Posted by Ann Badmus | Sep 27, 2023 |
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance in our Policy Manual to increase the maximum available validity period to 5 years for initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain noncitizens who are employment authorized incident to status or c...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Sep 15, 2023 |
Physicians seeking a national interest waiver should ensure that their employment contracts and public health letters are up to date meet the NIW requirements before filing their petitions. This clarification simplifies the documentation process for eligible physicians, making it easier to demonstrate their commitment to serving in underserved areas or at VA facilities.
Posted by Ann Badmus | Jul 13, 2023 |
In a surprising turn of events, the U.S. Department of State has announced a severe retrogression in immigrant visa availability in the August 2023 Visa Bulletin. This sudden development has significant implications for those waiting to obtain their green cards.
Retrogression Explained
Retrogr...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Jul 12, 2023 |
On July 12, we announced the availability of myProgress (formerly known as personalized processing times) for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and Form I-131, Application for Travel Document.
Applicants with a pending Form I-765 or Form I-131 can now log in to their USCIS ...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Jul 06, 2023 |
WASHINGTON—On June 28, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services launched a new self-service tool allowing benefit requestors, and their attorneys and accredited representatives, to reschedule most biometric services appointments before the date of the appointment.
Introducing this tool is anoth...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Jun 20, 2023 |
Current Beneficiaries Must Re-register to Maintain Their Status After June 30, 2024
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today posted Federal Register notices extending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designations of El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, and Nicaragua for 18 month...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Jun 12, 2023 |
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced the expansion of premium processing for applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. Online filing of For...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Apr 28, 2023 |
As previously announced, on March 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year 2024 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption also known as ...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Apr 25, 2023 |
The United States is a land of opportunity for entrepreneurs, and many aspiring noncitizen business owners dream of starting their ventures in the country. However, obtaining a green card to live and work in the US can be a challenging process, especially for entrepreneurs who do not have the sup...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Apr 21, 2023 |
Effective immediately, we are updating Volumes 5 and 12 of the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how U.S. citizenship and naturalization provisions apply to adopted children.
This policy manual update consolidates and clarifies existing information in Volume 5 and supplements policy in Volume 12 of...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Apr 19, 2023 |
USCIS has 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. T...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Apr 11, 2023 |
Cross-chargeability is a term that refers to a process used by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to facilitate the processing of green card applications. The term describes a provision in the U.S. immigration law that allows certain applicants to be charged to a count...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Mar 31, 2023 |
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is removing the requirement that civil surgeons sign Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, no more than 60 days before an individual applies for an underlying immigration benefit, including ...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Mar 30, 2023 |
If you're a foreign national seeking a green card in the United States, you've likely heard of the Visa Bulletin. This monthly publication from the U.S. Department of State is a critical resource for those navigating the complex immigration process, as it provides important information on visa av...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Mar 28, 2023 |
H-1B Initial Electronic Registration Selection Process Completed
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2024 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Mar 28, 2023 |
Because the U.S. issues a limited number of employment sponsored green cards as determined by “preference” category and the applicant's country of chargeability (typically country of birth), most applicants who apply for a green card based on a job need to know their priority date.
Based on t...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Mar 23, 2023 |
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that 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 ch...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Mar 15, 2023 |
Under U.S. immigration law, employers who wish to hire foreign workers on a permanent basis may apply through employment based green card processes such as the PERM labor certification process. The PERM process and some of other green card categories must demonstrate that they are offering a wag...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Mar 10, 2023 |
The Department of Homeland Security announced the extension and redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from March 18, 2023, through Sept. 17, 2024, and posted a Federal Register notice for public inspection.
The extension of TPS for Somalia allows current be...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Mar 09, 2023 |
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has published additional online resources on uscis.gov to provide an overview of some of the temporary and permanent pathways for noncitizen entrepreneurs to work in the United States. This guide also highlights some of the most ...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Feb 14, 2023 |
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to update when an immigrant visa number “becomes available” for the purpose of calculating a noncitizen's age in certain situations under the Child Status Protection Act (C...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Jan 30, 2023 |
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced new designs to improve security of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). We will begin issuing the redesigned cards on Jan. 30, 2...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Jan 27, 2023 |
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2024 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 1 and run through noon Eastern on March 17, 2023. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will ...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Jan 25, 2023 |
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a Federal Register notice for the extension and redesignation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from Feb. 4, 2023, through Aug. 3, 2024. DHS previously announced the decision to ext...
Posted by Ann Badmus | Jan 24, 2023 |
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through March 23, 2023. Under these flexibilities, USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date set forth in the following requests or notices before taking...