Business Immigration Articles

New USCIS Policy Places Heavier Scrutiny On “Good Moral Character” Requirement For Naturalization https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/passport-315266_1280.jpg 1269 1280 Elsie Hui Arias Elsie Hui Arias https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/4ec7ccb2fcbe3d6b076576abb9e830b6e693abd48baf31e78530dad8809c0764?s=96&d=mm&r=g August 20, 2025 August 20, 2025

Elsie Hui Arias
August 20, 2025

New USCIS Policy Places Heavier Scrutiny On “Good Moral Character” Requirement For Naturalization

Reflecting a trend under the new administration to narrow eligibility for certain U.S. immigration benefits, USCIS issued a new policy memorandum on August 15, 2025 which directs its officers to place a heavier burden on applicants for naturalization to establish that they satisfy the good moral character requirement for U.S. citizenship. As background, lawful permanent…

USCIS Narrows Eligibility for Children Under Child Status Protection Act https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/family-travel.jpg 1280 854 Candice Garrett Candice Garrett https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/e8a46cebfa8b3edcb43f8a25ffed9eb7656d3715b1e8b0bc6a209c9f6ece3c37?s=96&d=mm&r=g August 14, 2025 February 4, 2026

Candice Garrett
August 14, 2025

USCIS Narrows Eligibility for Children Under Child Status Protection Act

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced an update to its Policy Manual regarding the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), which reverts back to its pre-February 14, 2023 policy. As background, for immigration purposes, a “child” is an unmarried individual who is under 21 years old. A person who is older than 21 years is ineligible…

Advisory – Caution using Advance Parole to travel https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/travel-g4d023f325_1920.jpg 1920 1231 Michele Franchett Michele Franchett https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/682142c5d71f9c57dc624eda4aa8d5049962a816ebe5177cff6265964e8d538d?s=96&d=mm&r=g February 4, 2025 February 4, 2025

Michele Franchett
February 4, 2025

Advisory – Caution using Advance Parole to travel

Many clients with pending adjustment of status applications (Form I-485) apply for and receive Advance Parole travel documents (Form I-512). The recent Executive Order pausing humanitarian parole programs does not apply to such Advance Parole documents. Nevertheless, there could be confusion over which parole documents remain valid in this rapidly-evolving immigration landscape. Individuals with underlying…

Upcoming Seminar: Immigration Issues and the 2024 Election https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/microphone-704255_1280.jpg 1280 853 Josie Gonzalez Josie Gonzalez https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8816896efe7fb845c10028176ca37d182ad7616868b08a567b1aa82c30c4b308?s=96&d=mm&r=g April 29, 2024 April 29, 2024

Josie Gonzalez
April 29, 2024

Upcoming Seminar: Immigration Issues and the 2024 Election

Presented by: Josie Gonzalez Two Wednesdays: May 15 and 22 • 9:30 a.m. – 12 noon Bethany Congregational Church 556 N. Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara Immigration is one of the top three issues impacting the outcome of the elections. Unquestionably, it is a contentious, divisive, emotionally charged, multi-faceted and seemingly insoluble issue. This two-part seminar…

USCIS Premium Processing Service Fee Increase Effective February 26, 2024 https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/uscis_data_on_application_and_petition_processing_times_feature.jpg 1000 559 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fb6b517a01ce98484211b06062fd568530868792796c102835e8a058175751b0?s=96&d=mm&r=g January 8, 2024 January 8, 2024

Kathleen Grzegorek
January 8, 2024

USCIS Premium Processing Service Fee Increase Effective February 26, 2024

The USCIS has announced an increase of the Premium Processing fee that applies to requests for expedited adjudications of eligible applications and petitions. The premium processing service is only available for applications/petitions and categories identified as eligible on the USCIS website. Any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, received on or after February 26,…

Physical Inspection of Form I-9 Documents for Forms Prepared during Temporary Virtual COVID I-9 Flexibilities Must be Completed by August 30, 2023 https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/laptop-office-hand.jpg 1280 853 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fb6b517a01ce98484211b06062fd568530868792796c102835e8a058175751b0?s=96&d=mm&r=g July 18, 2023 July 18, 2023

Kathleen Grzegorek
July 18, 2023

Physical Inspection of Form I-9 Documents for Forms Prepared during Temporary Virtual COVID I-9 Flexibilities Must be Completed by August 30, 2023

Background DHS recently announced that the temporary flexibilities for virtual Form I-9 document review (temporary virtual option) will end on July 31, 2023, and employers must complete the required physical inspection for all Forms I-9 created under the temporary policy no later than August 30, 2023. Failure to timely complete inspection is a substantive I-9…

Planned Pilot Program for US-Based Nonimmigrant Visas Stateside Processing https://www.sggimmigration.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/stairs-building.jpg 1280 853 Kathleen Grzegorek Kathleen Grzegorek https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/fb6b517a01ce98484211b06062fd568530868792796c102835e8a058175751b0?s=96&d=mm&r=g July 18, 2023 July 18, 2023

Kathleen Grzegorek
July 18, 2023

Planned Pilot Program for US-Based Nonimmigrant Visas Stateside Processing

The Department of State is currently working on a pilot program to test the viability of renewing certain petition based NIV categories without having to leave the United States. The pilot program will initially include H-1B and L visas and is anticipated to roll out in Fall 2023, however the exact timeline and scope have…