HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WITH AN APPROVED IMMIGRATION PETITION SHOULD CONTACT THEIR NEAREST US EMBASSY OR CONSULATE
March 27, 2020
The US Department of State has issued astatement that all medical professionals, particularly those working to combatCovid-19, should contact their nearest US Embassy to request a visaappointment. If you are a medicalprofessional and have an approved I-129, I-140 or other immigration petition,you should contact the US Embassyor Consulate nearest to you to schedule a visa appointment as soon aspossible. Even if the Embassy iscurrently closed to routine interviews, an interview may be granted for amedical professional.
The medical professional with an approved I-140 must have a current priority date.
The medical professional with an approved I-140 must have a current priority date.
UPDATED: IMMIGRATION CLOSURES AND UPDATES AS A RESULT OF COVID-19
March 24, 2020
Dueto the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a variety of closures and suspensions ofimmigration services. Below is a summaryof all closures and suspensions at this time. This list is subject to change as new updates become available.
US Citizenship and Immigration Service:
ImmigrationFilings: USCIS will continue to perform duties that do not involve contact withthe public. Petitions will continue tobe accepted for filing and adjudicated by the USCIS. Effective March 20, 2020 the USCIS hasannounced the immediateand temporary suspension of premium processing on all I-129s (L-1s, H-1Bs,TNs) and I-140s.
Interviewsand In-Person Appointments:As of March 18, 2020 the USCIS has suspendedall in-person services until at least April 1, 2020. This cancellation includes interviews forgreen card cases and biometrics appointments. USCIS will send notices to allapplicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments impacted by this closureand all appointments will be automatically rescheduled when services resume.
ElectronicSignatures: Due tothe National Emergency, USCIS will accept scanned,faxed, or photocopied, original signatures. For forms that require an original “wet” signature, including the I-129,I-140, and I-485, USCIS will accept electronically reproduced originalsignatures for the duration of the National Emergency.
Department of State:
USEmbassies: Effective March 20, 2020 the Department of States has also suspendedinterviews in an effort to slow the spread of Covid-19. As resources allow, embassies and consulates will continue to provideemergency services. Appointments and interviews will resume as soon aspossible.
Travel Restrictions:
Outof the US: On March 19, 2020, the Department of State has issued a Level4 warning, advising all US Citizens to avoid all international travel. US Citizens who do not live in the United States should arrange forimmediate return to the US or prepare to remain abroad for an indefinite periodof time. Many countries are experiencingCOVID-19 outbreaks and are implementing travel restrictions, quarantines, andclosed borders.
Intothe US: Travel banshave been issued restricting travel to the US for individuals who have traveledto: Austria, Belgium, Mainland China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy,Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, UnitedKingdom, within in the last 14 days.
Thefollowing individuals are exempt from the travel ban:
- USCitizens and Lawful Permanent Residents;
- Spousesof US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents;
- Parentsor legal guardians of US Citizens of Lawful Permanent Residents, provided thatthe child is unmarried and under the age of 21;
- Siblingsof US Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents, provided both are unmarried andunder the age of 21;
- Childrenwho are under the legal custody of US Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents;and
- Othercertain foreign government and health officials.
OnApril 11, 2020 officials will reassess COVID-19 travel bans.
StaySafe and Healthy and Please Remember to Wash Your Hands Regularly.
UPDATE ON MU’s RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 CRISES
March 23, 2020
As you may have heard, the State ofOhio has issued a StayAt Home Order. This Order compelsall non-essential businesses to close through April 6, 2020. Under the Order, “Legal Services” is anessential business and therefore allowed to operate. Accordingly, MU will remain open although wehave increased our work from home program for all employees.
The health and safety of our staff isof primary importance. We believe thatby increasing our employee’s ability to work from home, we can continue totimely file all petitions and be as responsive as ever to client’s needs andconcerns. We hope that all MU clientsand friends continue to stay safe during this extraordinary time.
USCIS SUSPENDS PREMIUM PROCESSING FOR I-140 AND I-129 PETITIONS
March 20, 2020
From the USCIS PressRelease:
“U.S. Citizenship andImmigration Services today announced the immediate and temporary suspension ofpremium processing service for all Form I-129 and I-140 petitions until furthernotice due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Effective today, March 20,2020, USCIS will not accept any new requests for premium processing. USCIS willprocess any petition with a previously accepted FormI-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, in accordance withthe premium processing service criteria. However, we will not be able to sendnotices using pre-paid envelopes. We will only send batch-printed notices.Petitioners who have already filed a FormI-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, or FormI-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, using the premiumprocessing service and who receive no agency action on their case within the15-calendar-day period will receive a refund, consistent with 8 CFR 103.7(e).We will notify the public with a confirmed date for resuming premiumprocessing.
USCIS will reject the I-907and return the $1,440 filing fee for all petitions requesting premiumprocessing that were mailed before March 20 but not yet accepted.
This temporary suspensionincludes petitions filed for the following categories:
I-129: E-1, E-2, H-1B,H-2B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, R-1,TN-1 and TN-2.
I-140: EB-1, EB-2 andEB-3.
This includes new premiumprocessing requests for all H-1B petitions, including H-1B cap-subjectpetitions for fiscal year 2021, petitions from previous fiscal years, and allH-1B petitions that are exempt from the cap. USCIS previously announced thetemporary suspension of premium processing for FY 2021 cap-subject petitionsand tentative dates for resumption of premium processing service. Thisannouncement expands upon and supersedes the previous announcement.”
IMMIGRATION CLOSURES AND UPDATES AS A RESULT OF COVID-19
March 18, 2020
Dueto the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a variety of closures and suspensions ofimmigration services. Below is a summaryof all closures and suspensions at this time. This list is subject to change as new updates become available.
USCitizenship and Immigration Service: As of March 18, 2020 the USCIS has suspendedall in-person services until at least April 1, 2020. This cancellation includes interviews forgreen card cases and biometrics appointments. USCIS will send notices to allapplicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments impacted by this closureand all appointments will be automatically rescheduled when services resume.
USCISwill continue to perform duties that do not involve contact with thepublic. Petitions will continue to beaccepted for filing and adjudicated by the USCIS.
Emergencyappointments and services will be provided by the USCIS in limitedsituations.
Departmentof State: Most US Embassies have also suspended interviews in an effort to slowthe spread of Covid-19. You can findcountry specific information from the US Department of State about Covid-19 here.
TravelRestrictions: Travel bans have beenissued restricting travel to the US for individuals who have traveled to:Austria, Belgium, Mainland China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland,Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, United Kingdom,within in the last 14 days.
The following individuals areexempt from the travel ban:
- USCitizens and Lawful Permanent Residents;
- Spousesof US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents;
- Parentsor legal guardians of US Citizens of Lawful Permanent Residents, provided thatthe child is unmarried and under the age of 21;
- Siblingsof US Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents, provided both are unmarried andunder the age of 21;
- Childrenwho are under the legal custody of US Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents;and
- Othercertain foreign government and health officials.
On April 11,2020 officials will reassess COVID-19 travel bans.
Stay Safe andHealthy and Please Remember to Wash Your Hands Regularly.
USCIS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS PREMIUM PROCESSING FOR FY2021 CAP-SUBJECT PETITIONS
March 18, 2020
The USCIS will temporarilysuspend H-1B Cap petitioner’s ability to use the premium processingservice. On or before May 27, 2020, USCISwill resume processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions who hold F-1 student nonimmigrantstatus. This will allow F-1 studentsfirst priority at the premium processing service.
USCIS will allow allother cap-subject H-1B petitions to use the premium processing service no laterthan June 29, 2020.
MUSILLO UNKENHOLT’S RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS
March 16, 2020
Musillo Unkenholt LLC continues to monitor theCoronavirus (COVID-19) situation closely and how it may impact our teams,clients, and operations. The health and safety of our staff is ofprimary importance. Here in Ohio, the governor has taken the extraordinarystep of not only closing all schools, but also closing all restaurants and bars. Theexperts are telling us that the one thing that we can all do to fight thespread of this disease is to reduce social contact.
Similar to many of the unprecedented changes takingplace here in Ohio and across the globe, MU is enacting a new work policy aimedat reducing social contact.
Starting Tuesday March 17, we are asking allemployees to mainly work from home. Employees will come to theoffice in 2-hour daily shifts in order to photocopy, scan, print, and fileimmigration petitions. By reducing our employees contact with eachother by two-thirds, MU is doing our part to emphasize social distancing.
Employees will still be working regular hours andso while some inefficiencies are inevitable, rest assured that all petitionswill be timely filed, with priority given to urgencies and legal deadlines. Wehope that all MU clients and friends stay safe during this unprecedented time.
IF YOU FEEL ILL, RESCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT WITH USCIS
March 13, 2020
The USCIS has indicate that there will be nopenalty for rescheduling appointments due toillness because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
If you become ill for any reason, even if you werenot exposed to COVID-19, USCIS advises that you do not attend your appointmentat a USCIS office. You should follow the instructions on your USCIS appointmentnotice to reschedule an appointment with the USCIS.
You shouldreschedule your USCIS appointment if you:
- Were in anycountry designated as a "level 3" by the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC) within 14 days of your appointment;
- Believe thatyou may have been exposed to COVID-19 (even if you were not in a level 3 country);
- Areexperiencing flu-like symptoms (such as a runny nose, headache, cough, sorethroat or fever).
USCIS wantsto ensure the safety of foreign nationals and USCIS employees. There is no penalty if you reschedule yourappointment at this time.
MASSIVE CHANGES TO IMMIGRANTS CEAC STATUS FROM ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING TO REFUSED
March 6, 2020
The DOS’ CEAC webpage underwent amassive terminology change. As of March5, 2020, all CEAC status that had said “Administrative Processing,” now says“Refused.” According to anupdate on the DOS’ CEAC website indicates that this is a termination changethat is not an actual change to anyone’s visa applications’ status.
From their webpage: “There has been nochange in such applicants’ actual cases. This is an administrative change tomore accurately communicate case status to applicants.”
Here is the full statement:
Visas: CEAC Case Status Change
Last Updated: March 5, 2020
On March 3, 2020, the Department of State made an update to theConsular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website, our online portal forvisa applicants. A visa applicant whose case previously displayed as being in“Administrative Processing” on his or her case status page now displays asbeing “refused.”
There has been no change in such applicants’ actual cases. Thisis an administrative change to more accurately communicate case status toapplicants.
Visa applicants whose case status on CEAC had previouslydisplayed as “Administrative Processing” had been refused under section 221(g)of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Although some refusals under INA section 221(g) can beoverturned, the change in the CEAC correctly reflects that the applicant’s visaapplication has been refused. That status may change if the applicant candemonstrate to a consular officer he or she is eligible for a visa or ifinformation comes to the attention of the consular officer from other sourcesthat resolve any outstanding issues relating to the applicant’s eligibility forthe visa.
The applicant should refer to the instructions the consularofficer gave at the end of the visa interview and to travel.state.gov/visas formore information about his or her case.