Business Immigration Insights

The USCIS announced that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for citizens of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia will end as of May 21, 2017. TPS for these countries was set to expire on November 21, 2016. The Secretary of DHS has determined that conditions in these countries have improved, so that TPS benefits are no longer required. To make the transition easier for TPS beneficiaries, the program will end six months after the current designation expires. Those affected will retain their TPS-based employment authorization documents through May 20, 2017, and must depart the United States ...

The State Department registration period for the Congressionally mandated 2018 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery begins October 4, 2016, and ends on November 7, 2016. The DV lottery allows nationals from certain countries to apply for immigrant visas (“green cards”) outside of the normal immigrant visa process. Individuals already being sponsored for immigrant visas by family members or employers may participate as well. Requirements include being a national of an eligible country (although an applicant may qualify based on his or her spouse’s nationality) and high school ...