Immigration Solutions

USCIS Announces Premium Processing; New Online-Filing Procedures for Certain F-1 Students Seeking OPT or STEM OPT Extensions

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today the expansion of premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions who have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and wish to request a premium processing upgrade. Online filing … Read more

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for Second Half of FY 2023 and Announces Filing Dates for the Second Half of FY 2023 Supplemental Visas

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received enough petitions to meet the H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2023 and is announcing the filing dates for supplemental H-2B visas for the reminder of FY 2023 made available under the FY 2023 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule. H-2B Cap for … Read more

USCIS Extends COVID-19-related Flexibilities through March 23,2023

From uscis.gov, 1/24/23 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is extending certain COVID-19-related flexibilities through March 23, 2023. Under these flexibilities, USCIS considers a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date set forth in the following requests or notices before taking any action, if the request or notice was issued between March … Read more

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity for Conditional Permanent Residents with a Pending Form I-751 – remain authorized to work and travel for 48 months

USCIS Green Card Validity Extension – Updates From uscis.gov, 1/23/23 USCIS is extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status for 48 months beyond the card’s expiration date. … Read more

USCIS To Adjudicate H-4, H-4 EAD, And L-2 Together With I-129

The settlement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Edakunni v. Mayorkas, which provides structural changes for nonimmigrant H-4 and L-2 spouses suffering from long delayed processing times which often lead to delayed employment authorization. On 1/20/2023, the government and plaintiffs have signed off on a settlement in which USCIS would agree to return … Read more

EB-1C and NIW Premium Processing available starting January 30, 2023

From uscis.gov U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is implementing the final phase of the premium processing expansion for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications. Unlike previous phases of the expansion, this phase applies to new (initial) petitions, in addition to all previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an … Read more

four-year TN Visa for Mexican Citizens

Thursday , January 5, 2023 The U.S. State Department recently updated its visa reciprocity schedule for citizens of Mexico, and now provides two visa validity period options for TN visa applicants. Mexican citizens may request a 48-month TN visa validity period by paying a visa reciprocity fee of $382. Alternatively, they can request a 12-month … Read more

USCIS Issues Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration and Naturalization Fees

From uscis.gov on 1/3/23: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) receives approximately 96 percent of its funding from its customers in the form of filing fees, not from taxpayers in the form of Congressional appropriations. The last fee adjustment occurred in 2016. USCIS conducted a comprehensive fee review as we are required to do every … Read more

DHS’s Public Charge Final Rule Goes into Effect on Dec. 23

From USCIS on 12/19/22: On Dec. 23, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule will go into effect. This final rule, which was previously announced, provides clarity and consistency for noncitizens on how DHS will administer the public charge ground of inadmissibility. This final rule restores the historical understanding of a … Read more