USCIS Announces Plan to Reduce Severe Backlog and Improve Processing Times of Pending and New Cases
It’s no secret that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services’ backlog of cases awaiting a decision has grown exponentially due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resource constraint from the Trump administration. At the end of fiscal year 2021, the…
USCIS to Implement Premium Processing for Certain Previously Filed EB-1 and EB-2 Form I-140 Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is implementing premium processing for certain petitioners who have a pending Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications. This expansion of premium processing only applies to certain previously filed Form…
USCIS Simplifying, Improving Communication of Case Processing Data so Public will have access to immediate, clear answers on case processing times
WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced changes to simplify and improve how the agency communicates case processing time data to the public. As part of an agency-wide commitment to improve transparency, efficiency, and customer service, the changes…
USCIS Increases Automatic Extension Period of Work Permits for Certain Applicants
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days. The increase, which will be effective…
DHS Announces Registration Process for Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine and Sudan
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted today two Federal Register notices on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine and Sudan. These notices provide information about how to register for TPS under each country’s designation. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas previously announced the 18-month designation of…
Secretary Mayorkas Designates Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today the designation of Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. Only individuals who are already residing in the United States as of April 14, 2022, will be eligible for TPS….
Individuals Who Previously Received Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Can Now File Forms I-821D and I-765 Online
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that individuals who previously received deferred action under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) may now fileForm I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, online. DACA requestors who submit a Form I-821D…
USCIS Alert: Data-Driven Strategic Approach for Conditional Permanent Resident Interviews
Effective April 7, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an updated policy adopting a risk-based, data-driven approach when waiving interviews for conditional permanent residents (CPR) who have filed a petition to remove the conditions on their permanent resident status….
DHS to Supplement H-2B Cap with Additional Visas for Second Half of Fiscal Year 2022
The Department of Homeland Security today announced the forthcoming publication of a joint temporary final rule to make available an additional 35,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year 2022. These additional visas will be set aside for U.S….
USCIS Alert: FY 2023 H-1B Cap Season Updates
H-1B Initial Electronic Registration Selection Process Completed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2023 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s…
