U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced an update to its Policy Manual providing that USCIS, in its discretion and under certain conditions, may excuse a nonimmigrant’s failure to timely file an extension of stay or change of status request if the delay was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the applicant or petitioner. [...]
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a final rule that will increase the filing fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, to adjust for inflation. The USCIS Stabilization Act established the current premium processing fees and the authority for the Department of Homeland Security to adjust the premium fees on a biennial basis. After [...]
In consolidated appeals, the court affirmed the district courts’ denials of injunctive relief in cases in which the plaintiffs, a group of Indian nationals with approved EB-2 petitions who have been waiting in a visa queue for more than 10 years, sued to compel USCIS to act on their applications for adjustment of status, where [...]
The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) assists individuals and employers in resolving difficulties they are experiencing with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
USCIS announced certain renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, qualify for an automatic extension of their expiring employment authorization and/or employment authorization documents (EADs) while their renewal application is pending. Starting today, those who are eligible will receive 180-day extensions in accordance with existing regulations, including those who have applied [...]
Starting Nov. 1, you can only use Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, with the 08/01/2023 edition date. A revised Spanish edition of Form I-9 with an edition date of 08/01/2023 is available for use in Puerto Rico only and by other employers as a translation aid. For more information, visit I-9 Central
USCIS has begun issuing advance parole documents to applicants valid for five years. The extended validity dates for advance parole may be available to individuals who are now eligible for 5-year EADs under an earlier guidance issued by the USCIS on September 27, 2023.
USCIS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the H-1B regulations. The NPRM states that the changes will “modernize and improve the efficiency of the H-1B program, add benefits and flexibilities, and improve integrity measures.” The NPRM will be published in the Federal Register on 10/23/23. READ MORE
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has launched a new Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) self-service tool to allow customers with pending applications, petitions, or requests to update their address with USCIS more easily. E-COA will significantly improve the speed and efficiency of the process for USCIS customers to update their address with USCIS. With E-COA, [...]
Attorney Kidambi draws attention to the sudden and dramatic retrogression of visa numbers in the EB4 Visa Category and how this is likely to affect Religious Workers (R-1). Kidambi & Associates represents several prominent religious nonprofit organizations and takes pride in offering discounted services to assist clients. READ MORE - https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/significant-eb-4-retrogression-renders-immigration-option-kidambi?trk=public_post