On September 18, 2023, through a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published today, DHS proposed modernizing and improving the H-2 programs by providing greater flexibility and protections for participating workers and improving the program's efficiency. This would include strengthening protec...
On September 12, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued policy guidance to clarify how it evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability and outstanding professor or researcher first preference employment-based immigrant visa classifications (EB-1). Guidance...
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reminds affirmative asylum applicants that, starting Sept. 13, 2023, you must bring an interpreter to your asylum interview if you are not fluent in English or wish to proceed with your interview in a language other than English. Sign language interprete...
DOS announced that as of 09/07/2023, all available diversity visas were issued for FY2023. The Diversity Visa (DV) program awards up to 55,000 immigrant visas per year and allows those from countries with low immigration rates to the United States to enter for a chance to apply for a U.S immigran...
The U.S. Department of State, on September 08, 2023, released the October 2023 visa bulletin. The latest visa bulletin contains notes on final action dates and dates for filing; it also contains notes on the scheduled expiration for EB-4 and employment-based visa availability for FY024. Final ac...
On August 01, 2023, CBP issued a notice informing airlines of USCIS updates regarding certain receipt notices that includes extension language of up to 48 months for certain pending permanent green card applicants and renewals. This change started on January 11, 2023, for Form I-829, and on Janua...
On August 21, 2023, USCIS announced the launch of a new online form for individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request an in-person appointment at their local field office without having to call the USCIS Contact Center. This online appointment request form allows individuals ...
The U.S. Department of State, on August 04, 2023, released the September 2023 visa bulletin. The latest visa bulletin contains notes on DV-2024 results, availability of employment-based visas during September, numerical limits under INA, and more. For September 2023, F2A numbers EXEMPT from pe...
On July 27, 2023, USCIS announced that it has determined that to reach the FY2024 H-1B CAP, it will need to select additional registrations from previously submitted electronic registrations using a random selection process. In the coming days, USCIS will announce when it has completed the second...
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 ...
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