The bilateral adoption agreement between the United States and Vietnamexpired on Sept. 1, 2008. Both nations have agreed to cease processing new adoption cases until the United States and Vietnamsign a new bilateral agreement.
Question: Now that Sept. 1 has passed, what is the status of adoptions from Vietnam?
CBP memo concerning the exercise of prosecutorial discretion with respect to individuals who came to the U.S. as children.
Please check attached document to read CBP Memo.
USCIS memo on amending the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) to provide guidance on whether an “adoption” is valid for immigration purposes.
Please check the attachment to read guidance memo.
Release Date
08/01/2025
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual that will enhance the capability to screen and vet family-based immigrant visa petitions. This update explains requirements and adjudication of these petitions, including eligibility criteria, filing, interviews, and decisions.
This policy memorandum (PM) provides guidance to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers in adjudicating Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special Immigrant, filed by a self-petitioning adopted child, when the adopted child has been battered or abused. Please click the attachment for more information on the memorandum
We have received a particularly remarkable green card approval a few weeks ago. USCIS alleged fraud and denied the green card where the spouse of a US citizen had entered the US on visa waiver and then applied for Adjustment of Status (AOS) within a few days after entry. We were retained once the green card had been denied. The allegations of fraud or misrepresentation are particularly troublesome because they operate as a PERMANENT bar against immigration. There is a narrowly tailored waiver available, but it can be difficult to obtain.
This policy memorandum (PM) provides guidance to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers in adjudicating Form I - 360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special Immigrant , filed by a self - petitioning adopted child, when the adopted child has been battered or abused.
Please click on the attachment to read more.
Quite a few of our community members have asked me about the basic laws governing adoptions. One of my colleagues has prepared brief write up for you.
USCIS recently began transferring some Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, cases filed by lawful permanent residents for their eligible family members from the Vermont Service Center to the California Service Center.
If your case was transferred, USCIS will send you a notice listing the transfer date and where your case will be processed. Your original receipt number will not change and this will not delay the processing of your cases except for the additional time needed to transfer the file.
USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form:
Form EOIR-29, Notice of Appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals from a Decision of a DHS Officer07/01/2025 11:10 AM EDT
Edition Date: 07/01/25. USCIS will still accept the following editions: July 2019, March 2018, July 2015, January 2015, October 2013, October 2012, and April 2009 editions.
For more information, please visit the Forms Updates page.