This article considers the use of P-1 athlete visas as a viable option for international esports competitors.

On August 31, 2018, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a final rule increasing the premium processing filing fee for all eligible applications postmarked on or after October 1, 2018. USCIS’s stated reason is that the fee increase is consistent with inflation as the premium processing fee was last adjusted in 2010.

The new premium processing fee represents an increase of almost 15% and changes the filing fee from $1,225.00 to $1,410.00. Individuals with specific questions are encouraged to consult with their Mintz Levin immigration attorney to fully assess how his or her immigration situation may be affected by this new rule.

This afternoon, USCIS announced that it is extending the temporary suspension of premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions. In addition, starting September 11, 2018, USCIS will expand the suspension to include additional types of H-1B petitions. The suspension is expected to last until February 19, 2019.

The US Supreme Court issued a decision today upholding the third version of the travel ban established by the Trump administration. This ban, issued via Presidential Proclamation, imposes travel restrictions on citizens of Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Somalia.

On Tuesday, April 24, 2018, a District of Columbia federal District Court judge issued an order vacating the decision to rescind the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) program and requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to continue to accept and process both new and renewal DACA applications.

In early October, we reported that U.S. visa processing in Turkey had been suspended amid security concerns, and that the government of Turkey had responded with a suspension of visa processing for U.S. citizens.

On October 16, 2017, the US Department of State (DOS) shut down registration for the FY 2019 Diversity Lottery due to a technical problem and will restart the registration period on October 18, 2017. All entries submitted online prior to October 18, 2017 are not valid and have been excluded from the system. 

The U.S. Mission to Turkey has announced that it has suspended all nonimmigrant (temporary) visa processing at posts in Turkey. This includes all nonimmigrant visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara and the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a new version of its Application for Employment Authorization Form I-765 to allow applicants to simultaneously apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). 

On June 26, 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced a redesigned version of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. This form is used in the final stage of the permanent residence, or “green card,” process for most applicants physically present in the United States.