Certain Petitioners for U Nonimmigrant Status May Receive a Refund for Applications for Employment Authorization Submitted Before Sept. 30, 2021

USCIS mistakenly rejected certain applications for employment authorization (Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization) from petitioners for U nonimmigrant status that were filed without a fee (or request for fee waiver) from June 14 through Sept. 29, 2021. USCIS also mistakenly accepted fees where certain petitioners for U nonimmigrant status unnecessarily submitted a fee with their Form I-765. USCIS is tracking this issue and is committed to correcting errors and expects to issue refunds by March 22, 2022.

On June 14, 2021, USCIS implemented a process allowing individuals living in the United States with a pending bona fide <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f1d

Visa Bulletin January 2022 Predictions

For official December 2021 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-december-2021.aspx

Please see January 2022 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	08DEC14	08DEC14	08DEC14	22JUN99	22APR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01NOV15	01NOV15	01NOV15	08AUG00	01DEC11
F3	01DEC08	01DEC08	01DEC08	15AUG97	15JUN02
F4	08APR07	08APR07	01OCT05	08APR99	08SEP02

"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	08JUN16	08JUN16	08JUN16	01JAN01	15JUL15
F2A	08OCT21	08OCT21	08OCT21	08OCT21	08OCT21
F2B	08OCT16	08OCT16	08OCT16	08FEB01	22NOV13
F3	01SEP09	01SEP09	01SEP09	15SEP00	01NOV03
F4	22OCT07	22OCT07	22JAN06	08AUG99	22MAR04

USCIS Conducts Third Random Selection from Previously Submitted FY 2022 H-1B Cap Registrations

We recently determined that we needed to select additional registrations to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B numerical allocations, including the advanced degree exemption. On Nov. 19, we selected from among previously submitted electronic registrations using a random selection process. The petition filing period based on registrations selected on Nov. 19 will begin on Nov. 22, 2021, and close on Feb. 23, 2022. Individuals with selected registrations will have their myUSCIS accounts updated to include a selection notice, which includes details about when and where to file. 

In July 2021, we <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="dddfce7b-0c26-4414-9475-ef5732ac9b09" href="https://www.u

USCIS Opening a New Lockbox Facility

We are planning to open a new facility in Elgin, Illinois, next year to expand our lockbox capability.

To prepare for this shift, on Oct. 15 we adjusted the filing locations for some applications. Now, certain adjustment of status applicants submit their applications to the Phoenix Lockbox instead of the Chicago or Dallas Lockbox. Additionally, we have streamlined filing locations for certain employment-based forms to a single lockbox location. You can find the latest filing instructions on our Form I-130, <a data-entit

DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State (DOS), has announced the lists of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in the next year. The notice listing the eligible countries will be published in the Federal Register on Nov. 10, 2021.

For the next year, the secretary of homeland security, with the concurrence of the secretary of state, has decided to:

• Add Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Cyprus, the Dominican Republic (currently only eligible for the H-2A program), Haiti, Mauritius, and Saint Lucia to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B program

DHS Announces Fee Exemptions, Streamlined Processing for Afghan Nationals as They Resettle in the U.S.

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will exempt filing fees and streamline application processing for Afghan nationals who were paroled into the United States for humanitarian reasons on or after July 30, 2021. These actions will help facilitate their resettlement in the U.S. by streamlining the processing of requests for work authorization, Green Cards, and associated services. DHS is the lead federal agency coordinating Operation Allies Welcome, the ongoing all-of-government effort to resettle vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked on behalf of the United States.

"By providing these evacuees with access to streamlined processing and fee exemptions, we will open doors of opportunity for our Afghan allies and help them begin to rebuild their lives in communities across our country more quickly," said Secretar

December 2021 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For December 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-december-2021.aspx

Please see below analysis of December 2021 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	+3 Months 24 Days	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+3 Months 17 Days	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	+2 Months	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Month 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	+4 Months	No Change
F2A	+3 Months	+3 Months	+3 Months	+3 Months	+3 Months
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+3 Months	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	+2 Months	No Change