Forbes: “Congress Asks USCIS To Explain Immigration Delays And Denials.”

Congress raised concerns about the rising delays and unjustified denials of various visa types at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), during a House Judiciary Committee oversight hearing on July 16, 2019. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), chair of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, specifically highlighted inefficiencies regarding changes in processing, noting their impact on students experiencing significant delays for Optical Practical Training (OPT). 

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The Cato Institute: “Immigration Application Denial Rates Jump 37% Under Trump”

According to new data from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), denials for numerous immigration applications and petitions have significantly increased over the past fiscal year. In the first nine months of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, denials for numerous immigration benefits have increased 37% since FY 2016.

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USCIS Updates Policy Guidance for When Adjudicators Can Deny Applications and Petitions

Last Friday, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) published a policy memorandum that provides updated guidance to USCIS adjudicators regarding their “discretion to deny an application, petition, or request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) when required initial evidence was not submitted or the evidence of record fails to establish eligibility,” a move that makes it easier for USCIS officers to deny applications and petitions.

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5 Quick Things to Know About NOIDs!

What’s a NOID? No, we’re not talking about the 1980s Domino’s pizza character that was created to advertise the Domino’s promise to deliver in thirty minutes or less. A Notice of Intent to Deny, commonly referred to as a NOID, is issued by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after a preliminary decision to deny the applicant’s case (e.g., visa petition, work permit, adjustment of status, etc.) due to a perceived ineligibility.

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