USCIS Announces Rule Change to Asylum System to Reduce Backlog

With this rule, USCIS can refer asylum applications to Immigration Judges without interviewing the alien

WASHINGTON – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a rule change designed to reduce the backlog in the asylum system.

Currently, both USCIS and Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judges adjudicate applications for asylum: USCIS adjudicates “affirmative” asylum applications for aliens who are not in removal proceedings, while Immigration Judges adjudicate “defensive” asylum applications for aliens who are in removal proceedings. Depending on the alien’s immigration status, USCIS will usually either adjudicate the application or refer it to an Immigration Judge, who will then condu

USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year 2027.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services Rescinds 2022 Public Charge Regulation

WASHINGTON— The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule rescinding the 2022 Biden-era regulation regarding public charge determinations, further aligning immigration law with Congressional intent that aliens in the United States be self-reliant and not dependent on taxpayer-funded government benefits. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an individual applying for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status is inadmissible to the United States if deemed likely at any time to become a public charge. 

The n

USCIS Opens Asylum Office in Atlanta

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is opening an asylum office in Atlanta. Beginning July 8, 2026, the Atlanta Asylum Office will conduct interviews for affirmative asylum applicants at three locations. Aliens filing for asylum and aliens who have already filed for asylum who are under the jurisdiction of the Atlanta Asylum Office, which covers Georgia and Alabama, will have their interview scheduled at one of these locations:

• A new, temporary asylum office location in Atlanta;
• The USCIS Atlanta Field Office; or
• The USCIS Montgomery Field Office in Alabama.

The Atlanta Asylum Office is expected to move into a permanent location in 2027. Until then, USCIS will use the above

Visa Bulletin October 2026 Predictions

For official September 2026 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-september-2026.aspx

Please see October 2026 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	08MAY20	08MAY20	08MAY20	08MAR08	08MAY13
F2A	C	C	C	15NOV25	C
F2B	22NOV19	22NOV19	22NOV19	22MAR09	22JUN13
F3	01FEB15	01FEB15	01FEB15	08JUL01	08APR06
F4	22FEB12	22FEB12	22NOV06	01MAY01	08OCT07

"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	22APR20	22APR20	22APR20	08FEB09	08JUN15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01DEC19	01DEC19	01DEC19	01JUL10	08NOV13
F3	15JAN15	15JAN15	15JAN15	22JUL01	08SEP06
F4	01FEB12	01FEB12	08JAN07	22MAY01	01APR08

September 2026 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For September 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-september-2026.aspx

Please see below analysis of September 2026 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 Year 1 Month 7 Days	+1 Year 1 Month 7 Days	+1 Year 1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month	No Change
F2A	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month
F2B	+1 Year 7 Months 21 Days	+1 Year 7 Months 21 Days	+1 Year 7 Months 21 Days	No Change	No Change
F3	+2 Years 5 Months 7 Days	+2 Years 5 Months 7 Days	+2 Years 5 Months 7 Days	No Change	No Change
F4	+2 Years 1 Month 21 Days	+2 Years 1 Month 21 Days	No Change	No Change	+21 Days

"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	+7 Months 16 Days	+7 Months 16 Days	+7 Months 16 Days	No Change	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	+8 Months	+8 Months	+8 Months	No Change	No Change
F3	+1 Year 8 Months	+1 Year 8 Months	+1 Year 8 Months	No Change	No Change
F4	+1 Year 4 Months 9 Days	+1 Year 4 Months 9 Days	No Change	No Change	No Change

September 2026 Visa Bulletin

For August 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-august-2026.aspx

For analysis of September 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-analysis-september-2026.aspx

September 2026 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from September 1 to September 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	22JAN20	22JAN20	22JAN20	01JAN08	01MAY13
F2A	22AUG26	22AUG26	22AUG26	22AUG25	22AUG26
F2B	22AUG19	22AUG19	22AUG19	15FEB09	01JUN13
F3	22OCT14	22OCT14	22OCT14	01JUL01	22FEB06
F4	22OCT11	22OCT11	01NOV06	08APR01	22AUG07

"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	01FEB20	01FEB20	01FEB20	01DEC08	22APR15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01SEP19	01SEP19	01SEP19	15MAY10	01OCT13
F3	01NOV14	01NOV14	01NOV14	15JUL01	08AUG06
F4	01NOV11	01NOV11	15DEC06	30APR01	22MAR08