USCIS has updated its guidance on eligibility for optional practical training (OPT) extensions for STEM students. The updates clarify that students can count one online class or three credits per academic session towards their full course of study if no physical attendance is required. Additionally, students are allowed to transfer between ICE-certified schools at the same or different educational levels.…
USCIS has announced that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to meet the congressionally mandated cap on H-2B visas for the first half of fiscal year 2025. The final date for submitting new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions seeking employment start dates before April 1, 2025, was September 18. Any new petitions submitted after this date that request an…
USCIS has released a fact sheet that outlines information regarding family-based conditional permanent resident status and the process for filing Form I-751 to remove conditions. It covers eligibility for individual and waiver requests, describes different waiver options, and details the application process.
USCIS has announced that, effective September 10, 2024, the validity of green cards will be automatically extended to 36 months for lawful permanent residents who file Form I-90. This is an increase from the previous 24-month extension.
Errors in I-94 admission records by CBP officers continue to be an issue, necessitating assistance from immigration practitioners. With the 2022 shift to Simplified Arrival and stampless entry, correcting errors has become more complicated, as there is no physical record in passports. Foreign nationals now must access their admission records online, which can be difficult due to factors like multiple…
USCIS determined that for September 2024, applicants in 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. According to the September 2024 visa bulletin, the priority date for the Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent…
The State Department, in close coordination with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has announced that all available visas in the Employment-Based Third Preference (EB-3) and Other Workers (EW) categories for fiscal year (FY) 2024 have been issued. This decision helps facilitate the travel of essential workers in various industries, especially benefiting the U.S. healthcare sector. Under the Immigration and Nationality…
DHS has announced the implementation of the Keeping Families Together process, which allows certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens who are in the United States without formal admission or parole to request parole in place under existing statutory authority. DHS started using Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens,…
Form I-131F is available online through myUSCIS. This form is used used to request parole in place for noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens who are present in the United States without admission or parole. USCIS has announced that its live chat feature is operational for users encountering technical issues with Form I-131F. To access live chat, users should…
USCIS announced that it selected 114,017 beneficiaries in the initial selection for the FY2025 H-1B cap, leading to 120,603 selected registrations. In the subsequent second selection for the FY2025 H-1B regular cap, 13,607 beneficiaries were chosen, resulting in 14,534 selected registrations. USCIS recently announced that additional selections were made to meet the fiscal year 2025 H-1B regular cap. USCIS selected…
