We are revising our guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Classification for Victims of Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons; Eligibility for "T" Nonimmigrant Status Final Rule. This rule was published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2024.
Latest Immigration News
Sunday, November 3, 2024
Thursday, October 31, 2024
DHS Offers Protections for Lebanese Nationals Currently in the United States
Certain Lebanese nationals will be eligible for DED and TPS, allowing them to work and temporarily remain in the United States
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is announcing new actions to provide temporary immigration reprieve to eligible Lebanese nationals currently in the United States and allowing them the opportunity to request work authorization. Included in today's announcement are details related to the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Lebanese nationals as previously announced in July, and a planned new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Lebanon.
After consultation with interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas is announcing a new TPS designation for Lebanon for 18 months due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and te
Wednesday, October 30, 2024
USCIS Updates Guidance on the International Entrepreneur Rule
We have updated guidance on the International Entrepreneur Rule in our Policy Manual to clarify the required triennial increase in investment, revenue, and other thresholds, and to clarify how we arrange biometrics appointments for certain applicants.
The updated guidance reflects the International Entrepreneur Program: Fiscal Year 2025 Automatic Increase of Investment and Revenue Amount Requirements Final Rule published in July of this year. The final rule codifies the automatic adjustment
Sunday, October 27, 2024
USCIS Issues New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in our Policy Manual to further clarify the types of evidence that we may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) EB-1 immigrant visa classifications.
This policy guidance:
- Confirms that we consider a person's receipt of team awards under the criterion for lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards for excellence in the field of endeavor;
- Clarifies that we consider past memberships under the membership criterion;
- Removes language suggesting published material must demonstrate the value of the person's work and contributions to satisfy the published material criterion; and
- Explains that while the dictionary defines an "exhibition" as a public showing not limited to art, the relevant regulation expressly modifies that term with "ar
Thursday, October 24, 2024
USCIS Makes Additional Updates to Policy Guidance for the “Sought to Acquire” Requirement Under the Child Status Protection Act
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating guidance in the Policy Manual (Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 7), to clarify how to calculate the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) age for noncitizens who demonstrate extraordinary circumstances.
The updated guidance:
- Clarifies that the CSPA age calculation of an applicant who established extraordinary circumstances and is excused from the "sought to acquire" re
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Visa Bulletin December 2024 Predictions
Please see December 2024 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries):
Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
F1 | 15NOV15 | 15NOV15 | 15NOV15 | 22MAR05 | 22APR12 |
F2A | 08APR22 | 08APR22 | 08APR22 | 01JUL21 | 08APR22 |
F2B | 22MAY16 | 22MAY16 | 22MAY16 | 15OCT05 | 01DEC11 |
F3 | 01JUN10 | 01JUN10 | 01JUN10 | 15JAN01 | 15SEP02 |
F4 | 08AUG07 | 08AUG07 | 22MAR06 | 15MAR01 | 22MAR04 |
Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
F1 | 01NOV17 | 01NOV17 | 01NOV17 | 15OCT05 | 08JUN15 |
F2A | 15AUG24 | 15AUG24 | 15AUG24 | 15AUG24 | 15AUG24 |
F2B | 15FEB17 | 15FEB17 | 15FEB17 | 01SEP06 | 08NOV13 |
F3 | 01JUL12 | 01JUL12 | 01JUL12 | 22JUN01 | 22MAY04 |
F4 | 22MAR08 | 22MAR08 | 15AUG06 | 22MAY01 | 08NOV07 |
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Guidance on Paying Fees and Completing Information for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers
Be sure to provide the correct payment and complete information when filing Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers. Since publishing both a new edition of this form and a new fee rule in April 2024, we have had to reject an unusually high number of Form I-140 petitions at intake because of incorrect fees and missing information.
When you file Form I-140, provide a payment with your petition for the full $600 Asylum Program Fee, unless you qualify for a reduced Asylum Program Fee of either $300 or $0. If you do not provide the correct Asylum Program Fee, in addition to the $715 filing fee, we may reject your f