April 11
USCIS has the power to help U.S. employers and lawfully admitted foreign nationals to extend any and all immigration-related deadlines, including expiration of status. Many doctors, nurses and healthcare workers are foreign nationals on nonimmigrant visas fighting on the front lines to save lives.
Other countries have already extended nonimmigrant visas and expiring status due to extenuating circumstances caused by COVID-19 – the U.S. needs to follow suit.
Immigration attorneys and their clients face a hazardous catch-22: choose between missing a filing deadline that could jeopardize clients or violate stay at home orders and expose themselves to a deadly virus.
On March 23, 2020, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) sent a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) calling for an immediate suspension of immigration benefit deadlines and the maintenance of status for nonimmigrants in the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the letter, the AILA filed a complaint on behalf of its member against USCIS in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia seeking the necessary measures.
Many other federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), have extended deadlines to help mitigate risk without penalty. USCIS needs to extend filing deadlines so that foreign nationals lawfully present in the United States can maintain status during this pandemic. Otherwise, USCIS is imperiling the public as a whole.
Recent Immigration Articles
Check out these articles below
A recent report by Michael Sainato from The Guardian highlights how President Trump’s latest immigration rules are creating serious issues for both workers and businesses in the United States. Published on July 29, 2025, the article shows the real-world effects of cutting work visas and permits, affecting many people’s daily lives and the overall economy.
Read MoreIncreased Public SupportAmerican public opinion toward immigration has grown more positive than it’s been in decades. A new Gallup poll shows 79% of Americans view immigration as a “good thing,” the highest share in 25 years. This shift in sentiment comes even as political leaders debate stricter policies, indicating a broad public appetite for legal
Read MoreInternational students applying for or renewing a J-1 exchange visa in 2025 should be aware of several important changes introduced this year. Below is a concise guide focusing only on 2025 developments, including a brief pause in visa interview scheduling, new social-media screening rules, and special prioritization for J-1 physician applicants. Follow this guidance to
Read MorePast Trump Administration Efforts (2018–2020) During his first term, President Donald Trump publicly floated the idea of ending birthright citizenship – the constitutional guarantee under the 14th Amendment that anyone born on U.S. soil is automatically a citizen. In October 2018, Trump said he intended to issue an executive order to redefine or restrict birthright
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