USCIS Updates Policy Manual Guidance for T Visa

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.

T nonimmigra

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

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

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

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

Visa Bulletin December 2024 Predictions

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

Please see December 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	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

"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	01SEP06	08NOV13
F3	01JUL12	01JUL12	01JUL12	22JUN01	22MAY04
F4	22MAR08	22MAR08	15AUG06	22MAY01	08NOV07

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