NEWS
USCIS 60-Day Notice and Request for Comments on Proposed Revisions to the Electronic H-1B Registration Tool
USCIS 60-day notice and request for comments on proposed revisions to the electronic H-1B Registration Tool. Comments are due 8/26/19. Federal Register Notice
USCIS Releases Naturalization Fact Sheet for FY2018
USCIS released a fact sheet on naturalization including information about the naturalization process and naturalization statistics for FY2018.
USCIS Expands FIRST: A Fully Digital FOIA System
USCIS is announcing the expansion of its digital Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Immigration Records System (FIRST). FIRST is the only system in the U.S. government that allows users to submit and track FOIA requests and receive documents digitally. This [...]
USCIS Releases Report on H-1B Approvals and Denials for Top 30 Employers for FY2018
USCIS released a report on H-1B approvals and denials for the top 30 employers with the most initial and continuing approvals for FY2018. The report also includes data on the percentage of completions with RFEs from FY2015 to the first [...]
USCIS Releases Data on H-1B Receipts, Completions, and RFEs
USCIS releases data on H-1B receipts, completions, and RFE from FY2015 to FY2019 (through 3/31/19).
USCIS Will Begin Premium Processing for Remaining H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions on June 10, 2019
USCIS will begin premium processing for all remaining FY2020 H-1B cap-subject petitions on 6/10/19. Petitioners may file a Request for Premium Processing Service, with the USCIS service center processing their petition on that date. USCIS will not use pre-paid mailers [...]
Certain Non-immigrants Can Now File Form I-539 Online
You may file Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Non-immigrant Status, online if you are applying as a single applicant (without co-applicants, or legal or accredited representation) to extend your stay and you hold status as a: B-1 temporary visitor for [...]
USCIS Accelerates Transition to Digital Immigration Processing
USCIS announced a new strategy known as eProcessing to accelerate USCIS’ transition to a digital business model. eProcessing will be a complete digital experience, from applying for a benefit, to communicating with USCIS, through receiving a decision on a [...]
New, increased fees for international students, exchange visitors, SEVP-certified schools
DHS has finalized changes to fees charged by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to international students, exchange visitors and SEVP-certified schools. The new fees will take effect June 24, 2019. Read the news release. Fee increases include: The [...]
HandiCAPping Anyone? Making Sense of the H-1B Random Selection Process
On May 17th, the USCIS announced it had completed data entry for all fiscal year 2020 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected in the computer-generated random selection process, including those selected under the U.S. advanced degree exemption. Now, the Service will begin [...]
USCIS Provides Historical National Average Processing Times for All USCIS Offices
USCIS provides historical national average processing times for select forms based on all USCIS offices for FY2014 through the second quarter of FY2019 (as of March 31, 2019).
USCIS Announces TSC to Begin Accepting Certain Forms I-129
USCIS announced that on 5/20/19, the Texas Service Center (TSC) will begin processing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for certain H-1B cap-exempt petition. Read the news release.
USCIS Completes Data Entry of FY2020 H‑1B Cap-Subject Petitions
Today, USCIS announced that it had completed data entry for all FY2020 H‑1B cap-subject petitions selected in the computer-generated random selection process, including those selected under the U.S. advanced degree exemption. USCIS will now begin returning unselected petitions. Additionally, USCIS [...]
White House Issues Memo on Combating High Non-immigrant Overstay Rates
The White House issued a memo on combating high non-immigrant visa overstay rates. Among other things, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the AG and Secretary of Homeland Security, shall provide recommendations of actions to take to reduce [...]
CBP Announces I-94 Numbers Will Become Alphanumeric
CBP announced that beginning in May 2019, I-94 numbers will be alphanumeric. Prior to May 2019, I-94 numbers were 11 digits long and only contained numbers. This change is due to the depletion of numeric-only I-94 numbers and to create [...]
USCIS Will Begin Premium Processing for Certain FY2020 Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions on May 20, 2019
Premium processing for FY2020 cap-subject H-1B petitioners requesting a change of status on Form I-129 will begin on 5/20/19. For all other FY2020 H-1B cap-subject petitions, it will begin in June 2019 or later. From 5/20/19 until 6/3/19, final notices [...]
USCIS Strengthens Guidance for Spousal Petitions Involving Minors
USCIS has announced additional guidance regarding the adjudication of spousal petitions involving minors, following up on the agency’s February update to its policy. The guidance, published as an update to the USCIS Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), instructs officers to conduct [...]
USCIS Completes the H-1B Cap Random Selection Process for FY 2020
On April 10, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process to select enough H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally-mandated regular cap and the U.S. advanced degree exemption for fiscal year (FY) 2020. After completing the random selection process for the [...]
Uptick in Site Visit and NOID/NOIR Activity
We have received credible reports from clients and other practitioners that the number of site visits targeting Consulting companies has increased significantly in the past several weeks. Employees should be made aware that site inspectors could call on them at [...]
USCIS Reaches FY 2020 H-1B Regular Cap
USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions projected as needed to reach the congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap for fiscal year 2020. USCIS will next determine if they have received a sufficient number of petitions to meet [...]