The diversity visa program allows up to 50,000 lottery winners from many countries a path to permanent residency in the U.S. each year. The program receives about 14 million applications annually. Passport Rule for Diversity Visa Applicants promulgated in 2019, required applicants to possess a valid passport just to enter the lottery for a chance to receive a visa to…
DOS posted the visa bulletin for July 2022. USCIS determined that for July 2022, all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Visa Bulletin and all employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action Dates chart. According to July 2022 visa bulletin, visa numbers will still be current for Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried…
In 2017, USCIS implemented a regulation facilitating an automatic, 180-day extension of EADs for certain categories of EAD holders, which took effect with the provision that the individual filed a timely request for EAD extension. The increased challenges faced by USCIS due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive backlog and a 180-day extension was no longer sufficient to solve…
USCIS establishes a program that permits eligible Ukrainian citizens and certain immediate family members who have been displaced by Russian aggression to be sponsored online for humanitarian parole to the United States by an eligible U.S.-based sponsor. To be eligible for humanitarian parole under Uniting for Ukraine, applicants will need to: Resided in Ukraine immediately before the Russian invasion (through Feb.…
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have been I-94 forms with new designations for L-2 and E visa dependents since January 31, 2022. The new designations for L-2 and E dependent spouses specifically have been serving as evidence that holders are authorized to be employed based on their nonimmigrant status. USCIS is now issuing I-797 approval notices for L-2 and E-2…
DOS posted the visa bulletin for June 2022. Visa numbers will still be current for Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents and employment-based petitions. Most regions have been set to “Current” for June 2022 in an effort to maximize number use during the DV-2022 program year. Remzi Guvenc…
Since 2011 USCIS has been issuing employment and travel authorization on a single card which is called a combo card for the green card applicants who are filing an Adjustment of Status Application. This card allows applicants to carry a single document that can be used for travel and as work authorization. Because of the serious EAD backlog, USCIS has…
ICE announced through the broadcast message that it will extend the guidance originally issued in March 2020 for F and M international students for the 2022-23 academic year. This guidance enables schools and students to engage in distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the continuing public health concerns created by COVID-19. There are no changes to the original guidance,…
Now applicants will be able to pay their filing fee and biometrics services fee with a credit card which is issued by the U.S. if they are filing; An application, petition, or request with a USCIS lockbox; or An application, petition, or request with the USCIS service centers. There will not be any additional cost to file by credit card and credit…
DOS posted the visa bulletin for May 2022. Visa numbers will still be current for Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent residents and employment-based petitions. This month’s visa bulletin shows the Diversity Immigrant category Rank cut-off number for Europe in May as 27,000 and it will be current in…
