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Dear Readers:

World affairs impact US immigration policies all the time. Most often, they come up in political asylum and refugee cases where individuals must prove on a case by case basis that they would be subject to persecution if they are forced to go back to their home country. But sometimes matters grow so grave in a political country where everyone who goes back to that country is in enough danger that the White House decides to offer all of that country’s nationals in the US a form of relief called Temporary Protected Status that allows them to reside and work in the US until the situation in their country becomes safe again. Natural disasters and wars are most often the cause of granting TPS. The option is not granted very often – usually only a few times a decade. And this week Secretary Napolitano announced TPS will be granted to Syrians due to the unrest in that country.

The other recent news of interest to many readers is the release of the April State Department Visa Bulletin. Indian and Chinese EB-2 applicants have been getting much good news in the last few months as their priority dates have advanced significantly. But a word of warning. We have received information from the State Department that dates will retrogress beginning in May. If you have a current priority date, file before the end of April or you may be waiting awhile to be able to get the benefits of filing for adjustment of status.

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Readers are reminded that they are welcome to contact my law office if they would like to schedule a telephone or in person consultation with me or one of my colleagues. If you are interested, please call my office at 901-682-6455.

Regards,

Greg Siskind