January visa bulletin stayed the same as December 2024. USCIS determined that for January 2024, applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories and all employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart. According to the January 2024 visa bulletin, the priority date for the Second preference (F2A) – spouses and children (unmarried and under 21 years of age) of…
Effective from December 2, 2024, USCIS requires applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to include Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record. Applications missing this form may be rejected to reduce Requests for Evidence (RFEs) during processing. USCIS has not clarified which applications might be accepted or rejected without the required…
USCIS recently updated its policy guidance on how evidence is evaluated for individuals applying under the “extraordinary ability” classification (typically EB-1A). Here are the key points: 1. Team Awards: Clarification: USCIS now explicitly considers team awards as qualifying under the criterion for “lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence.” Implication: If an applicant was part of a…
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…
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…
A technical issue previously resulted in missing USCIS Form I-612 receipt notices for cases where the Department of State’s Waiver Review Division (WRD) recommended waivers. This problem affected I-612 receipt notices related to J-1 waivers for physicians serving in underserved areas. Normally, when WRD recommends a waiver, it is sent to USCIS, which should then issue an I-797 receipt notice…
