U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services News
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
USCIS Updates Guidance on the International Entrepreneur Rule
We have updated guidance on the International Entrepreneur Rule in our Policy Manual to clarify the required triennial increase in investment, revenue, and other thresholds, and to clarify how we arrange biometrics appointments for certain applicants.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Issues New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in our Policy Manual to further clarify the types of evidence that we may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) EB-1 immigrant visa classifications.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Makes Additional Updates to Policy Guidance for the “Sought to Acquire” Requirement Under the Child Status Protection Act
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating guidance in the Policy Manual (Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 7), to clarify how to calculate the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) age for noncitizens who demonstrate extraordinary circumstances.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
Guidance on Paying Fees and Completing Information for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
Be sure to provide the correct payment and complete information when filing Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Announces Employment Authorization Procedures for Liberians Covered by Deferred Enforced Departure
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today posted a Federal Register notice establishing procedures for Liberians covered by Deferred Enforced Departure to apply for Employment Authorization Documents that will be valid through June 30, 2026.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of Fiscal Year 2025
We have received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated cap on H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural workers for the first half of fiscal year 2025. Sept. 18 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2025.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Extends Green Card Validity Extension to 36 Months for Green Card Renewals
Effective Sept. 10, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services automatically extended the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) to 36 months for lawful permanent residents who file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS to Celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day
On Sept. 17, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day as part of Constitution Week (Sept. 17 to 23).
Categories: Immigration News Resources
California Service Center Relocates
On Aug. 12, the California Service Center (CSC) moved to a new facility as USCIS centralizes processing for immigration benefits.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
Tools Outage
USCIS will conduct system maintenance to the Contact Relationship Interface System (CRIS) on Wednesday, Sep. 5, 2024 at 11:50 p.m. through Thursday, Sep. 5, 2024 at 2:00 a.m. Eastern.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS to Open International Field Office in Quito, Ecuador
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced the opening of an international field office in Quito, Ecuador on Sept. 10. The Quito Field Office will focus on increasing refugee processing capacity, consistent with USCIS commitments under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and helping reunite individuals with their family members already in the United States.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Updates Guidance for F/M Nonimmigrant Student Classification
We are updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding when students may be eligible for optional practical training (OPT) extensions for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
DHS Implements Keeping Families Together
The Department of Homeland Security today announced a Federal Register notice to implement Keeping Families Together, a process for certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Publishes Filing Guide for Keeping Families Together
On Aug. 19, USCIS will begin accepting requests for, using a new electronic form, Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
California Service Center Moving to New Address August 12
On Aug. 12, the California Service Center will move to a new address. The new facility will help streamline processes by concentrating operations in the new location.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
Second Random Selection from Previously Submitted Registrations Complete for FY 2025 H-1B Regular Cap
USCIS recently announced that we would need to select additional registrations for unique beneficiaries to reach the fiscal year 2025 H-1B regular cap numerical allocation.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Will Conduct Second Random Selection for Regular Cap from Previously Submitted FY 2025 H-1B Cap Registrations
In March, USCIS conducted an initial random selection on properly submitted electronic registrations for the fiscal year 2025 H-1B cap, including for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS to Begin Triennial Investment and Revenue Threshold Updates for International Entrepreneur Rule
Effective Oct. 1, 2024, we will increase the investment and revenue thresholds under the International Entrepreneur Rule, as required every three years. The application fee will not change, however.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
Secretary Mayorkas Announces Extension and Redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension and redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from September 18, 2024, to March 17, 2026, due to conditions in Somalia that prevent individuals from safely returning.
Categories: Immigration News Resources