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US Immigration Updates

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US Immigration Updates

What is this database?

This resource is a searchable database of US immigration updates impacting members of the Appalachian community. This is a general information summary database of select immigration updates and is not intended to be comprehensive.

This table is updated weekly on Mondays.

Please contact issso@appstate.edu if you would like to suggest an update or if you have questions or concerns regarding your specific situation.

Title Topic Population impacted Effective start date of guidance End date of guidance

Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement for Travelers from China

  • This guidance was rescinded and is no longer in effect as of 3:00pm on March 10, 2023.
  • From January 5 to March 10 at 2:59pm, all air passengers two years and older originating from the People's Republic of China were required to get a test (such as a PCR test or an antigen self-test administered and monitored by a telehealth service or a licensed provider and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or the relevant national authority) no more than 2 days before their departure from the PRC, Hong Kong, or Macau, and show a negative test resul t to the airline upon departure.
Travel
F-1 student
J-1 student
J-1 scholar
H-1B
Permanent resident
Dependent
DACA
January 5, 2023
March 10, 2023

DHS Designates Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months
Employment
Other
F-1 student
J-1 student
J-1 scholar
H-1B
Permanent resident
Dependent
DACA
October 20, 2022
April 20, 2024

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity Extension to 24 Months for Green Card Renewals
Travel
Immigration/Visa status
Employment
Other
Permanent resident
September 26, 2022
 Ongoing

DHS Issues Regulation to Preserve and Fortify DACA

The DHS final DACA rule:

  • Maintains the existing threshold criteria for DACA;
  • Retains the existing process for DACA requestors to seek work authorization; and
  • Affirms the longstanding policy that DACA is not a form of lawful status but that DACA recipients, like other deferred action recipients, are considered “lawfully present” for certain purposes.
Travel
Employment
Other
DACA
October 31, 2022
 Ongoing

DHS Designates Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months

  • The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the designation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Only individuals who are already residing in the United States as of March 15, 2022, will be eligible for TPS. 
  • Individuals applying for TPS under the Afghanistan designation must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the 18-month initial registration period that runs from May 20, 2022, through Nov. 20, 2023.
  • Individuals who are granted TPS 1) are protected from forced removal from the US (deportation), 2) can obtain special authorization to work in the US, and 3) may be granted authorization to leave and re-enter the US 
Employment
Other
F-1 student
J-1 student
J-1 scholar
H-1B
Permanent resident
Dependent
DACA
May 20, 2022
November 20, 2023

USCIS Increases Automatic Extension Period of Work Permits for Certain Applicants

  • For those EADs that benefit from the automatic 180-day extension of validity for timely filing an extension, USCIS is providing an additional 360 days of validity (total of up to 540 days (180 + 360)). EADs that qualify for automatic renewal and will benefit from this temporary final rule are listed at: https://www.uscis.gov/eadautoextend
  • They include those with pending asylum cases, pending I-485 applications (under Section 245), certain H-4 nonimmigrants who qualify for EADs, among many others.
Employment
H-1B
Permanent resident
Dependent
May 4, 2022
 Ongoing

President Biden to Announce Uniting for Ukraine, a New Streamlined Process to Welcome Ukrainians Fleeing Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

  • Beginning on April 25, 2022, U.S.-based individuals and entities can apply to DHS to sponsor Ukrainian citizens who have been displaced by Russia’s aggression through the Uniting for Ukraine process, which will go live that day on the DHS website. 
  • Any U.S. citizen or individual, including representatives of non-government organizations, can sponsor Ukrainian applicants. 
  • Individuals and organizations seeking to sponsor Ukrainian citizens in the United States will be required to declare their financial support and pass security background checks to protect against exploitation and abuse.
Travel
Other
F-1 student
J-1 student
J-1 scholar
H-1B
Permanent resident
Dependent
DACA
April 25, 2022
 Ongoing

DHS Designates Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months

  • Department of Homeland Security designates Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status from April 14, 2022 to October 14, 2023. 
  • Citizens of Cameroon who demonstrate conintuous residence in the US as of April 14, 2022 are eligible for TPS under Somalia's designation.
  • Individuals who are granted TPS 1) are protected from forced removal from the US (deportation), 2) can obtain special authorization to work in the US, and 3) may be granted authorization to leave and re-enter the US 
Employment
Other
F-1 student
J-1 student
J-1 scholar
H-1B
Permanent resident
Dependent
DACA
April 14, 2022
October 14, 2023

USCIS Announces Online Filing for DACA Renewal Forms

  • U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that individuals who previously received deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) may now file Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, online.
Other
DACA
April 12, 2022
 Ongoing

Processing Posts for Ukrainian Visa Applicants
Travel
F-1 student
J-1 student
J-1 scholar
H-1B
Permanent resident
March 1, 2022
 Ongoing