Due to the ongoing civil war and extraordinary humanitarian conditions in Syria, the Department of Homeland Security has announced the extension and redesignation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) until September 30, 2025. Syrian nationals in the United States who currently benefit from TPS will be able to extend their status for an additional 18 months, from April 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
Read MoreUSCIS will increase filing fees effective April 1, 2024. The agency has not raised its filing fees in over seven years, and took a year to review the 5,400 comments it received after it first announced fee increases in January 2023. Despite the major increases for certain filings, USCIS will provide special fee discounts for qualified nonprofit organizations and small business employers. Through these fee increases, USCIS intends to hire more officers to help reduce the case processing backlog and improve operational efficiency.
Read MoreUSCIS has announced the registration window for this year’s H-1B Lottery will open on March 6, 2024 at 12pm (EST) and will close on March 22, 2024 at 12pm (EST). During this period, US employers can register foreign nationals for the annual H-1B lottery with information on their valid passport or travel document. Registrations can only be submitted online. Once the registration window closes, USCIS will not accept any new registrations.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its February 2024 Visa Bulletin. February’s Visa Bulletin is quite disappointing as there will be very little forward movement in both the family and employment-based immigrant visa categories. Fortunately, there are no retrogressions in any of the categories.
Read MoreUSCIS 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.
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