The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reached a settlement agreement last week in which USCIS has agreed to adjudicate H-4 and L-2 extension and EAD applications on Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, when these forms are filed with the Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker in H-1B and L-1 status.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its February 2023 Visa Bulletin. Overall, there is almost no movement in priority dates for employment and family-based categories in February. The only category to have any movement is the F-1 category for Mexican nationals for which the priority date advances by almost five months. All other family-based categories remain the same.
Read MoreBeginning January 30, 2023, USCIS will accept premium processing requests for all pending and initial I-140 Immigrant Petitions for Multinational Executive and Manager (EB-1C) and I-140 Immigrant Petitions for National Interest Waivers (EB-2 NIW).
Read MoreU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has proposed an increase in most of its government filing fees due to significant budgetary shortfalls. USCIS also plans to change the premium processing time from 15 calendar days to 15 business days.
Read MoreThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced new programs for the safe, orderly, and lawful migration of Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans to the U.S. similar to the humanitarian programs implemented for Venezuelans and Ukrainians in response to the surge in irregular migration at the southern border.
Read MoreUSCIS has implemented a new policy to automatically extend the validity of green cards for lawful permanent residents who apply for naturalization. Upon filing for naturalization on Form N-400, the green cards will be extended for two years beyond the original expiration date.
Read MoreDue to ongoing civil war and unsafe country conditions in Yemen, the Department of Homeland Security has announced the extension and redesignation of Yemen for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) to September 3, 2024. TPS for nationals of Yemen was previously set to expire on March 3, 2023.
Read MoreDue to a recent surge in COVID-19 cases in China, travelers from China, Hong Kong and Macau will need to show a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery in order to board flights to the United States effective January 5, 2023.
Read MoreThe State Department has extended the option for US Consulates to waive the in-person interview requirement for certain visa applicants through the end of 2023. Qualifying visa applicants can still apply for their visas by mail instead of appearing in-person for an interview at the US Consulate.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its January 2023 Visa Bulletin. Overall, there is very little movement in priority dates for employment and family-based categories in January. The one unfortunate development is that the first preference employment-based category (EB-1) for Indian and Chinese nationals will no longer be current. Priority dates for the second and third employment-based categories (EB-2 and EB-3) and family-based categories remain the same as last month.
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