On June 18, the White House stated that individuals, including DACA recipients and other Dreamers, who have completed a degree at a recognized U.S. university and have been offered employment by a U.S. employer in a field related to their degree, will have expedited access to work visas. Following the White House’s announcement facilitating quicker issuance of certain nonimmigrant work…
DHS revised the STEM list, which is the complete list of fields recognized by DHS as science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) disciplines for its 24-month optional practical training extensions. For additional information, you can visit: stem-list.pdf (ice.gov) Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq. Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
USCIS has released FAQs addressing frequently asked questions from individuals in H-1B nonimmigrant status. These FAQs cover topics such as applying for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status, job changes or terminations, international travel, and issues related to dependent family members. For more information you may visit: https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/temporary-workers/h-1b-specialty-occupations-and-fashion-models/faqs-for-individuals-in-h-1b-nonimmigrant-status Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq. Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
You can find interview wait times on the travel.state.gov website here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html. The wait times often include those for third country nationals (TCNs), but the site does not specify if there are separate queues for TCNs at individual posts. Additionally, due to technical constraints, the Department of State has noted that providing TCN-specific wait times is currently not feasible. To…
The International Entrepreneur Rule (IER) allows DHS to grant up to 2,5 years of “parole” to noncitizen entrepreneurs if their U.S. start-up meets specific criteria. This can be extended by another 2,5 years based on additional benchmarks, totaling up to 5 years. Key details include: Eligibility: Entrepreneurs must have established their start-up in the U.S. within the past five years.…
Form N-400, used for applying for U.S. citizenship, has several key updates and common questions associated with it. Recent changes include updates to the form’s structure and requirements, which are designed to streamline the application process. One significant update is the introduction of new sections that address recent legal and procedural changes. Applicants often inquire about fee waivers, which are…
USCIS determined that for July 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 July 2024 visa bulletin, the priority date for the Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of lawful permanent…
President Biden has invoked sections 212(f) and 215(a) of immigration laws to issue a new proclamation and rule that restricts asylum access for migrants entering the United States between ports of entry. In response to heightened immigration challenges, DHS is preparing to establish a case-by-case process for certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have lived in the U.S. for…
On June 18, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced initiatives to enhance the efficiency of obtaining employment-based nonimmigrant visas for U.S. college graduates with job offers. This effort aims to expedite visa processing for eligible individuals. As part of these measures, the Department will provide clearer guidelines to consular officers on recommending waivers of ineligibility to the Department of Homeland Security…
Effective May 6, 2024, USCIS has relocated the processing of Forms I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, for following-to-join refugees (FTJ-R) from the Asylum Vetting Center to the USCIS International Operations Division. This change aims to enhance efficiency in handling these petitions by establishing a dedicated team for initial domestic processing. All pending Form I-730 FTJ-R petitions will automatically transfer from the…
