Friday, December 28, 2018

Termination of the Categorical Parole Programs for Certain Individuals Present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)

Effective immediately, the categorical CNMI parole programs are terminated.  This affects USCIS parole programs for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and certain stateless individuals; CNMI permanent residents, immediate relatives of CNMI permanent residents, and immediate relatives of citizens of the Freely Associated States (Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, or Palau); and certain in-home foreign worker caregivers of CNMI residents. 

After any parole authorized through these pro



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Monday, December 24, 2018

Lapse in Federal Funding Does Not Impact Most USCIS Operations

The current lapse in annual appropriated funding for the U.S. government does not affect USCIS’s fee-funded activities. Our offices will remain open, and all individuals should attend interviews and appointments as scheduled. USCIS will continue to accept petitions and applications for benefit requests, except as noted below.

Some USCIS programs, however, will either expire or suspend operations, or be otherwise affected, until they receive appropriated funds or are reauthorized by Congress. These include:



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Sunday, December 23, 2018

Update on Case Assistance by Service Centers

As part of the agency’s efforts to streamline requests for case assistance, we are discontinuing the use of USCIS service center e-mail boxes for case-specific questions on Jan. 21, 2019. Instead, USCIS is focusing our resources online via self-help tools at uscis.gov/tools and my.uscis.gov, and through the USCIS Contact Center. These changes are a part of our overall modernization efforts to provide a more efficient and effective user experience

The service center e-mail addresses being discontinued are:



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Saturday, December 22, 2018

USCIS Offices Closed Monday per White House Executive Order

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices will be closed on Monday, Dec. 24. President Trump declared that all federal departments and agencies are closed and all employees are excused from duty on that day.

We will reschedule all naturalization ceremonies, interviews, and appointments set for Dec. 24, and promptly inform those affected. All applicants with biometric appointments scheduled for Monday will receive a new appointment notice within three weeks.

The USCIS Contact Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, but with limited live help. You can also get general information about



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Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct system maintenance on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 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

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.



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Sunday, December 16, 2018

Visa Bulletin February 2019 Predictions

For official January 2019 Visa Bulletin and analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2019/visa-bulletin-january-2019.aspx

Please see February 2019 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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F101SEP1101SEP1101SEP1108SEP9708MAY07
F2A01DEC1601DEC1601DEC1608NOV1601DEC16
F2B22APR1222APR1222APR1201JUL9722JUL07
F308SEP0608SEP0608SEP0608JAN9601AUG95
F415JUN0515JUN0501JUL0415FEB9801OCT95
"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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F108MAY1208MAY1208MAY1215NOV9901MAR08
F2A01JAN1801JAN1801JAN1801JAN1801JAN18
F2B08JUN1408JUN1408JUN1401OCT9722DEC07
F308FEB0708FEB0708FEB0715SEP0001AUG97
F401JUL0601JUL0615JAN0501NOV9801JUL97



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Friday, December 14, 2018

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2019

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has reached the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2019.

Dec. 6, 2018, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before April 1, 2019. USCIS will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after Dec. 6 that request an employment start date before April 1, 2019.

On Dec. 6, the number of beneficiaries USCIS had received petitions for surpassed the total number of H-2B visas available for the H-2B cap for the first half of FY 2019. In accordance with regulations, USCIS determined it was necessary to use a computer-generated process, commonly known as a lottery, to ensure the fair and orderly allocation of H-2B visa numbers to meet, but not exceed, the cap for the first half of



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Thursday, December 13, 2018

January 2019 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For January 2019 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2019/visa-bulletin-january-2019.aspx

Please see below analysis of January 2019 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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1+14 Days+14 Days+14 DaysNo Change+14 Days
F2A+1 Month+1 Month+1 Month+23 Days+1 Month
F2B+1 Month+1 Month+1 MonthNo Change+14 Days
F3+14 Days+14 Days+14 DaysNo Change+14 Days
F4+1 Month+1 Month+7 DaysNo Change+1 Month 17 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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1No ChangeNo ChangeNo Change+4 MonthsNo Change
F2ANo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F2BNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change+1 Month 7 DaysNo Change
F3No ChangeNo ChangeNo Change+6 Months 24 DaysNo Change
F4+3 Months 14 Days+3 Months 14 DaysNo Change+23 DaysNo Change



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Visa Bulletin January 2019

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

For analysis of January 2019 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2019/visa-bulletin-analysis-january-2019.aspx

January 2019 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from January 1 to January 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 22AUG11
22AUG11 22AUG11 01AUG97 01MAR07
F2A 08NOV16 08NOV16 08NOV16 15OCT16 08NOV16
F2B 15MAR12 15MAR12 15MAR12 08JUN97 22JUN07
F3 15AUG06 15AUG06 15AUG06 22DEC95  22JUL95
F4 22MAY05 22MAY05 15JUN04 08FEB98 01SEP95
"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 22AUG99 15FEB08
F2A 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17 01DEC17
F2B 22MAR14 22MAR14 22MAR14 08SEP97 15DEC07
F3 08JAN07 08JAN07 08JAN07 01MAY00 01JUN97
F4 15MAY06 15MAY06 01JAN05 08OCT98 22APR97



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North Carolina Licensed Attorney Indicted for Aiding and Abetting Visa Fraud and False Statements in Immigration Proceedings

RALEIGH, N.C.—Robert J. Higdon Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, announced that a federal grand jury in Raleigh has returned an indictment charging Sarah Jane Brinson, age 34, from Clinton, North Carolina, with aiding and abetting visa fraud and false statements in immigration proceedings.

The indictment alleged that Brinson, a licensed attorney and notary public in North Carolina, prepared and submitted on behalf of a client immigration applications containing false statements.

As alleged in the charging document, her client was a citizen of Guatemala who retained Brinson under his real name but was utilizing an assumed name to illegally work in the United States. The indictment additionally alleges that, while Brinson knew her client’s real name, she notarized the client’s signature und



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Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct system maintenance on Monday, Dec. 10, 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

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.



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Tuesday, December 11, 2018

USCIS Closes Havana Field Office on Dec. 10, 2018

USCIS will permanently close its field office in Havana, Cuba, on Dec. 10, 2018. The USCIS field office in Mexico City, Mexico, will assume the Havana Field Office’s jurisdiction over U.S. immigration matters for individuals who are in Cuba. The U.S. Department of State in Havana will also assume responsibility for certain services previously handled by USCIS.

U.S. Embassy visa services in Havana have been almost entirely suspended since November 2017 due to a drawdown in staffing as a result of attacks affecting the health of U.S. Embassy Havana employees. The U.S. Department of State and USCIS continue to explore options to resume consular and other immigration services in alternate locations. USCIS will inform individuals of alternate filing or processing instructions that are established. 

Individuals who live in Cuba, or who petition for residents in Cuba,



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Monday, December 10, 2018

USCIS Revises Interview Waiver Guidance for Form I-751

USCIS has issued a policy memorandum (PDF, 115 KB) (PM) providing guidance to USCIS officers on when to consider waiving the interview requirement for Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. This PM goes into effect on December 10, 2018 and applies to all Form I-751 petitions received on or after December 10.

Generally, USCIS officers must interview a conditional permanent resident who is the principal petitioner on a Form I-751, unless the interview is waived. This guidance explains that officers may consider waiving an interview if they are satisfied that:

  • They can make a deci


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Saturday, December 8, 2018

Worcester Man Sentenced for Marriage Fraud

Six women from Sub-Saharan Africa married defendant to gain legal status in U.S.

BOSTON—A Worcester man was sentenced Tuesday in connection with entering into six fraudulent marriages in order to evade immigration laws.

Peter Hicks, 57, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman to two years of probation.  In September 2018, Hicks pleaded guilty to one count of marriage fraud.  Hicks was arrested and charged in January 2018 and released on conditions following an initial appearance. 

In 2014, federal law enforcement agents uncovered evidence that Hicks married six foreign national women from Sub-Saharan Africa between 2003 and 2013.  Hicks filed for immigration benefits for four of his six wives.

During a routine interview as part of his application for bene



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Friday, December 7, 2018

DHS and DOL Propose Modernizing Recruitment Requirements for H-2B Employers to Protect U.S. Workers

ALERT: The public comment period for this notice of proposed rulemaking has been extended from December 10, 2018 to December 28, 2018. Additional details on the comment period extension are available in the Federal Register notice, posted for public inspection on December 6.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in conjunction with the Department of Labor (DOL), has published a joint notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would modernize the recruitment requi



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Wednesday, December 5, 2018

USCIS Offices Closed Wednesday

WASHINGTON—President Trump has declared Wednesday, Dec. 5, a national day of mourning to remember the life and legacy of George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States. Accordingly, all U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offices will be closed Wednesday. USCIS will reschedule all naturalization ceremonies, interviews, and appointments set for that day.

USCIS will schedule new dates and promptly inform those affected. All applicants with biometric appointments scheduled for Wednesday will receive a new appointment notice within three weeks.

The USCIS Contact Center will



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Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Five Individuals Charged in Connection with Marriage Fraud Scheme

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Peter C. Fitzhugh, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston, and Christopher W. Fonda, supervisory immigration officer for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Fraud Detection and National Security, announced on Friday that five individuals have been charged with federal offenses related to their participation in fraudulent marriages so that non-U.S. citizens would receive U.S. immigration benefits.

On Nov. 19, 2018, a federal grand jury returned indictments charging Carl Jarrett, 35, of Bridgeport; Kenol Noel, 34, of Bridgeport; Ricky Owen, 39, of Bridgeport; and Marvin Williams, 59, of New York City, with submitting false immigration documents after entering multiple “marriages” with non-U.



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Saturday, December 1, 2018

Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct system maintenance on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, from 5 a.m. until 6:00 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

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.



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