New U.S. Immigration Policies in 2022

The United States of America has long been considered as a dream destination for aspiring migrants; a land that promises possibilities to turn your dreams into reality. However, in order to obtain an immigrant visa, you need to know about the latest developments in U.S. immigration policies and laws. To this end, you can consult with an immigration lawyer, because they can help you to understand the legal concepts and choose the most suitable path for your immigration.
After the changes and restrictions on immigration in President Trump era, President Biden has already reversed and lifted some of them. The key developments in U.S. immigration policies in 2022 are discussed below.

Attracting international STEM talent

In order to provide greater opportunities for talented students to study in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, 22 new fields were added to encourage qualified students from all over to world to enter these fields by the F-1 student visa. Moreover, in order to participate in training courses, exchange visitors can apply for a pre-doctoral STEM program and, if qualified, they will be able to obtain the J-1 exchange visitors visa for up to 36 months. There is also a chance to get O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities in fields related to STEM. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allocated this mostly to entrepreneurs. Furthermore, employment-based, EB-2 NIW visa, could be granted to advanced degree professionals and persons with exceptional skills, especially in STEM fields. An immigration lawyer can help you more with the details of these programs. To Find out more about our professional lawyers, click here.

Get Started!

In order to provide greater opportunities for talented students to study in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, 22 new fields were added to encourage qualified students from all over to world to enter these fields by the F-1 student visa. Moreover, in order to participate in training courses, exchange visitors can apply for a pre-doctoral STEM program and, if qualified, they will be able to obtain the J-1 exchange visitors visa for up to 36 months. There is also a chance to get O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities in fields related to STEM. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allocated this mostly to entrepreneurs. Furthermore, employment-based, EB-2 NIW visa, could be granted to advanced degree professionals and persons with exceptional skills, especially in STEM fields. An immigration lawyer can help you more with the details of these programs. To Find out more about our professional lawyers, click here.

Great news for E-2 and L-2 visa holders

By the new regulations, L-2 and some E-2 visa holders do not need employment authorization documents (EAD) to work. They can ask for a “spousal” designation in their I-94 record at the border. This means they do not have to spend a long time to obtain EADs, and can start working in U.S. immediately.

Employment-based green card

To become a lawful permanent resident in U.S., one can apply for EB-1 visas. Persons with extraordinary skills and abilities in sciences, arts, athletics, business, and education, may be eligible for this visa. Also, outstanding professors and researchers, as well as, multinational managers and executives could qualify for this visa.
There is also a chance for skilled workers and professionals to apply for EB-3 visa.

Some other new U.S. immigration policies

Except for the important changes mentioned above, here are some other new developments in 2022 by the Biden Administration:

Expansion of chain immigration or family-based immigration:

The number of green-cards granted to immigrants due to family ties has expanded by increasing per-country caps.

COVID-19 related restrictions on issuing visas have been lifted:

There was a plunge in number of visas issued to immigrants due to the pandemic. With COVID-19 pandemic restrictions being lifted, the number of visas has reached the pre-pandemic level.

Refugee admissions have been boosted:

The goal set by President Biden is 125,000 refugee admissions in this fiscal year, but there is a significant shortfall.

Final words about immigrating to U.S.

As political and economic state changes, so do the immigration policies and laws. If you are planning to immigrate to U.S., you need to keep up with these changes. No matter what kind of visa you want to apply for, the process can be frustrating. Meeting with a professional immigration lawyer will help you to understand the regulations and policies better and save your time. Here you can see the services our firm provides.

Get Started!