Law Office of Young Ah Ri, P.C.

09/25/2025

[USCIS Announces Implementation of the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test]

September 18, 2025 –U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the rollout of the 2025 Naturalization Civics Test, which reintroduces the framework of the 2020 Naturalization Civics Test with certain updates.

The updated test continues to focus on the fundamentals of American history as well as the principles and structure of the U.S. government. Importantly, there are no changes to the English language portion of the naturalization exam.

Key Dates:
• Effective Date: September 18, 2025
• Application Cutoff: Applicants who file for naturalization on or after October 20, 2025 will be required to take the new 2025 Civics Test.

The official notice was published in the Federal Register at 90 FR 45047 (Sept. 18, 2025).

06/13/2025

[Travel Ban Issued for 19 Countries]

On June 4, 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation imposing a new travel ban to take effect on June 9, 2025. This nationality-based proclamation suspends immigrant and non-immigrant visa issuance for citizens from the following 12 countries: Afghanistan, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, for nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, the proclamation suspends issuance of immigrant visas, as well as nonimmigrant visa issuance in the B, F, M, and J classifications.

The proclamation outlines certain exceptions. The ban does not apply to the following categories of travelers:

- Foreign nationals who are in the United States on June 9, 2025, regardless of their immigration status;

- Foreign nationals who have a valid visa in any category as of June 9, 2025;

- S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders);

- Dual nationals of a country designated in the proclamation when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a non-designated country;

- Those applying for immediate relative family-based immigrant visas (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear and convincing evidence of identity and family relationship (e.g., DNA);

- Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, those performing a necessary support role, and immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting event as determined by the Secretary of State;

- Any foreign national traveling with a valid nonimmigrant visa in the following classifications: A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO‑2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5, or NATO-6;

- Those apply for the following visa types: adoption (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4); Afghan Special Immigrant Visas; Special Immigrant Visas for United States Government employees; and immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran;

- Those whose travel is deemed to advance a critical U.S. national interest involving the Department of Justice as determined by the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security; and

- Those whose travel is deemed to serve a U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security.

There will be a periodic review of the list of travel ban countries to assess whether the restrictions should be continued, modified, suspended, or supplemented.

05/07/2025

[USCIS To Stop Communicating with SSA]

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will no longer be communicating with the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding issuance of social security numbers after approvals of employment authorization documents (EADs). Previously, USCIS automatically sent applicants’ information to the SSA, which would then issue a social security number without requiring a separate application. USCIS will also no longer notify the SSA to update an individual’s status following naturalization.

Moving forward, individuals who have an approved EAD application and do not already have a social security number will need to apply for one at their local office. Similarly, individuals who become citizens will need to visit their local office to update their citizenship status with the SSA. This change aligns with a broader trend of revising inter-agency communications. Applicants can use the Online Social Security Number Application Process (oSSNAP) to complete their application and schedule an appointment.

12/05/2024

[Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record Now Required to Be Submitted Together with Form I-485]

In an effort to increase efficiency and reduce the number of Requests for Evidence issued, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on December 2, 2024 that it now requires Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, to be submitted together with Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust status, for certain applicants.

Medical examinations conducted by an approved civil surgeon are generally required from applicants for adjustment of status in order to show that such applicants are not rendered ineligible under the health-related grounds of inadmissibility. Effective immediately, if an applicant is required to submit Form I-693 or a partial Form I-693 (e.g. Vaccination Record), it must be submitted together with Form I-485. If Form I-485 is filed without Form I-693, it may be rejected by USCIS.

07/19/2024

[New Parole in Place (PIP) Program to Begin August 19, 2024]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will begin accepting applications for the new Parole in Place program on August 19, 2024. Any applications filed before that date will be rejected. DHS is yet to release the application form. Additional information about eligibility, the application process, and the associated filing fees will be published in a forthcoming Federal Register notice.

While awaiting additional guidance, potential applicants can start preparing by gathering evidence of their eligibility, including:

Evidence of a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024, such as a marriage certificate;

Documentation of proof of identity, including expired documents, such as:

- Valid state or country driver’s license or identification;
- Birth certificate with photo identification;
- Valid passport; or

Any government issued document bearing the requestor’s name, date of birth, and photo.

Evidence of spouse’s U.S. citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate or Certificate of Naturalization;

Documentation to establish continued presence in the United States for at least 10 years, as of June 17, 2024, including documents such as residential records or utility bills, school records, medical records, financial records, and tax returns, among others.

For children of PIP spouses, evidence will include documentation establishing the following:

- the child’s relationship to the noncitizen parent such as a birth certificate or adoption decree;
- the noncitizen parent’s marriage to the U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024; and
- the child’s presence in the United States as of June 17, 2024.

We are closely tracking alerts on the program and will provide updated information as it becomes available.

07/19/2024

[New Process Announced to Promote Family Unity in the Immigration System]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it will establish a new process providing a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who entered the United States without inspection and are married to US citizens.

Under the current laws, individuals who entered the United States without inspection are not eligible to adjust their status in the United States and must instead consular process abroad. For many, this means triggering a three or ten-year bar of inadmissibility due to the unlawful presence accrued. President Biden’s “parole-in-place” initiative will allow individuals to adjust their status without having to leave the United States, thereby avoiding the issue of the unlawful presence bar. The program will essentially give the applicant a lawful entry, protect them from deportation, give them work authorization, and a pathway to permanent residency and eventual citizenship. Although solving the issue of an inspected entry, it is important to note that parole-in-place does not fix other issues of inadmissibility, such as prior immigration violations or criminal issues.

To be considered on a case-by-case basis for the program, the applicant must:

Be legally married to a US citizen as of June 17, 2024 (or be a stepchild of a US citizen as of June 17, 2024);
Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
Be continuously present in the United States for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024;
Not pose a threat to public safety or national security;
Not have a disqualifying criminal history;
Be otherwise eligible to apply for adjustment of status;
Merit a favorable exercise of discretion.
Additional information on the application process, required documentation, fee, and other details will be published in the Federal Register Notice, expected later this summer. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

06/19/2024

[New Process Announced to Promote Family Unity in the Immigration System]

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it will establish a new process providing a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who entered the United States without inspection and are married to US citizens.

Under the current laws, individuals who entered the United States without inspection are not eligible to adjust their status in the United States and must instead consular process abroad. For many, this means triggering a three or ten-year bar of inadmissibility due to the unlawful presence accrued. President Biden’s “parole-in-place” initiative will allow individuals to adjust their status without having to leave the United States, thereby avoiding the issue of the unlawful presence bar. The program will essentially give the applicant a lawful entry, protect them from deportation, give them work authorization, and a pathway to permanent residency and eventual citizenship. Although solving the issue of an inspected entry, it is important to note that parole-in-place does not fix other issues of inadmissibility, such as prior immigration violations or criminal issues.

To be considered on a case-by-case basis for the program, the applicant must:

- Be legally married to a US citizen as of June 17, 2024 (or be a stepchild of a US citizen as of June 17, 2024);
- Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
- Be continuously present in the United States for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024;
- Not pose a threat to public safety or national security;
- Not have a disqualifying criminal history;
- Be otherwise eligible to apply for adjustment of status;
- Merit a favorable exercise of discretion.

Additional information on the application process, required documentation, fee, and other details will be published in the Federal Register Notice, expected later this summer. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

http://yrilaw.com/new-process-announced-to-promote-family-unity-in-the-immigration-system/

Immigration lawyer, Immigration attorney, Chicago Immigration attorney, Best Immigration Lawyer, Immigration law firm

06/19/2024

[Policy Guidance Issued on “Schedule A, Group II” Occupations]

For certain occupations under the employment-based 2nd and 3rd preference, the Department of Labor (DOL) has previously determined that there are not sufficient U.S. workers that are able, willing, qualified, and available. These occupations are referred to as the “Schedule A” occupations and currently include the following:

Group I: registered nurses and physical therapists
Group II: beneficiaries with exceptional ability in the sciences or arts (except performing arts) and beneficiaries with exceptional ability in performing arts
Unlike for most EB-2 and EB-3 petitions, employers sponsoring a beneficiary for a Schedule A occupation submit the labor certification directly with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), bypassing the labor market test and DOL review.

In the interest of consistency, USCIS issued policy guidance to incorporate the DOL’s regulatory definition of “sciences or arts” as it relates to Group II. More specifically, the DOL defines the term “sciences or arts” as “any field of knowledge or skill with respect to which colleges and universities commonly offer specialized courses leading to a degree in the knowledge or skill”. This update means that a broader range of occupations will be eligible for Schedule A, Group II classification, which shows USCIS’ ongoing effort to make the immigration process more accommodating for individuals with exceptional abilities in the sciences and arts.

http://yrilaw.com/policy-guidance-issued-on-schedule-a-group-ii-occupations/

Immigration lawyer, Immigration attorney, Chicago Immigration attorney, Best Immigration Lawyer, Immigration law firm

04/08/2024

[Validity of Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693)]

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that a properly completed Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, will not expire and can be used indefinitely as proof that the applicant is not inadmissible on health-related grounds. This policy change comes after consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and recent developments in reporting procedures. As of November 1, 2023, the CDC is requiring civil surgeons to share certain medical data directly with the CDC electronically. Additionally, the reporting of public health information collected on Forms I-693 to local health departments has been improved. As such, USCIS determined that the validity of a Form I-693 should no longer be limited to a certain time period.

USCIS officers continue to have discretion to request additional evidence or a new Form I-693 if they have reason to believe that the submitted Form I-693 does not accurately reflect the applicant’s medical condition or that the applicant’s medical condition has changed since submission of Form I-693.
This policy update is effective immediately. As a reminder, Forms I-693 signed by a civil surgeon before November 1, 2023 will remain valid for two years from the date of the civil surgeon’s signature.

09/15/2023

09/15/2023

https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3714354794/

Established in 2007, we have earned a strong reputation through hard work and dedication in serving our clients. We exclusively practice immigration law, including but not limited to FB/EB petitions, adjustment of status, hardship waivers, NIV and IV consular processing, naturalization, agency interviews, etc. Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Although we expect our associate to shoulder significant responsibilities, we work closely as a team to deliver top-notch assistance to our clients from diverse backgrounds.

Candidates must be/have:
Extremely well organized, self-directed, detail-oriented
Excellent research skills to stay current on changes in laws
Excellent verbal & written communication skills
Strong sense of responsibility and work ethics
At least 2+ years of office experience as an immigration attorney

Responsibilities:
FB petitions
PERM & sponsored EB petitions
Self-sponsored EB-1(A) & NIW petitions
Non-immigrant employment petitions: H-1B, O-1, TN, L-1, R-1
Adjustment of status
Consular processing for IV or NIV processing
I-601A, I-601 Waivers
Removal proceedings (seeking prosecutorial discretion)
Naturalization, Consular report of birth abroad
SB-1 Returning resident
Recording progress/communication updates

Requirements:
JD (Licensed to practice)
Authorized to work in the US

Schedule:
Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person. A hybrid work schedule is to be considered after the probation period.

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:
401(k)
Health insurance
Paid time off

Supplemental pay types:
Bonus opportunities

04/12/2023

[USCIS Removes 60-Day Rule for Civil Surgeon Signatures]

Previously, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) only accepted Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, if the form was signed no more than 60 days before an individual applied for the underlying immigration benefit. Although this 60-day requirement has been subject to a temporary waiver since December 9, 2021, USCIS announced that it is now permanently removing the requirement in order to increase efficiency and reduce the need to request updated Forms I-693 from applicants for otherwise valid Forms I-693.

This policy update will allow USCIS to accept Forms I-693 for up to two years after the date the civil surgeon signed the form.

-693 #60-DayRule

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