Editorial Team USCIS has changed its policy regarding the 3-year and 10-year unlawful presence bars. If a foreign national accumulates unlawful presence in the U.S., either more than 180 days for the 3-year bar or a year or more for the 10-year bar and then departs, but returns, he or she can serve out the remainder of … Read more
We receive many questions as to who may pay immigration sponsorship fees for certain nonimmigrant petitions and the permanent residency (green card) process. H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 Visas Regulations do not allow the employer to require that the beneficiary (employee) pay for or reimburse the employer’s expenses for USCIS fees or attorney fees associated with … Read more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced the first implementation phase of the previously announced premium processing expansion. This expansion applies to certain petitioners who have a pending Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the E13 multinational executive and manager classification or the E21 classification as a member of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional … Read more
Certain applicants who have filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, qualify for automatic extensions of their expiring employment authorization and/or EADs for up to 540 days if they: Properly filed Form I-765 for a renewal of their employment authorization and/or EAD before their current EAD expired, and Are otherwise eligible for a renewal, which … Read more
From uscis.gov via email on 4/7/2022. WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a policy update to adopt a risk-based approach when waiving interviews for USCIS Form I-751 conditional permanent residents (CPR) who have filed a petition to remove the conditions on their permanent resident status. Effective immediately, new criteria will guide USCIS officers … Read more
From USCIS on 3/30/22: As part of our credit card payment pilot program, the USCIS service centers are now accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for all forms. The goal of this pilot is to bring USCIS one step closer to accepting digital payments using a credit card at … Read more
From USCIS on 3/30/22 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending certain flexibilities through July 25, 2022, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors. We anticipate this may be the final extension of these flexibilities. USCIS will consider a response received within 60 calendar days after the due date set … Read more
On January 31, 2022, (CBP) Customs and Border Protection began issuing I-94 forms with new designations for L-2 and E visa dependents. The new designations for L-2 and E dependent spouses specifically will serve as evidence that holders are authorized to be employed based on their nonimmigrant status. Previously, L-2 and E dependent spouses were … Read more
For all H-1B and H-1B1 petitions received on or after April 1, 2022, USCIS will no longer accept a single, combined fee payment when Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status; Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization; or Form I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, is filed together with an H-1B … Read more
From USCIS – Release Date 02/18/2022 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services encourages eligible applicants to consider requesting to transfer the underlying basis of their adjustment of status application to the first (priority workers) or second (noncitizens in professions with advanced degrees or with exceptional ability) employment-based preference categories, because there is an exceptionally high number of … Read more
