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

November 2024 Visa Bulletin

For October 2024 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2024/visa-bulletin-october-2024.aspx

For analysis of November 2024 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2024/visa-bulletin-analysis-november-2024.aspx

November 2024 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from November 1 to November 30 only). Please see below for more details.

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	22OCT15	22OCT15	22OCT15	22NOV04	01MAR12
F2A	01JAN22	01JAN22	01JAN22	15APR21	01JAN22
F2B	01MAY16	01MAY16	01MAY16	01JUL05	22OCT11
F3	15APR10	15APR10	15APR10	22OCT00	08SEP02
F4	01AUG07	01AUG07	08MAR06	01MAR01	01FEB04

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability  Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA- mainland  born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01SEP17	01SEP17	01SEP17	01OCT05	22APR15
F2A	15JUL24	15JUL24	15JUL24	15JUL24	15JUL24
F2B	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JUL06	01OCT13
F3	22APR12	22APR12	22APR12	15JUN01	08MAY04
F4	01MAR08	01MAR08	01AUG06	30APR01	22JUL07

November 2024 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For November 2024 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2024/visa-bulletin-november-2024.aspx

Please see below analysis of November 2024 Visa Bulletin:

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Year 10 Months 21 Days	No Change
F2A	+1 Month 9 Days	+1 Month 9 Days	+1 Month 9 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month 9 Days
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+5 Months 17 Days	No Change
F3	+14 Days	+14 Days	+14 Days	+2 Months	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	+7 Days	+7 Days	No Change

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+11 Months	No Change
F3	+9 Months 21 Days	+9 Months 21 Days	+9 Months 21 Days	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	+1 Month 16 Days	No Change	+11 Months 21 Days

USCIS Announces Employment Authorization Procedures for Liberians Covered by Deferred Enforced Departure

Eligible Liberians can now apply for an EAD valid through June 30, 2026

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today posted a Federal Register notice establishing procedures for Liberians covered by Deferred Enforced Departure to apply for Employment Authorization Documents that will be valid through June 30, 2026.

President Joe Biden issued a <a target='_blank' href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-relea

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of Fiscal Year 2025

We have received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated cap on H-2B visas for temporary nonagricultural workers for the first half of fiscal year 2025. Sept. 18 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2025. We will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions we receive after Sept. 18 that request an employment start date before April 1, 2025.

We are still accepting H-2B petitions that are exempt from the congressionally mandated cap, including:

• Current H-2B workers in the United States who extend their stay, change employers, or change the terms and conditions of their employment;
• Fish roe processors, fish roe technicians, and/or supervisors of fish roe processing; and
• Workers performing labor or services in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and/or

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity Extension to 36 Months for Green Card Renewals

Effective Sept. 10, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services automatically extended the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) to 36 months for lawful permanent residents who file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.  

Lawful permanent residents who properly file Form I-90 to renew an expiring or expired Green Card may receive this extension. Form I-90 receipt notices had previously provided a 24-month extension of the validity of a Green Card. 

USCIS has updated the language on Form I-90 receipt notices to extend the validity of a Green Card for 36 months from the expiration

Visa Bulletin November 2024 Predictions

For official October 2024 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2024/visa-bulletin-october-2024.aspx

Please see November 2024 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries):

Family Based:

Final Action Dates

Dates For Filing Applications

"Final Action Date" is the date when when USCIS/DOS may render their final decision on submitted applications. Your priority date should be before this date.

Family- Sponsored	All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed	CHINA-mainland born	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	15NOV15	15NOV15	15NOV15	22FEB03	22APR12
F2A	22FEB22	22FEB22	22FEB22	15MAY21	22FEB22
F2B	22MAY16	22MAY16	22MAY16	15APR05	01DEC11
F3	08MAY10	08MAY10	08MAY10	08NOV00	15SEP02
F4	08AUG07	08AUG07	15MAR06	08MAR01	22MAR04

"Date for Filing Application" is the date when you can submit I-485/NVC applications to USCIS/DOS. Your priority date should be before this date.

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	01SEP05	08NOV13
F3	15AUG11	15AUG11	15AUG11	22JUN01	22MAY04
F4	22MAR08	22MAR08	22JUN06	22MAY01	15OCT06