USCIS recently updated its policy manual for international students and their dependents. A major positive development has been the agency’s recognition that international students can continue to qualify for student status even if they have been sponsored for employment or family-based green card petitions.
Read MoreUSCIS has announced that it will raise the filing fee for premium processing requests (Form I-907) effective February 26, 2024. Petitions and applications filed on or after February 26, 2024 with the incorrect filing fee will be rejected and returned to the petitioner or applicant.
Read MoreThe State Department (DOS) announced today that it will launch the Stateside Visa Renewal Pilot Program for certain qualified H-1B visa applicants to renew their visas domestically in the United States. They have capped the number of H-1B visa applications they will accept to approximately 20,000. The pilot program will run from January 29, 2024 through April 1, 2024, and will open approximately 4,000 visa application slots for each of the first five weeks of the program.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its January 2024 Visa Bulletin. As we wrap up 2023 and start 2024, the DOS brought us a pleasant surprise for the new year. After several months of very little progress in priority dates, we finally will see forward movement in many employment-based immigrant visa categories and final action dates for the family-based immigrant visa categories. And, there will be no retrogressions in any of the categories in January, which is always welcome news.
Read MoreThe Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a settlement with Apple, Inc. regarding the company’s hiring practices during the test of the labor market for employment-based green card sponsorship that allegedly disadvantaged US citizens and lawful permanent residents. Apple has agreed to pay $6.75 million in civil penalties and create an $18.25 million back pay fund for eligible victims of their discriminatory hiring practices.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its December 2023 Visa Bulletin. This month, there is very little forward movement in all the family and employment-based immigrant visa categories. While this is disappointing, there were no retrogressions in any of the categories for this month.
Read MoreThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced it will extend and expand temporary protected status (TPS) for nationals of Cameroon due to the ongoing armed conflict, and environmental and sociopolitical crisis in Cameroon. Cameroonians who are already benefiting from TPS (referred to as “TPS beneficiaries”) can extend their status for an additional 18 months, from December 8, 2023 until June 7, 2025.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its November 2023 Visa Bulletin. Much like last month, the November 2023 Visa Bulletin is disappointing as there is little forward movement in both the family and employment-based immigrant visa categories. Fortunately, there are no retrogressions in any of the categories.
Read MoreThe online registration period for the annual green card lottery will open tomorrow, Wednesday, October 4, at 12 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), and end on Tuesday, November 7 at 12 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST). We recommend registering as soon as possible because the DOS website slows down or freezes due to very heavy traffic towards the end of the registration period.
Read MoreThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced it will extend and expand temporary protected status (TPS) for nationals of Venezuela due to the ongoing sociopolitical and economic crisis in Venezuela. Venezuelans who are already benefiting from TPS can extend their status for an additional 18 months until September 10, 2025.
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