U.S. Immigration Systems, Data, Status, and Concepts

Visa Revocation Basics

May 29, 2020

The basic sources and processes of U.S. nonimmigrant visa revocation.

Under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Congress can review and overturn certain regulations promulgated by an executive agency, such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Labor, the Department of State, etc. Congress can use the CRA only to invalidate an agency final rule in

DOL Interim Final Rule on OES and Prevailing Wage Determinations

November 12, 2020

On October 8, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) published an interim final rule (IFR) titled Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States. The rule changes how DOL computes Level I through Level IV wage rates when it uses

DHS Proposed Rule on Definition, Collection, and Use of Biometrics

September 11, 2020

In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register on September 11, 2020, DHS proposes to change the way it defines, collects, and uses biometrics. Read the proposed rule, published at 85 FR 56338 (September 11, 2020). Public comments on the proposed rule must be submitted to DHS on or before

Executive Order 13891 on Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents

June 3, 2020

On October 9, 2019, the president issued Executive Order 13891, titled Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents, "to ensure that Americans are subject to only those binding rules imposed through duly enacted statutes or through regulations lawfully promulgated under them

USCIS Funding Challenges During COVID-19 Pandemic

August 25, 2020

On August 25, 2020, USCIS announced that due to "unprecedented spending cuts and a steady increase in daily incoming revenue and receipts," the agency "will avert an administrative furlough of more than 13,000 employees" that was scheduled to begin August 30, 2020. Despite the welcome news that

USCIS Policy Manual

The USCIS Policy Manual is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service's (USCIS) "centralized online repository for USCIS’ immigration policies," that will ultimately replace other USCIS policy repositories. Access the USCIS Policy Manual Update (May 22, 2020). USCIS has removed all Adjudicator's

Presidential Proclamation 9945

November 4, 2019

Under Presidential Proclamation 9945 of October 4, 2019, Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Will Financially Burden the United States Healthcare System (PP 9945), effective November 3, 2019 applicants for immigrant visas must show to the satisfaction of a consular officer, before an immigrant

Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019

Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019 CRS Summary of version of H.R. 1044 passed by the House (07/10/2019): This bill increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from 7% of the total number of such visas available that year to 15%, and eliminates the 7% cap for

Final Rules on Public Charge Determinations

Current status of the DHS public charge rule: The DHS public charge rule is currently in effect. On November 2, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division vacated the rule, but the next day, on November 3, 2020, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued an