Immigration Update: Week of May 7 – 13, 2026
MASSA VIANA LAW | IMMIGRATION INSIGHTS | May 2026 5 Things You Need to Know This Week Stay updated with the most important Immigration News and developments that matter most to you — clearly explained, with guidance on what to do next. 1- Massa Viana Law Receives Social Service Partner Award from […]
Immigration Update: Week of April 24 – 29, 2026
MASSA VIANA LAW | IMMIGRATION INSIGHTS | April 2026 4 Things You Need to Know This Week Stay updated with the most important Immigration News and developments that matter most to you — clearly explained, with guidance on what to do next. 1- The Supreme Court Heard Arguments This Week on Ending TPS for Haitians and Syrians. […]
Immigration Update: Week of April 16 – 23, 2026
MASSA VIANA LAW | IMMIGRATION INSIGHTS | April 2026 6 Things You Need to Know This Week The immigration developments that matter most to you — clearly explained, with guidance on what to do next. 1- Attorney Alma Cothias and Massa Viana Law Featured in The Washington Post, AP, and The New Bedford Light This […]
Immigration Update: Week of April 14 – 20, 2026
MASSA VIANA LAW | IMMIGRATION INSIGHTS | April 2026 5 Things You Need to Know This Week The immigration developments that matter most to you — clearly explained, with guidance on what to do next. 1- MVL Supports The Learning Community This Thursday This Thursday, Attorney Alma Cothias and Business Manager Ketlyn DePaula will be […]
The U.S. Visa Bond Pilot Program: What It Is, Who It Affects, and What Your Family Needs to Know Before April 2, 2026
MASSA VIANA LAW | IMMIGRATION INSIGHTS | MARCH 2026 The U.S. Visa Bond Pilot Program: What It Is, Who It Affects, and What Your Family Needs to Know Before April 2, 2026 By Massa Viana Law | Published March 22, 2026 | Consular Processing, Family Immigration, Travel If you have a parent, sibling, or relative […]
The H-1B Lottery Just Changed: Weighted Selection for FY2027
The H-1B Lottery Just Changed: What Employers and Workers Need to Know Before March 19 On March 4, 2026, USCIS opened the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap—and for the first time, the selection process is no longer random. A new weighted lottery system, finalized on February 27, 2026, means your […]
Senators speak out against the deployment of border patrol agents
Senators raise their voices against the deployment of border patrols.
We are taught in America that we need to speakup about injustice, viana said
Boston police arrest 118 at Emerson College pro-Palestinian tent encampment . Students released with arraignments pushed off to early May.
Immigration Relief Program Blocked by Federal Judge
A federal judge has blocked a Biden administration program that aimed to ease the path to residency for undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens. This program, known as “Keeping Families Together,” would benefit those who have lived in the U.S. for over 10 years and pose no security threat. The program relied on an existing […]
Fifteen States sue to stop Keeping Families Together Program
Texas and fourteen other states just filed a complaint in the United States District Court, Easter District of Texas, to stop President Biden’s new parole-in-place program. The lawsuit states that absent court intervention, the program effectively “provides a new pathway to a green card and eventual citizenship, allowing more than 1.3 million people to circumvent […]
USCIS Fee Increase in April 2024: What You Need to Know
Preparing for Upcoming Changes in Immigration Application Costs The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is set to implement significant fee increases for various immigration applications starting April 1, 2024. This marks the first major adjustment in fees since 2016 and aims to address the agency’s operational and financial challenges as an annual shortfall due […]
U.S. Immigration Update: 18-Month Deferral for Palestinian Removal
On February 14, 2024, President Biden designated Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinian nationals currently in the U.S. The designation is the result of months of work by a coalition civil and human rights organizations. The action will enable thousands of Palestinians to stay in the United States for the next 18 months without fear […]
Important Update: USCIS Increases Premium Processing Fees in 2024
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has recently announced a significant change that will impact many seeking expedited processing of their immigration applications. Effective February 26, 2024, USCIS is adjusting the filing fees for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, to align with inflation rates. This blog post will detail the changes and what […]
President issues Executive Order on AI with Immigration Provisions
On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order (EO) with several implications for the security, innovation, and advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). This directive encompasses key immigration provisions aimed at attracting and retaining international AI expertise. Among key recommendations: An assessment and initiation of policy amendments deemed necessary to refine and modernize immigration […]
Travel to U.S. for Eligible Israeli Citizens now through ESTA
As of October 19, 2023, eligible individuals from Israel can start applying for authorization to travel to the U.S. via the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). This comes after the DHS, in conjunction with the Department of State, officially inducted Israel into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program on September […]
Extension and Redesignation of TPS for Venezuelan Nationals: What It Means
This article discusses the recent announcement by the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, on the extension and redesignation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, effective from September 20, 2023. The decision was made following a thorough review of Venezuela’s ongoing humanitarian, security, political, and environmental challenges, which prevent […]
Summary of the proclamation suspending entry of immigrants issued April 22, 2020
President Trump signed an Executive Order on immigration on April 22, 2020. The order becomes effective at 11:59 p.m. tonight, April 23, 2020, and will last for 60 days, if not renewed. According to the text, the official goal of the order is to protect “disadvantaged and unemployed Americans from the threat of competition for […]
USCIS extend COVID-19 closure to June 4, 2020
On March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services temporarily suspended in-person services at its field offices, asylum offices, and application support centers (ASCs) to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). USCIS is readying offices to re-open in compliance with local and state orders, on or after June 4. Employees in these offices are continuing […]
USCIS Offices Preparing to Reopen on June 4
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is readying individual domestic offices to reopen to the public on or after June 4, after it suspended routine in-person services to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). In offices that remain closed to the public, USCIS staff are continuing to perform duties that do not involve face-to-face contact […]
SCOTUS rules decision to end DACA was unlawful
Earlier today, in an historic victory, the Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration’s decision to end the DACA program was unlawful. We would like to again extend our congratulations to our Dreamer clients and friends. With this decision, current DACA-holders may continue to renew their employment authorization. And most importantly, people who never previously applied […]
Consulates Authorized to Give Fiancée Visas High Priority
As U.S. consulates resume normal operations, the Department of State has authorized consular officers to give K visas high priority. The directive also allows consular officers to revalidate an approved petition in four-month increments due to delays caused by COVID-19 travel restrictions and closures. The K visa is a visa category for foreigners, and their […]
DHS to update Form I-9
An updated version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, will be released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) this coming August. One notable change is a checkbox for E-Verify-enrolled employers to demonstrate that they have inspected identity and employment authorization documents remotely. With news about the revised I-9, DHS also announced that it will […]
Resumo da Proposta de Lei Imigratória de Joe Biden
Imediatamente depois de tomar posse, o Presidente Joe Biden enviou ao Congresso uma proposta de reforma imigratória que visa legalizar milhões de pessoas indocumentadas nos Estados Unidos que estavam presentes no país desde 1 de janeiro de 2021. É importante ressaltar que a proposta, enviada ao Congresso, embora represente significativo avanço na política imigratória, possivelmente […]
Decisão Niz-Chaves abre possibilidade de residência permanente para determinados indivíduos
Na quinta-feira, dia 29 de abril, a Suprema Corte Americana emitiu uma decisão no caso Niz-Chavez v.. Garland, confirmando o que a corte já havia decidido anteriormente em outro caso semelhante (Pereira v. Sessions), e reafirmando a possibilidade de legalização para certos indivíduos que estejam em processo de remoção e residam há mais de dez […]
Attorney Viana becomes a JFS Board Member
June 11, 2023: Antonio Viana is named a board member of the Jewish Family Services of Metrowest at the Annual Meeting of the organization, held at Temple Beth Elohim, in Wellesley. JFS’s mission is to provide vital social, health and community services to alleviate suffering, enhance lives and support people in need. For a full […]
Mayor Spicer present at Health and Immigration Fair
November 18, 2018: The Massa Viana team together with Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer and City Councilor Margareth Shepard at the Framingham Health and Immigration Fair, hosted by Saint Tarcisius Church. The office was present to provide pro bono legal advice to those present.