The upcoming update to the U.S. citizenship test has raised concerns among immigrants and advocates, particularly regarding the inclusion of an English-speaking section that may disadvantage test-takers with lower levels of English proficiency. The proposed changes by USCIS entail the addition of a speaking section, in which an officer will present photos depicting ordinary scenarios such as daily activities, weather,…
USCIS has provided confirmation regarding the submission requirements for both Schedule A and National Interest Waiver I-140 petitions on the new Form 9089 Application for Permanent Employment Certification. The petitioner or self-petitioner should include the following sections: • Appendix A (Foreign Worker Information) of the new ETA Form 9089. • Appendix C (Supplemental Information), if additional information cannot be accommodated…
DHS has issued a final rule allowing the DHS Secretary to authorize alternative document examination procedures for Form I-9. Furthermore, a notice was published outlining an alternative procedure for completing Form I-9 that eliminates the need for physical document examination. This alternative procedure is set to commence on August 1, 2023. Alongside this, USCIS has released an updated version of…
DOS posted the visa bulletin for July 2023. USCIS determined that for July 2023, all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart and all employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart in the visa bulletin. According to July 2023 visa bulletin, visa numbers will still be current for Second preference (F2A) – spouses and…
USCIS has announced a phased expansion of premium processing for applicants who are filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, and are seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. The agency has also issued guidance on the nonimmigrant exchange visitor (J) visa classification, which includes its role in the adjudication of…
USCIS has implemented a new policy update that establishes eligibility criteria for obtaining employment authorization documents (EADs) based on “compelling circumstances.” If you are currently waiting for your green card and experiencing delays due to visa backlogs, you may qualify for an EAD. This provision offers temporary assistance during challenging situations, such as job loss and the risk of losing…
Starting from June 17, 2023, revisions were made to the fees for nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applications. These changes applied to various visa categories, including visitor visas for business or tourism (B1/B2s and BCCs) and other non-petition-based NIVs such as student and exchange visitor visas (F, M, and J visas). The processing fee for these visas increased from $160 to $185.…
The Department of State (DOS) has recently made an important announcement regarding the Diversity Visa (DV) program for fiscal year 2024 (DV-2024) and subsequent years. Effective immediately, selectees are only required to submit the DS-260 immigrant visa application form for themselves and any accompanying family members to the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC). No other supporting documents should be submitted to…
The DOS Liaison Committee has issued an alert regarding the May 2023 updates in the DOS FAM concerning E visas. The Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), published by the United States Department of State and accessible on their website, provides comprehensive information on the functional statements, organizational responsibilities, and authorities of each major component within the department. On May 1, 2023,…
USCIS has recently announced important updates regarding the filing location and documentation requirements for specific affirmative asylum applications submitted by mail. As part of these changes, a new edition of Form I-589 has been introduced, and certain documentation procedures have been modified. Under the revised guidelines, applicants are no longer required to include passport-style photos, multiple copies of the form,…
