President Obama announced an Immigration Executive Action on November 20, 2014. Prior to that time, he had requested DHS to undertake a review to inform recommendations to reform the immigration system through executive action.

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DHS announced proposals for H4 spouse work authorization on May 6, 2014. On May 12, 2014, the DHS published two proposed rules. The first was extension of employment authorization to H4 spouses of certain H1B workers. The second was enhancing opportunities for highly-skilled workers by removing obstacles to their remaining in the US. more »

On February 28, 2014, DHS designated Chile into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Certain Chilean passport holders may enter the US without obtaining a US visa as of May 1, 2014. Requirements for participation include an approved ESTA. more »

Statement from Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, July 1, 2013: “After the June 2013 Supreme Court decision holding that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, President Obama directed federal departments to ensure the decision and its implication for federal benefits for same-sex legally married couples are implemented swiftly and smoothly. To that end, effective immediately, I have directed USCIS to review immigration visa petitions filed on behalf of a same-sex spouse in the same manner as those filed on behalf of an opposite-sex spouse.” USCIS Same-Sex Marriage FAQ Update of August 7, 2013, is below. more »

On September 28, 2012, USCIS announced a new Canadian TN filing option, and also reminded US employers of current filing options for Canadian L-1 intracompany transferees. more »

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program takes effect on August 15, 2012. The program will enable certain young people who came to the United States as children and who meet a set of other qualifications to receive “deferred action” (relief from deportation) on a case-by-case basis. more »

On June 15, 2012, in an exercise of prosecutorial discretion, DHS announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative. DACA offers relief from deportation for certain undocumented young people who are in the US. The program does not offer a path to a US green card or US citizenship. But DACA closely resembles various versions of legislation introduced over the last decade known generally as DREAM. It allows qualifying individuals to temporarily remain and work legally in the US. more »

On February 9, 2012, USCIS announced that eVerify Self Check, a free online service of E-Verify that allows workers to check their own US employment eligibility status, is now available in all 50 US states, Washington, DC, Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. more »

DHS will expand TSA PreCheck (TSA Pre√™), a passenger pre-screening initiative, to additional airports across the US following its success at seven pilot locations. TSA PreCheck has screened more than 336,000 passengers through PreCheck lanes. The program enhances security by enabling TSA to focus on passengers they know less about while providing expedited screening for travelers who volunteer information about themselves prior to flying. more »

Global Entry became a permanent program on February 6, 2012. Global Entry is a voluntary initiative of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allowing expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers. Its goal is to streamline the arrivals and admission process at airports for trusted travelers through biometric identification. more »