The U.S. Department of State, on April 07, 2023, released the May 2023 visa bulletin. The latest visa bulletin establishes the EB-3 final action date of 01JUN22 & EB-2 final action date of 15FEB22 for the Rest of the World, Mexico, and the Philippines. The U.S. Department of State warned that In...
On April 19, 2023, USCIS extended the temporary suspension of the biometrics submission requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, or E nonimmigrant status through 09/3...
On April 21, 2023, the Office of Foreign Labor Certifications Announced the Timeline for Form ETA-9089 Case Creation and Case Submission in Foreign Labor Application Gateway. The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) will begin accepting the revised Form ETA-9089, Applications for Permane...
On March 31, 2023, USCIS issued policy guidance on the permanent removal of the requirement that the civil surgeon's signature on Form I-693 be dated no more than 60 days before an applicant files the application for the underlying immigration benefit. Guidance is effective as of 03/31/2023; comm...
On March 29, 2023, USCIS issued guidance on when the last day of filing a benefit request or response falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a federal holiday, stating that it will consider a paper-based filing timely if received by the end of the next business day. This clarification is consistent with t...
On March 28, 2023, US State Department published a Final Rule to increase consular fees for nonimmigrant visa applications and border crossing cards for Mexican citizens aged 15 and over. The rule will go into effect on 05/30/2023. The fee changes implemented by the rule are: The application ...
On March 23, 2023, USCIS announced that the certain flexibilities it first announced in March 2020 to address the COVID-19 pandemic will end on March 23, 2023. USCIS previously notified the public in its Jan. 24, 2023, announcement that barring any changes presented by the pandemic, the extension...
The U.S. Department of State, on March 21, 2023, released the April 2023 visa bulletin. In the latest visa bulletin, the final action dates for Employment-Based Second (EB-2) preference category have been retrogressed for individuals from India, Mexico, the Philippines, and all around the world...
On March 06, 2023, USCIS announced the expansion of premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking STEM-OPT extensions who have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization and wish to request a premium processing u...
On February 14, 2023, USCIS issued a policy guidance in the USCIS policy manual to update when an immigrant visa “becomes available” for the purpose of calculating the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) age in certain situations. The CSPA protects certain beneficiaries from losing eligibility fo...
The U.S. Department of State, on February 09, 2023, released the March 2023 visa bulletin. In the latest visa bulletin, the priority dates have remained the same. There has been a retrogression of the priority dates in the Employment-Based Fourth (EB-4) preference category. The final action date...
Based on an exclusive interview with Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Bloomberg Law reported on February 09, 2023, that the State Department (DOS) will launch a pilot program later this year offering stateside visa renewals for H-1B and ...
On February 08, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that starting February 10, 2023, self-petitioning abused spouses, children, and parents must file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, and Form I-485, Application to Register Perman...
On January 23, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that certain asylum applicants can now file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online. Effective immediately, applicants for employment authorization under category (c)(8), Pending Asylum and With...
On February 03, 2023, U.S. Embassy in India tweeted that a visa applicant may be able to get a visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your destination abroad. This move comes as US Embassy in India is trying to reduce the massive backlog in visa processing. Recently US Embassy in Ba...
On January 30, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new designs to improve the security of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). Since January 30, 2023, USCIS has started issuing redesigned cards. The new ...
The U.S. Department of State, on January 11, 2023, released the February 2023 visa bulletin. In the latest visa bulletin, for Certain Religious Workers preference category, Final Action Dates were introduced. The final action dates and the dates for filing for the employment-based first, second,...
On January 27, 2023, USCIS announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2024 H-1B cap would open at noon EST on March 1, 2023, and run through noon EST on March 17, 2023. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit thei...
On January 12, 2023, USCIS announced that it is implementing the final phase of the premium processing expansion for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications. Unlike previous phases of the expansion, this phase applies to new (initial) petitions, ...
On January 23, 2023, USCIS announced that it is extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident St...
On January 24, 2023, USCIS announced that it is extending certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through March 23, 2023, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors. Under these flexibilities, USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date set forth in the fo...
On December 19, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided information for nonimmigrant workers whose employment has terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily. These workers may have several options for remaining in the United States in a period of authorized stay base...
The U.S. Department of State, on December 19, 2022, released the January 2023 visa bulletin. In the latest visa bulletin, for the employment-based first preference category for China and India, the final action dates and dates for filing have been introduced. Also, for employment fourth preferenc...
Beginning December 23, 2022, one must use the 12/23/22 edition of Form I-485, or USCIS will reject the filing. Also, if one files Form I-485 before December 23, 2022, one must use the 07/15/22 edition of Form I-485, or USCIS will reject the filing. On September 09, 2022, DHS published the ...
Effective December 12, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to allow USCIS to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization. Thi...