U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services News
USCIS to Open International Field Offices in Qatar and Turkey
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced the upcoming opening of international field offices in Doha, Qatar, and Ankara, Turkey, to increase capacity for refugee processing, strengthen strategic partnerships, and facilitate interagency cooperation.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the Early Second Half of FY 2024
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 19,000 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the early second half of fiscal year (FY) 2024 with start dates from April 1 to May 14, 2024, under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (FY 2024 TFR).
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Announces Employment Authorization Procedures for Palestinians Covered by Deferred Enforced Departure
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today posted a Federal Register notice establishing procedures for Palestinians covered by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that will be valid through Aug. 13, 2025.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
Secretary Mayorkas Announces Extension and Redesignation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension and redesignation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from June 13, 2024, to December 12, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Ethiopia that prevent individuals from safely returning.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Adopts Department of Labor Definition of “Science or Art”
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to add the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) definition of “science or art” for Schedule A, Group II cases.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Announces Information Regarding EB-5 Regional Center Audits
Under the new provisions of section 203(b)(5)(E)(vii) added by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA) to the Immigration and Nationality Act, we must audit each designated regional center at least once every five years.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Announces New Guidance on Form I-693 Validity Period
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that any Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that was properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after Nov. 1, 2023, does not expire and can be used indefinitely as evidence to show that the applicant is not inadmissible on health-related grounds.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Increases Automatic Extension of Certain Employment Authorization Documents to Improve Access to Work Permits
Building on extensive modernization efforts that have streamlined and improved access to work permits for eligible noncitizens, USCIS today announced a temporary final rule (TFR) to increase the automatic extension period for certain employment authorization documents (EADs) from up to 180 days to up to 540 days.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
Notice of FY 2025 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Selection Process Completion and Cap Season Reminders
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap).
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Provides Third Gender Option on Form N-400
We have revised Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, to provide a third gender option, “X,” defined as “Another Gender Identity.” We are also updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual accordingly to account for this form revision and other forthcoming form revisions that will add a third gender option; see the Policy Alert.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Revises Policy Manual to Align with New Fee Rule
We are revising our guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule published in the Federal Register on Jan. 31, 2024, and effective on April 1, 2024.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Announces Filing Location Change for Certain Employment-Based I-485 and Related Forms
On, April 1, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is changing the filing location for concurrently filed Forms I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service; I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker; and I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and for related Forms I-131, Application for Travel Document; I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; and I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, filed with the application package, from USCIS service centers to a USCIS lockbox.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
New Citizens Will Be Able to Seamlessly Request Social Security Updates
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that, starting April 1, applicants filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, will have the option to request an original or replacement Social Security number (SSN) or card and update their immigration status with the Social Security Administration (SSA) without having to visit an SSA office.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
H-1B Form I-129 Filing Location Change and FY 2025 H-1B Cap Season Updates and Reminders
The initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap season closed at noon Eastern on March 25, 2024.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Reopens Field Office in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced the reopening of an international field office in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
Secretary Mayorkas Announces Extension and Redesignation of Burma (Myanmar) for Temporary Protected Status
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension and redesignation of Burma for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from May 26, 2024, to November 25, 2025, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Burma that prevent individuals from safely returning.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Extends Initial Registration Period for FY 2025 H-1B Cap
USCIS has extended the initial registration period for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Updates Policy Guidance Clarifying Expedite Requests
USCIS is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how we consider expedite requests related to government interests and requests related to emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations, including travel-related requests.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Clarifies Anti-Discrimination Policy
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced agency-wide anti-discrimination guidance that addresses public-facing interactions and affirms our public service principles.
Categories: Immigration News Resources
USCIS Streamlines Process for Refugee Employment Authorization Documents
USCIS has begun implementing a streamlined process for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to provide Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) more efficiently to eligible refugees after they are admitted into the United States.
Categories: Immigration News Resources