Processing Times and Status Checks
Processing Times for immigration matters vary widely. The U.S. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S.
Processing Times for immigration matters vary widely. The U.S. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Department of Labor, and the U.S.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a policy memorandum (PDF, 113 KB) (PM) that provides guidance to USCIS adjudicators regarding their discretion to deny an application, petition, or request without first issuing a Request for Evidence (RFE) or Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) when required initial evidence was not submitted or the evidence of record fails to establish eligibility.
Deportation and Denial Policy 2018
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
If you are an attorney or accredited representative, you can now file Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document for your clients using your myUSCIS online account. There are no substantive changes to the content of the form.
USCIS will no longer provide paper copies of Form N-565. You can file this form online or download a copy from the website.
Discussion Topics, Thursday 19 July 2018:
FAQ: Getting promotions or changing job description while green card is pending || H-1B petition revocation during visa process/reaffirmation || Section 245(K) protection during AOS/I-485 || Specific issues in the Trump NTA policy for denials || Other: Humanitarian parole || How long can a green card holder stay outside the USA || TN TD issues || Registering for Selective Service || Getting married after getting a green card || Applying for advance parole || H-1, H-4 premium processing || Birth certificate for I-130 || F-1 COS denied for H-1B || Correcting priority date errors || H-1B quota where no COS or Visa || I-539 bridge petition
USCIS is introducing the second phase of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Immigration Records SysTem (FIRST), which will allow all FOIA requestors to track their requests through a USCIS online account and receive their documents digitally. During the first phase, requestors reported that they could easily login to their account and download their documents.
Phase two now allows all FOIA requestors to create a USCIS online account, track their cases, and receive their responses electronically.
Fee-funded grants will support citizenship preparation services for lawful permanent residents
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today it is now accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program that will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.
On July 24, 2018, President Trump signed the Northern Mariana Islands U.S. Workforce Act of 2018 (the Workforce Act), extending the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)-Only Transitional Worker program (the CW-1 program) through 2029 and increasing the CW-1 cap for fiscal year (FY) 2019.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced Tuesday the results of a two-phase nationwide operation in which I-9 audit notices were served to more than 5,200 businesses around the country since January. A notice of inspection (NOI) informs business owners that ICE is going to audit their hiring records to determine whether they are complying with existing law.
USCIS announced on July 30, 2018, that it has returned all fiscal year 2019 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected in the computer-generated random selection process.
USCIS previously announced on May 15, that it had completed data entry of all selected cap-subject petitions.
Policy Memorandum 602-0050.1, Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuances of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens, was issued on June 28, 2018 and instructed USCIS components to create or update operational guidance on NTAs and Referrals to ICE (RTIs), to be issued within 30 days of the Policy Memorandum. Issuance of the operational guidance is pending; therefore the implementation of PM 602-0050.1 is postponed until the operational guidance is issued.
AAO Processing Times
Discussion Topics, Thursday 5 July 2018:
FAQ: How many days can I stay in the USA after H-1B denial a detailed discussion? || Applying for H-1B transfer while an extension request is under RFE|| Other: Applying for EB-1C, international managers/executives criteria || Desertion charges for military, effect on green card || 151 years for getting green cards ||Age for adoption/adopting a sibling for immigration || Being outside the USA on EAD || H-4 trading stock || TN for Management Consultant || H-1B transfers with approved I-140 || Promotions while green card is pending || H-4 to H-1 change || H-4 change of status || Green card pending changing jobs within the same company||Travel ban || Bridge H-1B petitions || PERM experience letters title, etc.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued updated guidance (PDF, 139 KB) today that aligns its policy for issuing Form I-862, Notice to Appear, with the immigration enforcement priorities of the Department of Homeland Security.
PERM Processing Times (as of 06/30/2018)
USCIS announced on July 8, 2016, that it has returned all fiscal year 2017 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected in our computer-generated random selection process.
USCIS previously announced on May 2, 2016, that it completed data entry of all selected cap-subject petitions.
Case: Picked for H1B lottery.
- What happens if the company lays off after June but before October 1? Would I stay on my current visa status? Or will I be on H1B but with a 60-day timeline to find the next job?
- Does the status automatically change to H1B on Oct 1? or does immigration require paystubs for a couple of weeks to prove our employment?
- If I file the petition with two companies separately, how will immigration decide which one to approve? Will they approve both?
- Are there any travel restrictions from June to Sept
In this scenario, you won't be on H-1B status with a 60-day grace period to find a new job.
I started the self-NIW application while working with employer A, but for some reason, I could not file the petition. Later I got laid off from employer A and now I'm working with employer B.
I want to restart the NIW application. Questions:
1. Since I got laid off with employer A, will that be a challenge/red flag in my petition?
2. It's only been one month with employee B. Shall I wait some time at company B to restart my NIW application? or doesn't it matter?
Answer 1. Being laid off is not a challenge/red flag.
Answer 2. There's no reason it should be. You don't need to wait to restart the application. You can file it even though you've only been with employer B for a month.
1) Is H1B cap-exempt to H1B lottery-based considered a change of status?
2) If I currently have an H1B cap-exempt visa and am filing for an H1B petition in June, when can I not travel outside of the US - from now to June, June to Petition Approval, or from Petition Approval to Oct ? My current H1B visa would be valid until Nov.
Yes, potentially. It allows you to work while your STEM OPT expires (April 30th in your case), and your H-1B petition is pending, extending your work authorization until October 1st.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a collection of helpful resources and free study materials to help educators who teach adult citizenship education classes. Visit the USCIS Citizenship Resource Center to help find materials that can help you build curriculum and supplement classroom study materials.
Release Date
05/06/2024
WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is honoring its dedicated workforce during Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) 2024. Celebrated annually during the first full week in May since 1985, PSRW is a time set aside to honor those who serve the nation as federal, state, county, and local government employees.
USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form(s):
Form I-941, Application for Entrepreneur Parole
05/06/2024 09:40 AM EDT
Edition Date: 05/06/24. Starting July 8, USCIS will accept only the 05/06/24 edition. Until then, you can also use the 04/01/24 and 07/21/22 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
For more information, please visit the Forms Updates page.