Immigration law is at the forefront of public dialogue these days. Womble Bond Dickinson’s Immigration Solutions team helps employers navigate high-stakes, constantly shifting immigration challenges to avoid potential problems and secure the talent they need to make their companies thrive. The following newsletter, drafted by Womble Bond Dickinson Immigration Solutions attorneys, covers some of the recent and most important developments in immigration law.

7/29/2021    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided updated DACA FAQs.

7/29/2021    USCIS conducted a second round registration selection from fiscal year 2022 H-1B cap registrations.

7/29/2021    USCIS announced new procedures for rescheduling biometrics appointments. It has closed the Biometrics Processing Unit in Alexandria, VA and no longer accepts written requests to reschedule biometrics services at application support centers. Requests must now be made by calling the USCIS Contact Center.

7/27/2021    Attorney General Garland has vacated Matter of A-C-A-A- and has remanded the case to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) for further proceedings consistent with the opinion.

7/22/2021    U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced a continuation of temporary travel restrictions limiting travel from Mexico at land ports of entry along the U.S.-Mexico border through 8/21/2021 due to COVID- 19. See 86 FR 38554, 7/22/2021.

7/22/2021    CBP announced a continuation of temporary travel restrictions limiting travel from Canada at land ports of entry along the U.S.-Canada border through 8/21/2021 due to COVID- 19. See 86 FR 38556, 7/22/2021.

7/22/2021    U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced extension and re-designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). See 86 FR 38744, 7/22/2021.

7/20/2021    USCIS updated its policy guidance and will no longer require individuals applying to change status from F-1 to submit subsequent applications to bridge the gap.

7/16/2021    The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced that it is relocating its Atlanta National Processing Center and changing its mailing address. See 86 FR 37766, 7/16/2021.

7/16/2021    Attorney General Garland overturned a Trump-era immigration court rule and immigration judges are now authorized to pause cases.

7/16/2021    The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Brownsville Division has blocked the filing of new DACA applications. (Texas v. United States, 7/16/21)

7/15/2021    DOS published the August 2021 Visa Bulletin.

7/15/2021    USCIS published the Adjustment of Status Filing Dates for August 2021.

7/9/2021    DHS announced extension and re-designation of Yemen for TPS. See 86 FR 36295, 7/9/2021.

7/6/2021    U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced that National Interest Exceptions issued in the last 12 months are automatically extended for 12 months from the date of approval and for multiple entries if they are used for the purpose for which they were granted.

7/1/2021    BIA holds that Immigration Judges have the authority to rescind In Absentia removal orders. Matter of S-L-H- & L-B-L- 28 I&N Dec. 318 (BIA 2021).