USCIS to Begin Implementing New Policy Memorandum on Notices to Appear

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin implementing the June 28 Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens Policy Memorandum (PM) (PDF, 140 KB) on Oct. 1, 2018. USCIS will take an incremental approach to implement this memo.

An NTA is a document that instructs an individual to appear before an immigration judge. This is the first step in starting removal proceedings. Starting Oct. 1, 2018, USCIS may issue NTAs on denied status-impacting applications, including but not limited to, Form I-485, A

USCIS Awards FY 2018 Citizenship and Assimilation Grants

More than $9 Million will Expand Citizenship Preparation Services in 19 States

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today awarded $9.425 million in grants to 40 organizations across 19 states to help prepare lawful permanent residents (LPRs) for naturalization.

The fiscal year (FY) 2018 grants, which run through 2020, aim to promote prospective citizens’ assimilation into American civic life by funding educational programs designed to increase their knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics.

USCIS awarded the grants through two competitive funding opportunities. The first funding opportunity supports organizations that provide citizenship instruction and naturalization application assistance to LPRs.

The second funding opportunity supports organizations that prov

USCIS Helps Secure Conviction in Albany County Visa Fraud Case

ALBANY, N.Y. –U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) assisted in the investigation that led to a successful jury vote on Wednesday to convict Dalia Lita, age 55, of Latham, N.Y.; Elina Rahman, age 45 of Watervliet, N.Y.; and Lubna Rahman age 45, of Watervliet, of conspiracy to commit visa fraud by submitting false information to the U.S. government in order to obtain immigrant visas.

The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith, and Kevin M. Kelly, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security officers in Albany assisted ICE special investigators by confirming and identifying fraud in these cases. USCIS officers also researched and reviewed files and prepared immigration time

Tucson Refugees Arrested For Immigration Fraud

TUCSON, Ariz. - On Aug. 8, 2018, a federal grand jury in Tucson returned an eleven-count indictment against Mohamed Abdirahman Osman, 28, and Zeinab Abdirahman Mohamed, 25, both living in Tucson, Arizona, for violations of false swearing in an immigration matter and false statements to a government agency. 

The indictment alleges that Osman and Mohamed, while living in China, applied for and were granted refugee status in 2014.  The husband and wife entered the United States and have been living in Tucson since the time of their entry. In June 2015, Osman and Mohamed submitted applications for Legal Permanent Residence Status to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  The indictment further alleges that material submitted in support of their refugee applications and their applications for Legal Permanent Residence Status contained false, ficti

Immigration Services Available for Those Affected by Hurricane Florence or Typhoon Mangkhut

USCIS offers immigration services that may help people affected by special situations, including severe storms such as Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut.

The following services may be available on a discretionary basis upon request for individuals who have been directly affected by Hurricane Florence or Typhoon Mangkhut, including:

• Changing a nonimmigrant status or extending a nonimmigrant stay for an individual currently in the United States. If you don’t apply for the extension or change before your authorized period of admission expires, we may excuse the delay if it was due to extraordinary circumstances beyond your control;
• Re-parole of individuals USCIS previously granted parole to;
• Expedited processing of advance p

USCIS Publishes Revised Form G-28 and Extends Grace Period for Prior Versions

USCIS has published a revised version of Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative, with an edition date of 09/17/18. This revised version removes the geographic requirement for sending an original notice to a U.S. address for attorneys and representatives that had been added to the 05/05/16 and 05/23/18 versions of the form.

USCIS Sending Text and Email Messages About Online Filing

We are sending text and email messages between Sept. 17 and Sept. 20, 2018, about filing Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card online. If you are a lawful permanent resident and your Green Card has expired or is about to expire, or if you need to replace it for another reason, you may file Form I-90 online. Go to the Form I-90 page on our website to begin your online application process.

If you are a conditional permanent resident whose Green Card is about to expire, do not submit Form I-90. Instead, use Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence or Form I‑829, Petition by Entre

Visa Bulletin November 2018 Predictions

For official October 2018 Visa Bulletin and analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-october-2018.aspx

Please see November 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	15JUN11	15JUN11	15JUN11	15SEP97	08FEB07
F2A	15SEP16	15SEP16	15SEP16	22AUG16	15SEP16
F2B	22DEC11	22DEC11	22DEC11	08JUN97	01JUN07
F3	15JUL06	15JUL06	15JUL06	08JAN96	15JUN95
F4	08MAR05	08MAR05	15MAY04	01FEB98	08JUL95

"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	08MAY12	08MAY12	08MAY12	08DEC98	01MAR08
F2A	01JAN18	01JAN18	01JAN18	01JAN18	01JAN18
F2B	08JUN14	08JUN14	08JUN14	08JUL97	22DEC07
F3	08FEB07	08FEB07	08FEB07	01APR99	01AUG97
F4	15JUN05	15JUN05	15JAN05	01JUL98	08MAY96

USCIS to Welcome Approximately 45,000 New U.S. Citizens During Constitution Day and Citizenship Day Themed Ceremonies

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced the agency will celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, observed on Sept. 17, with over 260 naturalization ceremonies across the country from Sept. 14 to 23 as part of this year’s celebration of Constitution Week. 

Approximately, 45,000 lawful permanent residents will become America’s newest citizens during the annual commemoration honoring both the signing of the U.S. Constitution 231 years ago on Sept. 17, 1787, and an observance that began in 1940 as “I Am an American Day.”

USCIS’ Constitution Week activities will feature a naturalization ceremony at Oatlands Historic House and Gardens in Leesburg, Virginia where USCIS Director L. Francis Cissna will administer the Oath of Allegiance and provide congratulato

October 2018 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For October 2018 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-october-2018.aspx

Please see below analysis of October 2018 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 23 Days	+1 Month 23 Days	+1 Month 23 Days	No Change	+1 Month 7 Days
F2A	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month
F2B	+21 Days	+21 Days	+21 Days	+23 Days	+23 Days
F3	+1 Month 14 Days	+1 Month 14 Days	+1 Month 14 Days	No Change	+7 Days
F4	+1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	+23 Days	+7 Days	+7 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	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Month 7 Days	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+14 Days	No Change
F3	+3 Months 16 Days	+3 Months 16 Days	+3 Months 16 Days	+2 Months 14 Days	+1 Year 10 Months
F4	+1 Month	+1 Month	No Change	+21 Days	+4 Months 7 Days

USCIS Now Accepting Copies of Negative O Visa Consultations Directly from Labor Unions

Effective immediately, USCIS will begin accepting copies of negative consultation letters directly from labor unions relating to a current or future O nonimmigrant visa petition request. O-1 and O-2 nonimmigrant visas are available to individuals with extraordinary ability in science, education, business, athletics, or the arts, and individuals with extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry, and certain essential support personnel. A consultation letter from a U.S. peer group, labor organization, and/or management organization is generally required for petitions in the O visa classification.

Typically, a petitioner submits the necessary O visa consultation with the petition, and that process requirement remains unchanged. Director L. Francis Cissna recently met with several labor unions to discuss concerns they had with the consultation process for O

Visa Bulletin October 2018

For September 2018 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-september-2018.aspx

For analysis of October 2018 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2018/visa-bulletin-analysis-october-2018.aspx

October 2018 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from October 1 to October 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	01JUN11	01JUN11	01JUN11	01AUG97	22DEC06
F2A	22AUG16	22AUG16	22AUG16	01AUG16	22AUG16
F2B	22NOV11	22NOV11	22NOV11	15MAY97	15MAY07
F3	15JUN06	15JUN06	15JUN06	22DEC95	08JUN95
F4	15FEB05	15FEB05	01MAY04	22JAN98	08JUN95

"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	08MAR12	08MAR12	08MAR12	08OCT98	15FEB08
F2A	01DEC17	01DEC17	01DEC17	01DEC17	01DEC17
F2B	22MAR14	22MAR14	22MAR14	22JUN97	15DEC07
F3	08JAN07	08JAN07	08JAN07	22DEC98	01JUN97
F4	01JUN05	01JUN05	01JAN05	22JUN98	08APR96

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Filing Location Change for Form I-751

On Sep. 10, USCIS changed the filing location for Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. This form was previously filed at the California and Vermont service centers. Now, petitioners must send Form I-751 to a USCIS Lockbox facility. However, the California, Nebraska, Vermont, and Texas service centers will be the adjudicating offices. When filing at a Lockbox facility, petitioners have the option to pay the fee with a money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or credit card. Please follow the Where to File and Filing Fee directions on the I-751 page.