PERM Processing Times (as of 11/30/2018)
PERM Processing Times (as of 11/30/2018)
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USCIS Revises Interview Waiver Guidance for Form I-751
USCIS has issued a policy memorandum (PDF, 115 KB) (PM) providing guidance to USCIS officers on when to consider waiving the interview requirement for Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. This PM goes into effect on December 10, 2018 and applies to all Form I-751 petitions received on or after December 10.
Workload Transfer Update
USCIS transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Texas Service Center, Nebraska Service Center, California Service Center, and Potomac Service Center:
- Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, for F, M, J, or B nonimmigrants
For more information, see Workload Transfer Updates page.
USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2019
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reached the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2019.
Dec. 6, 2018, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2019. USCIS will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after Dec. 6 that request an employment start date before April 1, 2019.
Update To SAVE Password Reset
SAVE continues to implement enhancements to improve your experience and reduce burdensome processes by giving you more self-service options. For example, you’ll soon be able to reset your password automatically instead of contacting SAVE.
Visa Bulletin - January 2019
Visa Bulletin For January 2019
Number 25
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
Agency
Green Card
Immigration Law
Dec 13, 2018 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Immigration.com
Nonimmigrant Visas
Green Card
Substantial transcription for video
Discussion Topics:
Marrying a Canadian and bring them to USA || I Apply for a NIW through EB2 || COS to L-1A || Can any company revoke I-140 after 180 days || H-1 transfer || 3 year H-1B extension || Fiance visa || H4 EAD and starting a business || EB3 to EB2 porting of priority dates
When to File Your Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: January 2019
Are you seeking to adjust your status and become a U.S. permanent resident under a family-sponsored or employment-based preference immigrant visa? If you have not yet had a relative or employer file an immigrant visa petition on your behalf, please learn more about the Adjustment of Status Filing Process.
Guestbook Entry for Nikolay S, United States
Name
Nikolay S
Country
United States
State
VA
Termination of the Categorical Parole Programs for Certain Individuals Present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
Effective immediately, the categorical CNMI parole programs are terminated. This affects USCIS parole programs for immediate relatives of U.S.
My wife's EAD application experience
My wife's EAD application is pending at VSC for more than 4 months now. On 91st day (Which happened to be a Wednesday), we reached Arlington office at 1.45pm. They asked us to wait in a room, after a while someone picked up her receipt and gave her a form to fill out. After 30 minutes they asked her to wait in another room after verifying the payment info. She was done by 3.15pm, so I should say it was a painless and quick procedure. She was issued EAD valid for one year.
IEAD in Chicago
Today, I went to the local USCIS office at 10 w jackson blvd, and got the IEAD. This office is just outside the Jackson Blue Line Subway station. They opened the doors at 6AM. When they opened the doors, there were around 50 people in the line.
They were asking for EAD, 140 reciepts, IL driving license/state ID or some postal mail to prove that you are IL resident.
Got the IEAD for 3 months. Out by 9AM.
Interim EAD Issuance at Honolulu
Today I went in because it's 91 days after my I-765 Employment app was processed. I was told to do this after phoning the 1 800 number, they told me go in to the Honolulu office and request an Interim EAD because it had not yet been approved.
When I got there, I was told that it had actually been approved May 16th ( I was also told that when I went to get biometrics the person did not stamp both my letters and do fingprint/photo for the I-765, just the I-485, so I went there again).
We went and got my wife's interim EAD
State
NY
We went and got my wife's interim EAD and walk-in Advance Parole in NYC on 5/25/04. The application has been pending for more than 150 days.
We lined up at 5 AM, got into the building at 7 AM. We went to a room on the 1st floor, where the EAD receipt was checked, we were given a yellow sheet and asked to put the A# and name on it. We then went to the 9th floor, where after waiting for 40 minutes, we received a ticket #. They said it would take a while to do the background check, so we went to the 8th floor to take care of the AP.
Applied for EAD at Vermont
State
NY
We applied for EAD at Vermont. Receipt date was 2/19/2004. But we did not receive our Ead and it was not approved either. On 5/21/2004 we went to NY office, at 5 am, and went inside at 7.30 am( there was no crowd).Submitted the new application at 8.00 am. They made us to wait, telling they were doing the extensive background check until 12.30 and then after a photograph we were issued an EAD for 8 months.
In front of us there was a person whose EAD was lost in the post from Vermont was denied an EAD, asking her to call Vermont and wait.
We filed for an EAD renewal to VSC
We filed for an EAD renewal to VSC on Jan 30th 2004. Apparently we did not check how much VSC was back logged. EAD was expiring on 8th of April. When the Employer asked for a renewed EAD, we checked the status & realized the seriousness. We took an appointment with the local Tampa USCIS on March 19th (49th day of filing EAD). We showed all the documents to the officer, she did not allow me to utter a single word. She gave me an appointment for March 24th for Interim EAD. On March 24th Local USCIS issued an interim EAD in 10 mintues for 8 months.
Major H-1B Victory for the IT (and Consulting) Industry Against the USCIS - ITSERVE ALLIANCE, INC. Lawsuit
On 10 March 2020, a Washington DC Federal Court overturned the USCIS highly restrictive
standards applied to the consulting industry. This decision has a major positive impact on the IT
industry.
Judge Rosemary M. Collyer held that the USCIS must not administer justice through random
memoranda and must, if it wishes to change the regulations, do so through a formal process. In
fact, the USCIS seems to have illegally targeted the IT industry (“special treatment”):
USCIS Expands Flexibility for Responding to USCIS Requests
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it adopted measures to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to certain Requests for Evidence (RFE) and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOID). This alert clarifies that this flexibility also applies to certain Notices of Intent to Revoke (NOIR) and Notices of Intent to Terminate (NOIT) regional investment centers, as well as certain filing date requirements for Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion.
USCIS to Continue Processing Applications for Employment Authorization Extension Requests Despite Application Support Center Closures
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it will reuse previously submitted biometrics in order to process valid Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, extension requests due to the temporary closure of Application Support Centers (ASC) to the public in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This announcement is consistent with existing USCIS authorities regarding the agency’s ability to reuse previously submitted biometrics.
H-1B Initial Electronic Registration Selection Process Completed
USCIS has received enough electronic registrations during the initial period to reach the FY 2021 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap). USCIS randomly selected from among the registrations properly submitted. USCIS intends to notify petitioners with selected registrations no later than March 31, 2020, that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration.
Registrants’ online accounts will now show one of the following statuses for each registration (that is, for each beneficiary registered):
USCIS Announces Flexibility for Requests for Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny
In response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it is adopting a measure to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to requests for evidence (RFEs) and notices of intent to deny (NOIDs) dated between March 1 and May 1, 2020.
USCIS Announces Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for All I-129 and I-140 Petitions Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic
Alert: While premium processing is suspended, petitioners may submit a request to expedite their petition if it meets the criteria on the Expedite Criteria webpage. It is the petitioner’s responsibility to demonstrate that they meet at least one of the expedite criteria. All expedite requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and requests granted at the discretion of USCIS office leadership.
USCIS Announces Flexibility in Submitting Required Signatures During COVID-19 National Emergency
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 National Emergency announced by President Trump on March 13, 2020, USCIS will accept all benefit forms and documents with reproduced original signatures, including the Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, for submissions dated March 21, 2020, and beyond.
March 5, 2020 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Immigration Law
Green Card
Substantial transcription for video
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 5 March 2020
FAQ: Denial of a tourist/visitors/B visa 214(b) ||citizenship/naturalization trips of more than six months abroad || Time of stay and definition of a manager/executive employee for L-1A and EB-1C ||Transfer of H-1B while extension is pending ||What to do after an H-1B (or L-1) denial? ||Work duration and damages contracts under H-1B ||I do not have my final degree/diploma certificate/what should I do?
OTHER: Scheduling green card interview in a third country consulate || multiple H-4 extensions simultaneously ||AR-11 change of address filing, etc.,