The Department of State has issued a final rule allowing private attorneys, interpreters, and others to accompany individuals during certain appointments at passport agencies, U.S. embassies, and consulates abroad to assist the applicant. This rule applies specifically to appointments related to passport applications, requests for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad or Certificates of Loss of Nationality, and certain other services…
USCIS determined that for June 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 June 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 San Francisco Asylum Office of USCIS is establishing another temporary site in Oakland, California. Started from May 15, asylum seekers falling under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Asylum Office might be notified to attend their interview at the Oakland location instead. Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq. Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
There have been reports regarding an updated address for filing replacement employment authorization card applications due to an error by USCIS. The address listed on the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-765 page is causing delivery issues for both FedEx and UPS courier services. The updated address is USCIS, Lee’s Summit Production Facility, Attn: I-765 Replacement Cards, 7 Product Way,…
USCIS has announced the selection of 114,017 beneficiaries, totaling 120,603 registrations in the initial selection for the FY2025 H-1B cap. There was a notable decrease in the total number of registrations compared to FY 2024, including fewer registrations for beneficiaries with multiple registrations. The number of eligible registrations dropped significantly for FY 2025 (470,342) compared to FY 2024 (758,994), marking…
A nonimmigrant visa, placed in your passport, allows temporary travel to the United States. Typically, citizens of foreign countries must apply for and obtain a U.S. visa suitable for their travel purpose. A flyer for applicants to understand the process of obtaining a nonimmigrant visa, including completing the DS-160 online visa application and scheduling and attending a visa appointment. https://www.aila.org/aila-files/172340EF-A6BB-4784-A821-3D9FA7B646DA/Client-Flyer-Nonimmigrant-Visas.pdf…
It has been closely monitoring that processing challenges linked to the adjudication of long-pending Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. Concerning the prolonged processing times of USCIS, particularly for Immediate Relative (IR) category petitions pending over 14 months and F2A category (spouses and children of lawful permanent residents) petitions pending over 24 months (approximately 2 years). These delays significantly disrupt…
In recent weeks, it has been monitoring issues regarding improper rejections of Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, and related submissions. After gathering numerous examples, as it was brought to USCIS’s attention, seeking guidance on rectifying these erroneous rejections. Despite submitting the correct fee of $2,805 for premium processing of Forms I-129 and I-140, some forms have been mistakenly…
A flyer issued by AILA designed to assist applicants in understanding their obligations when signing an Affidavit of Support. By signing Form I-864, individuals are legally promising to provide financial support to the person they are sponsoring. This serves as a guarantee that the sponsored individual won’t need to rely on government assistance. https://www.aila.org/aila-files/9C71E40A-6FAA-4041-86D4-60E000672FF6/Client-Flyer-I-864.pdf Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq. Kulen Law Firm,…
USCIS has issued policy guidance regarding family-based immigrant visa petitions, outlining its procedures for correcting approval notice errors, handling requests for consular processing or adjustment, and routing approved petitions. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to petitions pending or filed on or after May 22, 2024. You can access the answers to these questions from the USCIS 20240522-Family-BasedImmigrantApprovals.pdf (aila.org)…
