Resubmission of Fingerprints Effective April 27, 2026

Posted on by Susan Lane

ENHANCED SECURITY CHECKS EFFECTIVE APRIL 27, 2026 REQUIRING RESUBMISSION OF FINGERPRINTS

President Donald Trump’s administration has mandated what it calls “enhanced” security checks for immigration applicants, following an executive order Trump signed in February which directed that “DHS immigration authorities must access criminal history record information (CHRI) in the custody of federal criminal justice agencies to the maximum extent permitted by law.”

Effective April 27, 2026, USCIS officers are directed to resubmit fingerprints for pending cases if the FBI information for those cases was received prior to April 27, 2026. USCIS said that “any delay in decision issuance should be brief and resolved shortly.” The enhanced checks will affect pending applications for which immigrants submit fingerprints, such as applications for permanent residence and naturalization. In some cases, it may be necessary for the applicant to be scheduled for another biometrics appointment.

The status of Trump’s H-1B rules now that Biden is in office

Posted on by Susan Lane

Forbes has posted a great article explaining the status of Trump’s H-1B rules under the Biden administration. 

“During its four years, the Trump administration inflicted most of its immigration damage on businesses and high-skilled foreign nationals through memos, executive orders and proclamations. Near the end, Trump officials published two regulations to restrict H-1B visas and prepared a third rule for publication. Businesses, universities and H-1B professionals now wonder what the start of the Biden administration means for the fate of these three Trump-era H-1B rules.

One indication as to the fate of these rules came on Joe Biden’s first day. A January 20, 2021, memorandum sent by White House Chief of Staff Ronald A. Klain asked executive departments and federal agencies to postpone rules for 60 days that ‘have been published in the Federal Register . . . but not taken effect.’ The memorandum adds: ‘For rules postponed in this manner, during the 60-day period . . . consider opening a 30-day comment period to allow interested parties to provide comments about issues of fact, law, and policy raised by those rules, and consider pending petitions for reconsideration involving such rules. As appropriate and consistent with applicable law, and where necessary to continue to review these questions of fact, law, and policy, consider further delaying, or publishing for notice and comment proposed rules further delaying, such rules beyond the 60-day period.’

For rules not yet published, the memorandum states, ‘With respect to rules that have been sent to the OFR [Office of the Federal Register] but not published in the Federal Register, immediately withdraw them from the OFR for review and approval . . .'”

Continue Reading at Forbes.com

The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021

Posted on by Susan Lane

President Biden is sending a bill to Congress on day one to “restore humanity and American values to our immigration system” per the press release.

Some highlights of the bill are set forth below. Exactly how these provisions will be implemented is not yet known.

Create an earned roadmap to citizenship for undocumented individuals. The bill allows undocumented individuals to apply for temporary legal status, with the ability to apply for green cards after five years if they pass criminal and national security background checks and pay their taxes. Dreamers, TPS holders, and immigrant farmworkers who meet specific requirements are eligible for green cards immediately under the legislation. After three years, all green card holders who pass additional background checks and demonstrate knowledge of English and U.S. civics can apply to become citizens. Applicants must be physically present in the United States on or before January 1, 2021. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may waive the presence requirement for those deported on or after January 20, 2017 who were physically present for at least three years prior to removal for family unity and other humanitarian purposes.

Lastly, the bill further recognizes America as a nation of immigrants by changing the word “alien” to “noncitizen” in our immigration laws.

Keep families together. The bill reforms the family-based immigration system by clearing backlogs, recapturing unused visas, eliminating lengthy wait times, and increasing per-country visa caps.  It also eliminates the so-called “3 and 10-year bars,” and other provisions that keep families apart. The bill further supports families by more explicitly including permanent partnerships and eliminating discrimination facing LGBTQ+ families. It also provides protections for orphans, widows, children, and Filipino veterans who fought alongside the United States in World War II. Lastly, the bill allows immigrants with approved family-sponsorship petitions to join family in the United States on a temporary basis while they wait for green cards to become available.

Grow our economy. This bill clears employment-based visa backlogs, recaptures unused visas, reduces lengthy wait times, and eliminates per-country visa caps. The bill makes it easier for graduates of U.S. universities with advanced STEM degrees to stay in the United States; improves access to green cards for workers in lower-wage sectors, and eliminates other unnecessary hurdles for employment-based green cards.

The bill provides dependents of H-1B visa holders work authorization, and children are prevented from “aging out” of the system.

The bill also creates a pilot program to stimulate regional economic development, gives DHS the authority to adjust green cards based on macroeconomic conditions, and incentivizes higher wages for non-immigrant, high-skilled visas to prevent unfair competition with American workers.

“Incentivizes higher wages for non-immigrant, high-skilled visas” is concerning, as DOL just issued a final rule that increases prevailing wages and DHS issued a rule on a wage-based H-1B CAP lottery selection process. The Biden-Harris Administration is planning to issue a regulatory freeze on Trump’s “midnight regulations” that he issued in his final days, which should include these new H-1B rules. We will closely monitor actions and updates.

Hong Kong Executive Order

Posted on by Hayden Smith

Because of this July 14, 2020 Executive Order, there is great concern whether persons born in Hong Kong will be chargeable to the China visa category. The Visa Office continues to review this issue but there is legal authority that the Order cannot alter the separate chargeability of Hong Kong. Section 103 of the Immigration Act of 1990 granted the separate chargeability treatment to persons born in Hong Kong. Section 103 states that Hong Kong will be treated as a separate foreign state, “and not as a colony or other component or dependent area of another foreign state.”  Stay tuned for updates on this important issue.

Presidential Proclamation Update

Posted on by Hayden Smith

The US Department of State confirmed, “If you were in the US on June 24th but left and your visa expired, you are not subject to the Proclamation [and] may renew your visa before December 31, 2020.”

In a reversal of prior guidance, the US Department of State announced via Twitter that Presidential Proclamation 10052 of June 22, 2020, amending Presidential Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020, does not apply to H-1B, H-2B, J-1, and L nonimmigrants who were physically present in the United States on June 24, 2020, and whose visas in one of the affected categories subsequently expired. Thus, should an individual who was in the United States on June 24, 2020, leave the United States and require renewal of a visa to return, the individual is eligible to apply for a new visa at a US consulate/embassy abroad once routine visa services become available.

As always, please contact Cantey Hanger before you finalize any international travel plans and the situation is subject to change.

PRESIDENT TRUMP’S JUNE 22, 2020 PROCLAMATION

Posted on by Hayden Smith

We are all aware that this proclamation suspends the entry into the U.S. of certain H-1B, H-2B, J and L nonimmigrants and their spouses and children.

There are few exceptions and they primarily focus on the national interest of the U.S. including providing medical care or medical research for COVID-19, providing services critical to defense or law enforcement, and providing services that facilitate the economic recovery of the U.S.

Be aware that this proclamation also instructs other actions to be taken to ensure that the presence in the U.S. of H-1B nonimmigrants and those seeking EB-2 or EB-3 benefits do not disadvantage U.S. workers. There are no details provided at this time as to what these actions may be, but speculation abounds that they could include an increase in Department of Labor audits of labor certifications and possibly re-testing of the market for labor certifications.