Discussion Topics, Thursday 2 November 2017:
-H1B Amendment Approved without I-94 attached
-Changing from Non-Profit (Cap-Exempt) H1 to Profit (Cap-Subject) H1 and GC filing
- Family based second category GC (F2A)
- Transfer J-1 Visa
- H1 and H4 Extension approvals
- Upgrading H-1 B to premium processing
Update to Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status10/31/2017 12:00 AM EDTNew edition dated 10/19/17. Starting 12/30/2017, USCIS will only accept the 10/19/17 edition of Form I-821. Until then, you can use the 12/23/16 and 02/20/14 editions.For more information, please visit Forms Updates page.
The following Immigration Policy Memorandum is now available in the Policy Memoranda section of the USCIS website:
Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DC
October 24, 2017
Based on Section 6(a) of Executive Order 13780, “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” the U.S. government undertook a 120-day review of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) to identify and implement additional security screening processes in order to uphold the safety of the American people.
As a result, the President has issued a new Executive Order that provides for the general resumption of the USRAP.
WASHINGTON — Under updated policy guidance (PDF, 97 KB), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is instructing its officers to apply the same level of scrutiny to both initial petitions and extension requests for certain nonimmigrant visa categories. The guidance applies to nearly all nonimmigrant classifications filed using Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker.
Discussion Topics, Thursday 19 October 2017:
FAQ: Pros and cons of adjustment of status and consular processing for green card || Applying for green card while holding H-4 status; applying for green card and permanent residence for another country simultaneously ||Changing status from tourist or business visa (B1 or B2) within the United States|| How to read the visa bulletin? || What type of questions can be asked in consular or adjustment of status interview for employment based applicants || Effect of a speeding ticket on green card or naturalization/citizenship || Effect of moving abroad while still on H-1B visa || Denial of H-1B on Level 1 wage issue || Doing business on H-4 EAD. Other: Family-based green card for an H-1B holder || Filing concurrent H-1B for family-owned business || Relationship between maintaining US permanent residence and expiration of green card || I-94 correction through the CBP || H-4 visa/status issues || H-1B laid off || H-4 EAD to H-1 || H-4 EAD issues, etc.
USCIS generally process cases in the order they receive them. The link below provides you an estimate of how much time the office handling your case currently takes to process your type of application, petition, or request.
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has published Round 13 of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to H-2A Applications for Temporary Employment Certification under the 2010 Rule.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has posted additional data about the agency’s employment-based visa programs on its website. This new information reflects USCIS’ commitment to transparency in carrying out President Trump’s Buy American and Hire American Executive Order.
Datasets now available on the webpage include:
USCIS offers immigration services that may help people affected by unforeseen circumstances, including disasters such as natural disasters.
The following measures may be available on a case-by-case basis upon request: