NEWS
Premium Processing Fee Increase Effective Oct. 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 [...]
DOL and USCIS issue interim Final Rules
I. DOL Interim Final Rule on Computation of Prevailing Wage Levels The Department of Labor is issuing rules amending the regulations governing permanent labor certifications and Labor Condition Applications to incorporate changes to the computation of prevailing wage levels. [...]
H/L Dependents, F, H-4 EAD, EADs, Multinational Executive/Manager I-140s Granted Premium Processing
On September 30, 2020 the President signed H.R. 8337 the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act, which will fund the government through December 11, 2020. Included in the Act is language from the Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act (H.R. [...]
Fee Schedule for I-485 and other USCIS Filings
On September 29, 2020, a district court stayed the implementation and the effective date of the August 2020 Final Rule, which changed the fee schedule and required new versions of several forms, in its entirety pending final adjudication of this matter. (ILRC [...]
Downgrading from EB2 to EB3 – What You Need to Know and Consider before Filing
The October Visa Bulletin has been released and there is significant movement in priority dates, especially for EB3 India and China. See figure below. For those with pre-approved I-140s in the EB2 category, the possibility of filing a second [...]
October 2020 Visa Bulletin
October 2020 Visa Bulletin is now available. Within an hour of first announcing their decision to use “Final Action Dates” for October, the USCIS has again revised the Visa Bulletin message to read “Filing Action Dates”. This new development [...]
USCIS Fee increase Table. New Fee effective 10/02/2020
Unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee funded. Fees collected and deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account fund nearly 97% of USCIS’ budget. As required by federal law, USCIS conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review and determined that [...]
Final Rule on Changes to USCIS Fee Schedule
On August 3, 2020, USCIS published a Final Rule that significantly alters the USCIS fee schedule by adjusting fees by a weighted average increase of 20 percent, adding new fees, establishing multiple fees for nonimmigrant worker petitions, and limiting the [...]
September 2020 Visa Bulletin
September 2020 Visa Bulletin is now available.
Form I-9 Verification During EAD Production Delays Due to COVID-19
USCIS announced that due to EAD production delays, employees may use Form I-797, Notice of Action, with a Notice date on or after December 1, 2019 through and including August 20, 2020 informing an applicant of approval of an Application [...]
10 things to know about the Presidential Proclamation
Infographic listing the most important points about the latest Presidential Proclamation.
Presidential Proclamation Limiting Entry of Certain Nonimmigrants
This evening, President Trump issued a proclamation continuing Proclamation 10014 from April 22nd At the outset, here is what you need to know: Most domestic immigration – H-1Bs, L-1s, Os, Ps and all other forms of nonimmigrant visas including, [...]
USCIS Issues Updated Policy Guidance and Rescinds Two Policy Memos Regarding the Adjudication of Certain H-1B Petitions
USCIS issued a memo rescinding two policy memoranda regarding the adjudication of certain petitions for H-1B nonimmigrant classification. USCIS is issuing updated policy guidance in their place. The rescinded memos are: Determining Employer-Employee Relationship for Adjudication of H-1B Petitions, Including [...]
USCIS Announces Resumption of Premium Processing for Certain Petitions
USCIS announced that it will resume premium processing for Form I-129 and Form I-140, with effective dates during June on which USCIS will begin accepting premium processing requests for specific applications. Effective June 22, USCIS plans to resume premium processing [...]
**RUMOR REPORT** Presidential Proclamation Barring Entry of Certain Nonimmigrants**RUMOR REPORT**
We have been tracking certain reports that an additional Presidential Proclamation barring entry of certain nonimmigrants appears to be imminent. Here is what we know at this point. This news item is courtesy the American Immigration Lawyers Association Timing The [...]
USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30 to assist applicants and petitioners who are responding to certain: Requests for Evidence; Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14); Notices of Intent to Deny; Notices [...]
USCIS Offices Preparing to Reopen on June 4
USCIS plans to begin reopening the offices on or after June 4, unless the public closures are extended further. USCIS staff are continuing to perform duties that do not involve face-to-face contact with the public. USCIS will provide further updates [...]
Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market
I am writing to provide you with update on what started as a sensational Tweet two days ago – the plan to “suspend immigration” to the United States. We now know what the plan entails, and I am providing you [...]
Immigration Impact Of President Trump’s Tweet Temporarily Suspending Immigration Into The United States
Last night, President Trump tweeted: “In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into [...]
USCIS news release on COVID-19 Delays in Extension/Change of Status Filings
USCIS issued a news release with options for nonimmigrants who may unexpectedly remain in the U.S. beyond their authorized period of stay due to COVID-19. USCIS advises that they individuals can file EOS/COS applications, and VWP entrants can request [...]