USCIS Expected to Suspend Biometrics Requirement for Certain Visa Categories The USCIS is expected to soon suspend the biometrics requirement for H-4, L-2, and E-1, E-2, and E-3 visa categories of Form I-539 applications.  The agency announced its intention on May 4, in a hearing of a federal litigation that had challenged the USCIS’ lengthy […]

U.S. Imposes India Travel Ban and Consulates Cancel Appointments On April 30, President Biden issued a Proclamation than bans the entry into the U.S. of foreign nationals traveling from India. This ban will take effect May 4, 2021. The Proclamation will bar entry to those individuals who have been present in India for 14 days […]

USCIS to now give Deference to Prior Decisions in Adjudicating Extension Petitions  The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 27 that it will reinstate an earlier 2004 policy that directs officers to give deference to prior decisions when adjudicating extension requests, involving the same parties and facts.  The new guidance takes effect immediately. Under the […]

Consulates in India | Severely Truncated Services and Partial Closures Mumbai:  Due to rising COVID rates and for the safety and protection of our customers and staff, the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai currently is only providing essential services to U.S. citizens and limited and emergency nonimmigrant and immigrant visa services until further notice.  New Delhi:  […]

India Restores Certain Categories of Electronic Visas (e-visas)   The Government of India has restored the electronic visa (e-visa) facility for foreign nationals from 156 countries. The following categories of e-visas have been restored: e-business visa; e-conference visa; e-medical visa; and e-medical attendant visa. It is imperative to note that the e-tourist visa still stands suspended. […]

OCI Cardholders Now No Longer Required to Carry Old Passports for Travel to India The Indian missions in the U.S. have issued a press release stating that the requirement of carrying both old and new passports, along with the OCI card, has been done away with. Going forward, an OCI cardholder, whose OCI card bears […]

H-1B Cap Lottery for FY 2022 Completed & the NIV Travel Ban Set to Lapse on March 31, 2021 USCIS Completes Cap Lottery  On March 30, 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had completed the lottery and had selected H-1B registrations for FY 2022. We have anecdotally learnt that several petitioners […]

Immigration Related Updates from India  India Travel Update  As India is in the midst of a second and sweeping COVID-19 wave, scheduled international commercial passenger services remain closed. However, international scheduled flights are permitted on select routes on a case-by-case basis. India has established “air transport bubble” arrangements with certain countries (such as the U.S., […]