According to the Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Manual a lawful permanent resident that has remained outside the U.S. for more than one year may be eligible for returning resident status. To qualify for such status, the LPR must demonstrate to the consular officer that: (1) at the time of departure, the LPR intended to return to an unrelinquished residence in the States; and (2) his or her reasons for remaining abroad were beyond his or her control. See 9 FAM 42.22 N1.1.

The USCIS Office of Public Engagement and International Operations Division, in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of State, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Customs and Border Protection, will host a national conference call with stakeholders to outline Haitian adoptions policy and address questions or concerns. Meeting schedule: Thursday, January 21, [...]

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a humanitarian parole policy allowing orphaned children from Haiti to enter the United States temporarily on an individual basis to ensure that they receive the care they need—as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing support of international recovery efforts after last week’s earthquake. DHS and DOS are working together [...]

Under the US immigration laws, a foreign national who applies for an immigrant visa abroad, or who seeks to adjust status as a permanent resident while in the United States, is required to receive vaccinations to prevent the following diseases: Mumps Measles Rubella Polio Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Pertussis Influenza Type B Hepatitis B Any [...]

The October 2008 Visa Bulletin, released by the U.S. Department of State (DOS), spells good news for all EB-3 Skilled and Unskilled Workers from around the world except for India and China. The EB-3 category has been labeled “unavailable” for a couple of moths. While we had earlier predicted that October will ease the situation [...]