Chris Prescott

Surprisingly, this Trump administration has not attacked the H-1B program, at least not with regard to filings through USCIS.  Under the previous Trump Administration, we saw a huge uptick in requests for further evidence (RFEs), and denials and approval rates took a nosedive. Since Trump took office earlier this year, approval rates remain high, although...

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In the current administration, reports have surfaced highlighting an increase in cases of administrative processing. Both visa applicants and legal experts are voicing growing concerns over the extended delays experienced in the visa adjudication process due to this administrative procedure. This article aims to elucidate the nature of administrative processing, explore the different categories it...

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On June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a decision in the ongoing legal battle surrounding birthright citizenship.  Unfortunately, the decision failed to address the substance of the executive order, and its decision was focused on whether lower federal courts have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions.  Background On the first day of his presidency,...

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The U.S. Department of State has announced a significant change in the visa vetting process for international students and exchange visitors. Under new guidance released on June 18, 2025, all applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications will now be required to make their social media accounts public as part of expanded security...

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Recently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released updated policy guidance concerning TN visas, which are a vital component of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). What is the TN Visa? The TN (Trade NAFTA) visa is a nonimmigrant classification that allows qualified Canadian and...

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On March 21, 2025, a significant development unfolded in the realm of U.S. immigration oversight. The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) received a directive to cease operations. This directive, issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), effectively placed all CIS Ombudsman staff, except for one Senior Executive Service...

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President Donald Trump has reintroduced a key policy from his first term, announcing a new travel ban that affects citizens from 12 countries, with additional restrictions for seven others. This ban is set to take effect on Monday at 12:01 a.m., a move designed to prevent the chaos seen in 2017 when a similar ban...

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The first step to initiating an employer sponsored green card is to request the prevailing wage as part of the PERM process.  This requires setting out the job duties and minimum requirements so that the Department of Labor can determine the wage.  These prevailing wage determinations (PWDs) are now taking 5-6 months. In the past...

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