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USCIS Resumes Premium Processing for Certain Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it will resume premium processing for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, in phases over the next month.
Effective June 1, 2020, USCIS will accept Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for all eligible Form I-140 petitions.
USCIS Begins Implementing New Interactive Voice Response Telephone System
USCIS is introducing a new interactive voice response (IVR) telephone system today for English and Spanish calls to the USCIS Contact Center. The new IVR system personalizes the caller’s experience by giving the caller the ability to:
USCIS Publishes Interim Final Rule Implementing the Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act of 2018
Rule creates new requirements for CNMI employers to protect U.S. workers
DHS Offers Flexibilities to Increase Food Security, Stabilize U.S. Supply Chain During COVID-19
WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a temporary final rule to change certain H-2B requirements to help support the U.S. food supply chain, maintain essential infrastructure operations and reduce the impact from the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency.
Military Personnel and Veterans Can Now File Their Form N-400, Naturalization Application, Online
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that U.S. service members and veterans can now file Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, online.
USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30 to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to certain:
May 14, 2020 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Nonimmigrant Visas
Immigration Law
FAQs:
- Covid Coronavirus: H-B during Covid, H-1B not sure if I am laid off, LCA/H-1B amendments, and travel during H-1B
- H-1B start own business or invest
- Promotion after getting the green card
- Extraordinary circumstance EAD
- Extension of tourist stay during Covid
- H-1B delayed entry
May 28, 2020 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Green Card
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 28 May 2020:
FAQ: Applying for I-485 through a past employer or through a new employer || L-1A moving back to home country with green card pending || Can green card be applied for an old job under the international manager EB1C category? || Applying for naturalization/citizenship under Trump administration || Effect on H-1B of working from outside the USA || Laid off while green card is pending
Other: Porting priority date from EB-2 two EB-1C as international manager || J-1 gap in status/O-1 visa || H-1 RFE converting to H-4 || Amendment or extension timing || Nunc pro tunc or consular processing of H-1B || H-4 extensions || OPT and CPT times || International adoption procedures || F-1 student working in the USA for a foreign company, etc.
USCIS Forms Update Notice
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
USCIS Implements Two Decisions from the Attorney General on Good Moral Character Determinations
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced new policy guidance (PDF, 404 KB) implementing two decisions from the attorney general regarding how two or more DUI convictions affect good moral character (GMC) requirements and how post-sentencing changes to criminal sentences affect convictions and sentences for immigration purposes.
USCIS Expands Guidance Related to Naturalization Requirement of Good Moral Character
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services expanded its policy guidance (PDF, 290 KB) regarding unlawful acts that may prevent an applicant from meeting the good moral character (GMC) requirement for naturalization. The commission of, or conviction or imprisonment for, an unlawful act, during the statutory period for naturalization, may render an applicant ineligible for naturalization should the act be found to adversely reflect on moral character.
PERM Processing Times (as of 10/31/2019)
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | July 2019 |
| Audit Review | February 2019 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | May 2019 |
Green Card
Immigration Law
Dec 12, 2019 Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday)
Immigration.com
Citizenship and Naturalization
Green Card
Discussion Topics, Thursday, December 12, 2019
FAQ: Change in green card job responsibilities and/or job title during the process || Variation in H-1B job approved and actually performed || How far ahead of job or petition start date can I apply for H-1B visa stamping? || Parents’ birth certificates || Must we maintain H-1 or L-1 status while I-485 is pending? || Consequences of losing my job on H-1B and revocation of I-140 || Does withdrawing a timely filed application/petition with the USCIS lead to unlawful presence? ||
OTHER: Naturalization interview canceled || Expediting I-485 || Risks of changing jobs while I-485 is pending -- AC21 || Traveling while H-1B extension is pending || Discrepancy in names || Applying for green card for parents, etc. || Visas for same-sex partners from countries where such marriage is not allowed || H-1B for small companies, etc.
Visa Bulletin - January 2020
Visa Bulletin For January 2020
Number 37
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
Agency
Green Card
Immigration Law
Rajiv's News Clips - US Senators say no voting on S-386 Bill as of now
Published by : ETtech From the Economic Times - Article by: Priyanka Sangani - Date: December 20, 2019
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv on the article:
Update on Travel by Temporary Protected Status Beneficiaries In Removal Proceedings
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the effect of travel outside the United States by Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries who are subject to removal proceedings.
EOIR Issues Fact Sheet on the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO)
Executive Office for Immigration Review of the DOJ issued a fact sheet on its Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer (OCAHO). This office hears immigration cases related to employer sanctions, document fraud, unfair employment practices, and international marriage brokerage.
For detail information please check attachment.
E-3 Visas for Australian Citizens
We were retained by a corporate client to process several E-3 petitions for nationals of Australia. All of the visas were issued at the Australian consulates without any problem. One applicant has already entered the U.S is currently working on E-3 status. We have also submitted a petition for an E-3 amendment with USCIS, which was also approved without any issues.
Nonimmigrant Visas
Profession/Occupation
CIS Ombudsman Update to Resolve Pending Derivative Form I-485s Due to File Separation
This update will share information on current trends and issues to assist individuals and employers in resolving problems with USCIS.
FDNS (Fraud Detection and National Security) H-1B Investigations
FDNS H1B Assessment Overview and History:
Nonimmigrant Visas
Agency
Immigration Law
H-1B Benefit Fraud & Compliance Assessment
The Office of Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), a Division of the National Security and Records Verification (NSRV) Directorate, drafted this report, in collaboration with the other USCIS Directorates and the USCIS Office of Chief Counsel. All USCIS components reviewed the cases involving fraud or technical violations and the proposed enhancements to the H-1B program and concurred on the report.
For more information on this report please check the attachment.