Latest Immigration News

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Visa Bulletin March 2023 Predictions

For official February 2023 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-february-2023.aspx

Please see March 2023 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	01FEB15	01FEB15	01FEB15	22MAY01	22APR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01NOV15	01NOV15	01NOV15	22JUN01	01DEC11
F3	08DEC08	08DEC08	08DEC08	08NOV97	01JUL02
F4	15APR07	15APR07	08OCT05	15SEP00	22SEP02

"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	15AUG16	15AUG16	15AUG16	22JAN03	08JUN15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	08JAN17	08JAN17	08JAN17	22JAN02	08NOV13
F3	15NOV09	15NOV09	15NOV09	22JUN01	01DEC03
F4	08JAN08	08JAN08	15MAR06	22APR01	01MAY04

Asylum Applicants Can Now File Form I-765 Online

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that certain asylum applicants can now file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, online.

Effective immediately, applicants for employment authorization under category (c)(8), Pending Asylum and Withholding of Removal Applicants and Applicants for Pending Asylum under the ABC Settlement Agreement, may file Form I-765 online.

To apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) based on your pending asylum application under the (c)(8) eligibility category, you may file Form I-765 150 days after you file your asylum application. The filing date is the date USCIS receives a properly filed <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-

DHS Announces Process Enhancements for Supporting Labor Enforcement Investigations

Changes Strengthen Efforts to Hold Unscrupulous Employers Accountable

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that noncitizen workers who are victims of, or witnesses to, the violation of labor rights, can now access a streamlined and expedite deferred action request process. Deferred action protects noncitizen workers from threats of immigration-related retaliation from the exploitive employers. Effective immediately, this process will improve DHS's longstanding practice of using its discretionary authority to consider labor and employment agency-related requests for deferred action on a case-by-case basis. Workers will be able to visit DHS.gov for additional information i

USCIS Announces Final Phase of Premium Processing Expansion for EB-1 and EB-2 Form I-140 Petitions and Future Expansion for F-1 Students Seeking OPT and Certain Student and Exchange Visitors

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 E13 multinational executive and manager classification or E21 classification as a member of professions with advanced degrees or exceptional ability seeking a national interest waiver (NIW).

Petitioners who wish to request premium processing must file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service.

Beginning Jan. 30, 2023, we will accept Form I-907 requests for:

All pending E13

Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Somalia for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months

Redesignation Allows Additional Somali Nationals to be Eligible for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalia for an additional 18 months, from March 18, 2023, through September 17, 2024. He also redesignated Somalia for TPS, allowing Somali nationals residing in the United States as of January 11, 2023 to apply for TPS, so long as they meet all eligibility requirements. The extension and redesignation of Somalia for TPS are due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent Somali nationals from safely returning.

"Through the extension and redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status, the United States will be able to offer safet

DHS Implements New Processes for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans and Eliminates Cap for Venezuelans

On Jan. 5, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a safe and lawful way for qualifying Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans with U.S.-based supporters to travel by air to and temporarily reside in the United States. Individuals arriving under this new process may also apply for work authorization. DHS also announced elimination of the numerical cap for a similar process for Venezuelans announced earlier this year.

This process will provide a lawful and streamlined way for qualifying nationals of Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua who are outside the United States and lacking U.S. entry documents to come to the United States. Through a fully online process, individuals can be considered, on a case-by-case basis, for advance a

February 2023 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For February 2023 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-february-2023.aspx

Please see below analysis of February 2023 Visa Bulletin: