Visa Bulletin For July 2021

Number 55

Volume X

Washington, D.C

View as Printer Friendly PDF

A. STATUTORY NUMBERS

This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during July for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.

Agency

Green Card

Immigration Law

Business or Employment Related Travel to the USA During Ban - National Interest Exception NIE

The travel bans necessitated by the COVID pandemic have created much flux and uncertainty. Synthesizing the information now finally available from various US government sources, it is clearer now that many intending travelers can seek and obtain an exemption from the ban under a series of provisions for a National Interest Exception (NIE).

 

Do you Qualify for an NIE?

 

Vermont Service Center Address Change

Release Date 

06/14/2021

Effective June 14, 2021, the Vermont Service Center will no longer receive any incoming mail at the St. Albans, VT facility, which is being decommissioned.

Mail sent to the previous addresses will be forwarded for one year, but any mail sent to the previous addresses after June 2022 may be returned to the sender by the United States Postal Service or the courier service used.

Please refer to the chart below for the updated addresses.

Mail

Previous Address

Rajiv's Comments in the News - First bi-annual agenda of Biden admin scraps proposed move of fixed visa tenure for international students

Published by: The Times of India  - Date: June 12, 2021

Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:

Rajiv S Khanna, Arlington based Immigration Attorney had then explained to TOI that this would cause problems for international students. A four-year cap is definitely shorter than a PhD or even a bachelor’s degree course because students can opt for an extra semester.

For more details please see the attachment below.

USCIS Announces Lockbox Filing Flexibilities

Release Date 

06/10/2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will offer filing flexibilities to provide relief to certain applicants and petitioners impacted by delays at a USCIS lockbox. These flexibilities only apply to benefit requests submitted to a USCIS lockbox and not to USCIS service centers or field offices.

The following temporary flexibilities are effective for 60 days from June 10 until Aug. 9, 2021:

USCIS Updates Policies to Improve Immigration Services

Release Date 

06/09/2021

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued new policy updates in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the criteria and circumstances for expedited processing; improve request for evidence (RFE) and notice of intent to deny (NOID) guidance; and increase the validity period for initial and renewal employment authorization documents (EADs) for certain noncitizens with pending adjustment of status applications.