From uscis.gov, 04/10/2024 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance (PDF, 321.14 KB) in the USCIS Policy Manual to add the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) definition of “science or art” for Schedule A, Group II cases. For many employment-based 2nd and 3rd preference (EB-2 and EB-3) petitions, employers must obtain a labor certification … Read more
From USCIS via X on 4/3/24: Do self-petitioners and beneficiary-owners also pay the Asylum Program Fee, and, if so, do they pay the full amount of $600? An individual self-petitioner would pay the reduced Asylum Program Fee of $300 when filing Form I-140 as an EB-1A noncitizen of extraordinary ability or as an EB-2 with … Read more
From USCIS – 3/30/2024: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that on April 1, 2024 we are changing the filing location for concurrently filed Forms I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service; I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker; and I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, and for related Forms I-131, Application for … Read more
From uscis.gov: On April 1, 2024, USCIS service centers will no longer accept Form I-129 petitions requesting H-1B Specialty Occupation Worker or H-1B1 (HSC) Free Trade Agreement Worker in a specialty occupation from Chile and Singapore classification. Beginning April 1, 2024, all paper-filed Form I-129 petitions requesting H-1B1 (HSC) or H-1B classification, including those with a concurrent … Read more
From USCIS on 1/29/24: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will launch Tech Talks sessions in February so you can ask questions about the new USCIS organizational accounts in preparation for the fiscal year 2025 H-1B electronic registration season and online filing of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and Form I-907, Request for Premium … Read more
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
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
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
Highlights of the Proposed Rule • The fee for H-1B Cap Registration would be raised from $10 to $215 per registration. • Premium processing times would be lengthened from 15 calendar days to 15 business days. Weekends and holidays would no longer be included thereby increasing the time for the USCIS to respond. • A … Read more
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