20588-0009PA-2025-02 January 8, 2025 PurposeU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS PolicyManual to clarify how USCIS evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for O-1A nonimmigrantsof extraordinary ability, including adding examples of evidence for individuals in critical...Read More

Release Date 11/26/2024 Eligible Lebanese Nationals May Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security today posted a Federal Register notice designating Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced on Oct. 17, 2024, the designation of Lebanon for TPS. The corresponding FRN provides information about how to...Read More

PA-2024-27 November 13, 2024 SUBJECT: Immigration Medical Examinations for Certain Afghan Nationals Who Arrived in theUnited States During Operation Allies Welcome PurposeU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCISPolicy Manual regarding immigration medical examinations completed by certain Afghan nationalswho arrived in the United States during Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). BackgroundIn...Read More