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News in Brief:

The following additional items may be of interest to our readers:

Visa Waiver Program Users Restricted from Traveling to Libya, Somalia, and Yemen: The list of restricted countries for the Visa Waiver Program has grown by three. Libya, Somalia, and Yemen have joined Iran, Iraq, Sudan, and Syria as “red-flag” countries. DHS has limited eligibility for the Visa Waiver Program for individuals that have visited these countries since March 1, 2011. These restrictions do not apply to dual nationals of Libya, Somalia, and Yemen, but continue to apply to dual nationals of Iraq, Iran, Sudan, and Syria. Other individuals such as journalists, government officials, and NGO employees can receive waivers on a case-by-case basis.

Petitioning for a Sibling? Consider Using a DNA Test: The Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) overruled a USCIS policy that prevented consideration of sibling-to-sibling DNA tests. The BIA held that USCIS had no real justification, scientific or otherwise, to refuse consideration of DNA tests results in sibling cases. Therefore, a DNA test might be worthwhile to include, especially when the siblings are more advanced in years and birth certificates were issued late or not at all. A DNA test that indicates a 99.5% match between the siblings is powerful evidence of a qualifying relationship.

TPS Designation Extended for Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia: Recent DHS notices extended the designation of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for six months, from 5/22/16 through 11/21/16. The 60-day re-registration period runs from 3/22/16 through 5/23/16.