U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services News
USCIS Updates Guidance on Flexibilities Available During and After Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating our Policy Manual to clarify flexibilities that may be available to benefit requestors during and after an emergency or unforeseen circumstance.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Updates Guidance on Case Assistance and Feedback
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it is updating Volume 1, Part A, of the USCIS Policy Manual to reflect the available avenues for case assistance or feedback.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS Publishes Final Rule for the Application of Certain Mandatory Bars in Fear Screenings
As part of our continued efforts to deliver more timely consequences for noncitizens encountered who do not have a legal basis to remain in the United States—efforts that have resulted in a 60% decrease in unlawful entries since June 4—the Department of Homeland Security has finalized the rule for the Application of Certain Mandatory Bars in Fear Screenings, following publication of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in May 2024.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS Helps Companies Fill More Jobs, Strengthens Worker Protections in the H-2 Programs with Final Rule
Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule that will allow U.S. companies that need seasonal workers to more quickly and efficiently fill those jobs.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS Strengthens H-1B Program, Allowing U.S. Employers to More Quickly Fill Critical Jobs
Rule will provide greater benefits and flexibilities for U.S. employers and specialty occupation workers, helping to meet U.S. labor needs
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Issues Updated Guidance on Evidence for Applicants Under the International Entrepreneur Rule
We are issuing updated policy guidance on the types of evidence that may support an application under the International Entrepreneur Rule.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS Announces Permanent Increase of the Automatic Extension Period for Certain Employment Authorization Document Renewal Applicants
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule that will support U.S. employers, foster economic growth, and improve access to employment authorization documents (EAD) for eligible individuals by permanently increasing the automatic extension period of employment authorization and employment authorization documentation from up to 180 days to up to 540 days for eligible noncitizens who file a timely request to renew their work authorization.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Revised Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
On Dec. 10, 2024, we published a new edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status, which includes updates to questions and instructions. Starting Feb. 10, 2025, we will accept only the 10/24/24 edition of Form I-485 and will reject any older editions of Form I-485.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B Cap
USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2025.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Now Requires Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record to be Submitted with Form I-485 for Certain Applicants
We now require certain applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with their Form I-485 or the Form I-485 may otherwise be rejected.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS, DOL Make Nearly 65,000 Additional H-2B Visas Available for Fiscal Year 2025
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a temporary final rule (TFR) making available an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2025.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Designating Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status
The Department of Homeland Security today posted a Federal Register notice designating Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Updates Guidance on Determining Custody for Children Acquiring U.S. Citizenship
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration and Services is issuing guidance regarding the legal and physical custody requirements for purposes of acquisition of U.S. citizenship under section 320 and naturalization under section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State (State), has announced the lists of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs for the next 12 months.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS to Supplement H-2B Cap with Nearly 65,000 Additional Visas for Fiscal Year 2025
Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), announced that it expects to make an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, on top of the congressionally mandated 66,000 H-2B visas that are available each fiscal year.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Updates Guidance on Lawful Admission for Permanent Residence Requirement for Naturalization
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that a naturalization applicant’s burden to demonstrate they have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence applies only to their initial admission as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) or adjustment to LPR status.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
Immigration Medical Examination Documentation Will Be Valid Indefinitely for Certain Afghan Nationals
We are updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part B, Chapter 3, to reflect that immigration medical examination documentation for certain Afghan nationals who arrived in the United States during Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) is valid indefinitely.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Updates Policy Manual Guidance for T Visa
We are revising our guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Classification for Victims of Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons; Eligibility for “T” Nonimmigrant Status Final Rule.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS Offers Protections for Lebanese Nationals Currently in the United States
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing new actions to provide temporary immigration reprieve to eligible Lebanese nationals currently in the United States and allowing them the opportunity to request work authorization.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Updates Policy Guidance Clarifying Expedite Requests
USCIS is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how we consider expedite requests related to government interests and requests related to emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations, including travel-related requests.
Categories: Immigration News Resources