Application Period Open for Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Programs

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program. The grant opportunities, mandated by Congress and funded with appropriations rather than the agency's operating funds, will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.    

These competitive grant opportunities are open to organizations that prepare lawful permanent residents for naturalization and promote civic assimilation through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics. 

USCIS expects to announce award recipients in September 2020, if agency staff are available to review applications and oversee the program. However, should agency staff be furloughed in late August, USCIS anticipates that the grant program coul

How Trump's coronavirus immigration orders affect visas and green cards

President Trump tweeted in April that he would “temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!” leading to confusion and panic.

For those affected by the rapidly shifting regulations, it can be hard to make sense of documents written in inscrutable legalese. The problem is that somebody thinks that something applies to them when it doesn’t or doesn’t realize something applies to them when it does.

To make things easier, here’s a breakdown of recently implemented restrictions on work and resident visas.

Applying Discretion in USCIS Adjudications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has consolidated existing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding officers’ application of discretion in adjudications.

For many immigration benefits, including certain applications for lawful permanent residence and employment authorization, requestors must show that a favorable exercise of discretion is warranted, in addition to showing that they meet all other eligibility requirements. 

Visa Bulletin September 2020 Predictions

For official August 2020 Visa Bulletin and Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-august-2020.aspx

Please see September 2020 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	08OCT14	08OCT14	08OCT14	08FEB98	15DEC11
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	08JUL15	08JUL15	08JUL15	15APR99	01JUL11
F3	22JUN08	22JUN08	22JUN08	01AUG96	22MAR02
F4	01OCT06	01OCT06	08MAR05	01AUG98	15DEC01

"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	15AUG15	15AUG15	15AUG15	08FEB00	01OCT12
F2A	01AUG20	01AUG20	01AUG20	01AUG20	01AUG20
F2B	01MAY16	01MAY16	01MAY16	01DEC99	01MAR12
F3	22JUN09	22JUN09	22JUN09	08AUG00	01JAN03
F4	15SEP07	15SEP07	22NOV05	08APR99	01SEP02

USCIS Launches Updated Website

Today, USCIS launched an updated uscis.gov website, which they designed with input from applicants, petitioners and the public. In addition to a new look and feel, they have improved the website to help visitors better navigate our existing online tools and resources, as well as to file and manage applications and petitions online.

They are also making information about our processes easier to find by streamlining our navigation based on user feedback, data and best practices. 

August 2020 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For August 2020 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-august-2020.aspx

Please see below analysis of August 2020 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	+1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	+14 Days	+3 Months
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	+1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	+14 Days	+3 Months
F3	+24 Days	+24 Days	+24 Days	+7 Days	+3 Months
F4	+17 Days	+17 Days	+14 Days	+14 Days	+3 Months

"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	+1 Month 16 Days	+1 Month 16 Days	+1 Month 16 Days	+24 Days	+4 Months
F2A	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month
F2B	+1 Month 14 Days	+1 Month 14 Days	+1 Month 14 Days	+24 Days	+4 Months
F3	+23 Days	+23 Days	+23 Days	+17 Days	+4 Months
F4	+17 Days	+17 Days	+17 Days	+24 Days	+4 Months

August 2020 Visa Bulletin

For July 2020 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-july-2020.aspx

For analysis of August 2020 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-analysis-august-2020.aspx

August 2020 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from August 1 to August 31 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	15AUG14	15AUG14	15AUG14	22DEC97	01SEP11
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	08JUN15	08JUN15	08JUN15	22MAR99	01APR11
F3	01JUN08	01JUN08	01JUN08	15JUL96	15NOV01
F4	08SEP06	08SEP06	22FEB05	15JUN98	01SEP01

"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	08JUN15	08JUN15	08JUN15	01FEB00	08JUN12
F2A	01JUL20	01JUL20	01JUL20	01JUL20	01JUL20
F2B	15MAR16	15MAR16	15MAR16	08NOV99	01DEC11
F3	08MAY09	08MAY09	08MAY09	01AUG00	22AUG02
F4	01SEP07	01SEP07	08NOV05	01APR99	08MAY02