PERM News Archives • Kidambi & Associates, P.C.

USCIS Increases Automatic Extension Period of Work Permits for Certain Applicants

kidambil2022-05-03T14:46:01+00:00May 3, 2022|

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days. The increase, which will be effective immediately on May 4, 2022, will help avoid gaps in employment for noncitizens with pending [...]

USCIS Announces Exceptionally High Number of Employment-Based Visas Available in FY2022

kidambil2022-01-28T22:18:35+00:00Jan 28, 2022|

USCIS updated its website to note that there are an exceptionally high number of employment-based visas available this fiscal year, October 2021 to September 2022. There are many more visas available in the first and second employment-based categories than AOS applications pending with USCIS.

USCIS Provides Updated Criteria for Determining If a Case Warrants Expedited Treatment

kidambil2022-01-28T22:17:15+00:00Jan 28, 2022|

USCIS has updated the USCIS Policy Manual to reflect new guidance on how they determine whether a case warrants expedited treatment. The new guidance is effective immediately. This update: Clarifies the criteria and circumstances under which we generally consider expedite requests from nonprofit organizations as determined by the Internal Revenue Service Provides additional examples of [...]

Exceptions to Suspension of Entry Due to COVID Surge in India – What to Know and How to Apply for a National Interest Exception Waiver

kidambil2021-05-13T21:13:33+00:00May 13, 2021|

Introduction For the past 10 days, we have been fielding calls from clients who have a compelling need to travel to, or from India. Unfortunately, the Presidential Proclamation[1] that went into effect on May 4th has made an already complex situation, more difficult. The US Embassies in India have suspended all routine non immigrant [...]

DOL Final Rule on Computation of Prevailing Wage Levels

kidambil2021-01-15T17:22:04+00:00Jan 15, 2021|

The DOL published a final rule adopting, with changes, the interim final rule published at 85 FR 63872. The Rule is amending the regulations governing permanent labor certifications and Labor Condition Applications to incorporate changes to the computation of prevailing wage levels. The rule is effective 3/15/21. (86 FR 3608, 1/14/21). Read the final rule.

USCIS to Replace Sticker That Extends Validity of Green Cards

kidambil2021-01-15T16:31:09+00:00Jan 15, 2021|

USCIS announced that starting in January 2021, it will replace the sticker that is currently issued to lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to extend the validity of their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (PRC or “Green Card”) with a revised Form I-797, Notice of Action for Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card. The revised [...]

USCIS lockbox updates

kidambil2021-01-13T18:41:26+00:00Jan 13, 2021|

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, USCIS is experiencing delays in issuing receipt notices for some applications and petitions filed at a USCIS lockbox facility. As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, an increase in filings, current postal service volume and other external factors, you may experience a delay of four to six weeks in [...]

OFLC Announces Updates to Implementation of the Wage Protections Interim Final Rule in Compliance with District Court Order

kidambil2020-12-04T17:09:57+00:00Dec 4, 2020|

On December 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an order in Chamber of Commerce, et al. v. DHS, et al., No. 20-cv-7331, finding that the U.S. Department of Labor (the Department) failed to show it had good cause to forgo advance notice and comment under the Administrative Procedure [...]

BREAKING NEWS: District Court Sets Aside DHS Specialty Occupation and DOL H-1B Wage Rules

kidambil2020-12-02T14:46:45+00:00Dec 2, 2020|

CA District Court Sets Aside DHS Specialty Occupation and DOL H-1B Wage Rules Yesterday, December 1, 2020, the District Court for the Northern District of California, set aside the IFRs issued by the Department of Labor and the DHS-USCIS (scheduled to take effect December 7th), finding that defendants “failed to show there was good [...]

Premium Processing Fee Increase Effective Oct. 19, 2020

kidambil2020-10-19T13:32:10+00:00Oct 19, 2020|

USCIS today announced it will increase fees for premium processing, effective Oct. 19, as required by the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, Pub. L. No. 116-159, signed into law on Oct. 1. The USCIS premium processing service allows petitioners to pay an additional filing fee to expedite the adjudication of certain forms, [...]