Immigration News

A big policy change is redefining one of the key requirements for U.S. citizenship: good moral character is now to be considered for U.S. citizenship, rather than the absence of it. As of August 15, 2025, the Trump administration is requiring that USCIS take a more “holistic” approach in determining whether to afford U.S. citizenship...Read More

At Oltarsh & Associates, P.C., a New York immigration law firm, we want to keep you informed about the changing landscape of U.S. immigration policies. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the immigration enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), updates its database of individuals in detention centers biweekly. This dataset on...Read More

As of June 2025, the US Department of State requires applicants for F (academic student), M (vocational student), and J (exchange visitor) visas to disclose social media usernames from the past five years and set their profiles to “public” for vetting. This policy, exclusive to these visa categories, does not apply to other nonimmigrant visas...Read More

The looming expiration date of your temporary protected status (TPS) or nonimmigrant visa can feel like a ticking clock, especially when navigating the complexities of U.S. immigration laws. Whether you’re a TPS beneficiary from a designated country like Venezuela or hold a nonimmigrant status such as an H-1B or E-2 visa, extending your temporary status...Read More

Facing immigration court for the first time can be intimidating, especially in a city as bustling and complex as New York (NYC). For many immigrants and their families, as well as other people affected by immigration policies, a hearing at 26 Federal Plaza may be the most important day of their lives—one that can determine...Read More