U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services News

USCIS Impact: 2021–2025

The Department of Homeland Security announced on Jan. 10, 2025, the extension of Temporary Protected Status for Ukraine for 18 months, from April 20, 2025, to Oct. 19, 2026, due to armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ukraine that prevent individuals from safely returning.

The Department of Homeland Security announced on Jan. 10, 2025, the extension of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan for 18 months, from April 20, 2025, to Oct. 19, 2026, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Sudan that prevent individuals from safely returning.

The Department of Homeland Security announced on Jan. 10, 2025, the extension of the 2023 designation of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela for 18 months, from April 3, 2025, to Oct. 2, 2026, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Venezuela that prevent individuals from safely returning.

The Department of Homeland Security’s H-1B final rule and H-2 final rule take effect on Friday, January 17, 2025, modernizing and improving requirements for the H-1B nonimmigrant and H-2 nonimmigrant visa programs.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating its policy guidance to clarify how we evaluate eligibility for the second preference employment-based (EB-2) classification for immigrant petitions filed with a request for a national interest waiver (NIW).

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a Federal Register notice (FRN) providing updated procedures for submitting a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, accompanied by a permanent labor certification, application for Schedule A designation, or national interest waiver (NIW) request.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of fiscal year 2025 with start dates on or before March 31, 2025, under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (FY 2025 TFR).

The Department of Homeland Security announced today the extension of Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador for 18 months, from March 10, 2025, to Sept. 9, 2026, due to environmental conditions in El Salvador that prevent individuals from safely returning.

President Biden has declared Thursday, Jan. 9, a National Day of Mourning to remember the life and legacy of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th president of the United States, and has issued an Executive Order Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on January 9, 2025.

On Jan. 17, 2025, we will publish a revised edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (edition date: 01/17/25). The form has been revised to align with the recently announced H-1B modernization final rule and the H-2 modernization final rule. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

Rule will provide greater benefits and flexibilities for U.S. employers and specialty occupation workers, helping to meet U.S. labor needs

We are issuing updated policy guidance on the types of evidence that may support an application under the International Entrepreneur Rule.

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.

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.

USCIS will conduct system maintenance to the Contact Relationship Interface System (CRIS) on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 at 11:50 p.m. through Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 at 2:00 a.m. Eastern.