USCIS to Begin Using More Secure Mail Delivery Service

From USCIS News:

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that the agency will begin phasing in use of the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery service to mail Green Cards and other secure documents beginning April 30, 2018.

The first phase will affect documents that need to be re-mailed because they have been returned as non-deliverable. These documents include Permanent Resident Cards (also called Green Cards), Employment Authorization Cards, and Travel Booklets. Applicants who have changed mailing addresses during the course of the application process are more likely to have their secure documents sent with the new delivery method, which USCIS will expand to all secure documents in the future.

As part of the new delivery method, applicants mus

USCIS Premieres Video Highlighting its Historic Connections to Ellis Island

From USCIS News:

Video: USCIS and the Legacy of Ellis Island

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today released a new documentary video, USCIS and the Legacy of Ellis Island, following an internal premiere for the agency’s employees. From 1892 to 1954, the federal immigration service and its employees processed over twelve million immigrants at the Ellis Island Immigration Station in New York Harbor. 

The video, created by USCIS, tells the story of Ellis Island from the perspective of those who worked there, highlighting the historical connections between our agency’s mission to administer lawful immigratio

Outage: Case Status by Text Message

From USCIS Alerts:

Because of system maintenance, we are not able to send you text messages updating you about changes in the status of your case. We do not know when the system will be back to normal. However, you can still get updates on our website.

Tools Outage

From USCIS Alerts:

USCIS will conduct system maintenance on Wednesday, April 25, 2018, from 9 p.m. until midnight (Eastern).

During this time, our online tools may be unavailable, including:

• Check My Case Status
• e-Request
• Change of Address Online
• Check Processing Times
• Civil Surgeon Locator
• FOIA Status Check
• Office Locator
• Forms by Mail

Credit Card Payment Now Available for Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document

From USCIS Alerts:

The USCIS Phoenix Lockbox facility is now accepting Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document.

As of April 18, the Nebraska Service Center no longer accepts this form and forwards N-565 applications to the Phoenix Lockbox.

With the transfer to a Lockbox facility, applicants may now pay the filing fee by credit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions.

Substantial Support from USCIS Fraud Detection Unit Leads to Convictions in Two Separate Immigration Fraud Cases

From USCIS News:

LOS ANGELES – This week, two immigration fraud perpetrators were sentenced to prison due to the considerable efforts of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Los Angeles Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) unit. Los Angeles FDNS immigration officers worked closely with law enforcement and intelligence community partners to resolve potential fraud, national security and public safety concerns, and to ensure exchange of current and comprehensive information. 

“Convictions in both cases send a powerful message to anyone trying to take advantage of our community or defraud the government,” said USCIS Los Angeles District Director Donna Campagnolo. “Fighting fraud and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system are top priorities for USCIS. We remain committed and vi

E-Verify Outage and New Features

From USCIS Alerts:

E-Verify, the free system that allows employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States, will be unavailable from April 20 at 9 p.m. until April 22 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern, while we implement system enhancements. For more information on how the outage will affect the creation of E-Verify cases see the fact sheet on our website.

On April 23, we will release a modernized version of E-Verify that will help users enter correct information, increase the speed and accuracy of the employment eligibility verification process, decrease Tentative Nonconfirmations (TNCs), and red

New E-Verify.gov Website a User-Friendly Source to Verify Employment Eligibility

From USCIS News:

New E-Verify.gov Website a User-Friendly Source to Verify Employment Eligibility 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced the launch of our new website, E-Verify.gov. This is the authoritative source for information on electronic employment eligibility verification. E-Verify.gov is for employers, employees and the general public.

The user-friendly website provides information about E-Verify and Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, including employee rights and employer responsibilities in the employment verification process. E-Verify.gov allows employers to enroll in E-Verify directly and permits curr

Visa Bulletin June 2018 Predictions

For the official May 2018 Visa Bulletin, please click here: http://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-may-2018.aspx

Please see June 2018 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based):

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	15APR11	15APR11	15APR11	01JAN97	15MAR06
F2A	01JUL16	01JUL16	01JUL16	15MAY16	01JUL16
F2B	01JUN11	01JUN11	01JUN11	01JAN97	01JAN07
F3	22FEB06	22FEB06	22FEB06	22SEP95	15APR95
F4	15OCT04	15OCT04	15MAR04	22JAN98	15MAR95

"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	22JAN12	22JAN12	22JAN12	22SEP98	01DEC07
F2A	08NOV17	08NOV17	08NOV17	08NOV17	08NOV17
F2B	22OCT11	22OCT11	22OCT11	15JUN97	15OCT07
F3	01OCT06	01OCT06	01OCT06	01JAN99	08AUG95
F4	15APR05	15APR05	15DEC04	15MAY98	01NOV95

USCIS Completes the H-1B Cap Random Selection Process for FY 2019

From USCIS Alerts:

On April 11, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process to select enough H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally-mandated cap and the U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2019.

USCIS received 190,098 H-1B petitions during the filing period, which began April 2, including petitions filed for the advanced degree exemption. USCIS announced on April 6, that it had received enough H-1B petitions to reach the statutory cap of 65,000 and the master’s cap of 20,000. USCIS will reject and return all unselected petitions with their filing fees unless the petition is a prohibited <a target='_blank' href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Laws/Memoranda/2018/2018-3-23

Tools Outage

From USCIS Alerts:

USCIS will conduct system maintenance on Thursday, April 12, 2018, from 9 p.m. until midnight (Eastern).

During this time, our online tools may be unavailable, including:

• Check My Case Status
• e-Request
• Change of Address Online
• Check Processing Times
• Civil Surgeon Locator
• FOIA Status Check
• Office Locator
• Forms by Mail

USCIS Will Conduct a Lottery for CW-1 Petitions for Fiscal Year 2019

From USCIS Alerts:

USCIS has received petitions for more than the number of visas available for fiscal year (FY) 2019 for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) program. The cap for CW-1 visas for FY 2019 is 4,999.

As a result, USCIS will be conducting a lottery to ensure that it does not exceed the CW-1 cap. USCIS will randomly select petitions received between April 2, 2018 and April 13, 2018. If USCIS receives your petition after April 13, it will be rejected and will not be considered for this lottery.

For more details on the FY 2019 CW-1 program and what to submit, refer to our March 20 alert. For more information on the CW-1 cap, visit our <a

Queens Immigration Attorney Charged With Asylum Fraud

From USCIS News:

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Patricia Menges, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services New York Asylum Office, announced that yesterday ANDREEA DUMITRU, a/k/a “Andreea Dumitru Parcalaboiu,” an immigration attorney based in Queens, New York, was charged with asylum fraud and making false statements.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Court Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Andreea Dumitru, an immigration attorney, is alleged to have submitted fraudulent forms for over 180 clients, each containing statements and repr

Visa Bulletin May 2018

For April 2018 Visa Bulletin, please click here: http://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-april-2018.aspx

May 2018 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from May 1 to May 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	08APR11	08APR11	08APR11	15NOV96	22JAN06
F2A	01JUN16	01JUN16	01JUN16	22APR16	01JUN16
F2B	15MAY11	15MAY11	15MAY11	01DEC96	15DEC06
F3	01FEB06	01FEB06	01FEB06	01SEP95	01APR95
F4	01OCT04	01OCT04	01MAR04	08JAN98	01FEB95

"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	08JAN12	08JAN12	08JAN12	15JUL98	08OCT07
F2A	22SEP17	22SEP17	22SEP17	22SEP17	22SEP17
F2B	08SEP11	08SEP11	08SEP11	22MAY97	08SEP07
F3	08SEP06	08SEP06	08SEP06	22SEP98	22JUL95
F4	01APR05	01APR05	01DEC04	08MAY98	15OCT95

Visa Bulletin May 2018 Special Notes

For the official May 2018 Visa Bulletin, please click here: http://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-may-2018.aspx

Apart from posting current dates, State Department has also added special notes to Visa Bulletin mentioned above. Please see full details below:

D. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT (SI) TRANSLATOR CATEGORY VISA AVAILABILITY

Given the limited availability of visa numbers and the existing demand, the Department expects to reach the FY-2018 annual limit of 50 Special Immigrant Visas in the SI category early this year. As a result, it has been necessary to maintain a May Final Action Date of April 22, 2012. It is likely that number use will require the SI category to become "unavailable" in the coming months. Once the annual limit of 50 visas is reached, further issuances in the SI category will not be possible until October 2018, under the FY-2019 annual limit. The SQ Special Immigrant Visa category for certain Iraqi and Afghan nationals employed by or on behalf of the U.S. government in Iraq or Afghanistan is not affected and remains current.

E. OVERSUBSCRIPTION OF THE VIETNAM EMPLOYMENT FIFTH PREFERENCE CAT

USCIS Updates Webpage to Share More Accurate Processing Times

From USCIS News:

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today launched a pilot to test a redesigned processing times webpage that displays the data for all forms in an easier-to-read format and also tests a new way of collecting data and calculating the processing times for some forms.

The pilot will test four forms using a new automated methodology for calculating processing times. The four forms are:

• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization;
• Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card;
• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status; and
• Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.

The new webpage makes it easier for anyone to see approxima

USCIS Reaches FY 2019 H-1B Cap

From USCIS Alerts:

USCIS has reached the congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa cap for fiscal year 2019. USCIS has also received a sufficient number of H-1B petitions to meet the 20,000 visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap.

The agency will reject and return filing fees for all unselected cap-subject petitions that are not prohibited multiple filings (PDF, 119 KB).

USCIS will continue to accept and process petitions that are otherwise exempt from the cap.  Petitions filed for current H-1B workers who have been counted previously against the cap, and who still retain their cap number, will also not be counted

Tools Outage

From USCIS Alerts:

USCIS will conduct system maintenance on Sunday, April 8, 2018, from 5 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Eastern).

During this time, our online tools may be unavailable, including:

• Check My Case Status
• e-Request
• Change of Address Online
• Check Processing Times
• Civil Surgeon Locator
• FOIA Status Check
• Office Locator
• Forms by Mail

USCIS Efforts Lead to Sentencing of Former Stamford Resident for Operating Extensive Immigration Fraud Scheme

From USCIS News:

HARTFORD, Conn. — The efforts of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) led to the successful sentencing of a former Stamford resident today. John H. Durham, United States attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that David Nikolashvili, a 52-year-old citizen of the Republic of Georgia residing in Queens, New York, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny to six months of imprisonment, followed by two years of supervised release, for operating an immigration fraud scheme. Judge Chatigny also ordered Nikolashvili to pay a $12,000 fine. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, Nikolashvili, formerly of Stamford, Connecticut, operated an immigration fraud scheme through which he attempted to obtain false immigration status from USCIS for at least 60 citizen

Undeliverable Permanent Resident and Employment Authorization Cards and Travel Documents to be Destroyed After 60 Days

From USCIS Alerts:

Starting April 2, USCIS will destroy Permanent Resident Cards, Employment Authorization Cards and Travel Documents returned as undeliverable by the U.S. Postal Service after 60 business days if USCIS is not contacted by the document’s intended recipient to provide the correct address.

USCIS Efforts in Albany Lead to Marriage Fraud Conviction

From USCIS News:

Albany, N.Y. — The efforts of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) led to a successful conviction in a marriage fraud case. After a five-day trial that ended today, a jury voted to convict Yana Potapova, a 29-year-old Russian citizen residing in Schenectady, New York, of conspiracy to commit marriage fraud.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kevin M. Kelly.

Potapova faces up to five years in prison. She will be sentenced on July 10, by Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.</

USCIS and CBP to Implement Form I-129 Pilot Program for Canadian L-1 Nonimmigrants

From USCIS Alerts:

From April 30, 2018, to Oct. 31, 2018, the USCIS California Service Center (CSC) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Blaine, Washington, port of entry (POE) will implement a joint agency pilot program for Canadian citizens seeking L-1 nonimmigrant status under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This pilot is designed to facilitate the adjudication and admission process of Canadians traveling to the U.S. as L-1 nonimmigrants.

DHS regulations permit an employer to file an L petition on behalf of a Canadian citizen in conjunction with the Canadian citizen’s application for admission to the United States. Petitioners choosing to participate in the joint agency pilot program will be asked to:

• Submit Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and supporting evidence to the CSC before the Cana