Category: Immigration Updates

Ninth Circuit clarifies in a 2-1 decision that state criminal convictions vacated under California Penal Code § 1473.7(a)(1) erase such convictions for immigration purposes

Immigration Updates
On August 15, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit published Bent v. Garland, an important decision clarifying for the first time in a published opinion whether California state convictions vacated under...

September 2024 Visa Bulletin

Immigration Updates
The Department of State (DOS) posted the September 2024 Visa Bulletin which, in addition to final action dates and dates for filing, contains notes regarding the FY2025 diversity visa results, visa availability for EB-3 and...

NIW and O-1A Petition Trends

Immigration Updates
The USCIS issued a fact sheet indicating that the number of O-1A extraordinary ability petitions filed has increased from 5,420 in FY2018 to 10,010 in FY2023. This increase in O-1A petitions in STEM fields is likely the...