January 2019 Visa Bulletin
The Department of State has posted the visa bulletin for January 2019. EB-1 Priority Workers final action date is now October 1, 2017 for all nationals, except those born in India and China who now have a cutoff date of…
Immigration Policy Alert: USCIS Announces New Medical Exam Validity Period for Green Card Applicants Starting November 1, 2018
Generally, all applicants for adjustment of status to permanent residence (I-485 green card) must submit a Form I-693 medical examination report, which is completed by USCIS approved physicians (“civil surgeon”) in the United States. On October 16, 2018, the USCIS announced…
November 2018 Visa Bulletin for Employment Based Green Cards
The Department of State has posted the visa bulletin for November 2018. EB-1 Priority Workers final action date is still April 1, 2017 for all nationals, except those born in India and China who now have a cutoff date of…
Citizenship applicants now take English reading and writing tests on digital tablet at naturalization interviews
USCIS news release: On Oct. 1, USCIS began using digital tablets to administer the English reading and writing tests during naturalization interviews as part of the agency’s ongoing business modernization efforts. Although USCIS applicants already use digital tablets to sign…
Cap-Gap and Unlawful Presence Warning for F-1 OPT Students with Pending H-1B Petitions
September 30 marked the end of work authorization for F-1 students who were working based upon their pending “cap-gap” H-1B petitions. Until the H-1B petition is decided, these students can remain in the U.S. but must stop working as of…
October 2018 Visa Bulletin
The Department of State has posted the visa bulletin for October 2018. There has been significant improvement for many categories as compared to this month’s visa bulletin. EB-1 Priority Workers final action date is now April 1, 2017 for all nationals,…
USCIS Begins Implementing New Policy to Refer Certain Denied Applicants to Deportation Court
Starting today, October 1, 2018, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) may issue Notices to Appear (NTA) on denied applications which terminate the applicant’s status, including but not limited to, Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust…
Suspension of Premium Processing for Most H-1B Petitions Begins September 11
Premium processing offers guaranteed 15 day processing for many types of immigration petitions and applications, including H-1B petitions. Earlier this year, the USCIS suspended premium processing for H-1B petitions for employment subject to annual numerical limits, commonly known as the…
Compelling Circumstances Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Option Explained
An employment authorization document (EAD) is a coveted benefit allowing many immigants to work legally in the United States. For example, applicants for asylum, temporary protected status, F-1 or M-1 student optional practical training, adjustment of status, DACA, and many…
September 2018 Visa Bulletin shows significant delays in approvals for many employment-based green card applicants
The Department of State has posted the visa bulletin for September 2018. Unfortunately, most employment-based (EB) categories for all nationals are backlogged, representing a slow down of green card approval times. EB-1 Priority Workers final action date is now June 1,…
