On October 17, 2023, the Department of State sent a Federal Register notice for review, titled ‘Pilot Program to Resume Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas in the United States for Certain Qualified Noncitizens,’ to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. This document will outline the eligibility criteria for participation in the Stateside Visa Renewal pilot program (pilot program). It…
USCIS has initiated the issuance of advance parole documents with a five-year validity period. These extended validity dates for advance parole may be accessible to individuals who meet the criteria for five-year EADs as outlined in the guidance released on September 27, 2023. These extended validity advance parole documents are provided either in combination with the EAD card or as…
The online registration period for the FY2025 U.S. diversity visa (DV-2025) program opened on October 4 and ends on November 7. Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq. Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
USCIS has announced that starting from November 1, 2023, all H-2A, H-2B, CNMI-related Form I-129 petitions, Form I-129CW petitions, and CNMI-related Form I-539 applications must be submitted directly to the Texas Service Center. During a 60-day grace period, incorrectly filed applications will not face rejection. Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq. Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
On June 8, 2023, USCIS released comprehensive guidance on the exchange visitor classification (J-1) in the Policy Manual. USCIS is currently in the process of updating this guidance to provide further clarification regarding how they assess whether a benefit requestor has fulfilled the two-year foreign residence requirement. This updated guidance, found in Volume 2 of the Policy Manual, is immediately…
USCIS determined that for October 2023, applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories and all employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart. According to the October 2023 visa bulletin, the priority date for the Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents is September 1, 2023. Dates For…
The White House has unveiled a set of fresh initiatives aimed at bolstering border security. These measures encompass the expansion of Family Expedited Removal Management (FERM), the strengthening of the DHS’s facilities for detainment and processing, expeditious processing for parolees who have arranged appointments through CBP One for their EADs, and additional measures. USCIS is set to extend the maximum…
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced an exemption from the biometric services fee for Form I-539, the Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. Starting from October 1, USCIS is waiving the $85 biometric services fee as a part of the Form I-539 application process. If your application is postmarked on or after October 1, you won’t need to…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a reminder to affirmative asylum applicants: Starting from September 13, 2023, it became mandatory to have an interpreter accompany the applicant for their asylum interview if they are not proficient in English or prefer to conduct the interview in a language other than English. Please note that the only exception to this rule is…
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has submitted a proposed regulation aimed at modernizing the H-1B visa program to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This marks the initial step in the regulatory process, and the complete procedure, which involves soliciting public feedback, will span several months before the rule is finalized. The proposed rule is…
