On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, to take appropriate action to preserve and fortify DACA, consistent with applicable law.

USCIS has announced a final rule that will modify the H-1B cap selection process, amend current lottery procedures, and prioritize wages to protect the economic interests of U.S. workers and better ensure the most highly skilled foreign workers benefit from the temporary employment program.

For more information, read our news release.

In keeping with our August 2019 announcement, we will publish a Federal Register notice on Dec. 28 requesting public comments on revisions to Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, which will terminate the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole (FWVP) program and Haitian Family Reunification Parole (HFRP) program for all new applications postmarked on or after the effective date of the new form instructions. 

 For more information, read our news release.  

On Dec. 15, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding discretionary criteria for case-by-case interview determinations of adjustment of status applications based on refugee or asylee status. 

Visit uscis.gov/policy-manual or read our web alert for more information. 

In compliance with an order of a United States District Court, effective December 7, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is:

• Accepting first-time requests for consideration of deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) based on the terms of the DACA policy in effect prior to September 5, 2017, and in accordance with the Court’s December 4, 2020, order;
• Accepting DACA renewal requests based on the terms of the DACA policy in effect prior to September 5, 2017, and in accordance with the Court’s December 4, 2020, order;
• Accepting applications for advance parole documents based on the terms of the DACA policy prior to September 5, 2017, and in accordance with the Court’s December 4, 2020, order;
• Extending one-year grants of deferred action under DACA to two years; and
• Extending one-year employment authorization documents under DACA to two years.

USCIS will take appropriate steps to provide evidence of the one-year extensions of deferred action and employment authorization documents under DACA to individuals who were issued documentation on or after July 28, 2020, with a one-year validity period under the defunct policy.

DHS will comply with the order while it remains in effect, but DHS may seek relief from the order.