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

USCIS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) are extending the joint agency pilot program for Canadian citizens seeking L-1 nonimmigrant status under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) through April 30, 2020. Last year, the USCIS California Service Center and the CBP Blaine, Washington, port of entry (POE) announced this pilot program, which was scheduled to run from April 30, 2018, through Oct. 31, 2018, and

Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct a widespread system maintenance on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, from 9 p.m. until 12 a.m.(Eastern).

During this time you may experience technical difficulties and many of 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
• File Online
• myUSCIS Online Account 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Tampa Woman Indicted for Immigration Fraud Scheme Stretching from Tampa to Chicago

TAMPA, Fla. – United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez announces the return of an indictment charging Erika Paola Intriago (44, Tampa) with four counts of wire fraud and three counts of wrongfully using government seals. If convicted, Intriago faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each count of wire fraud and up to five years in federal prison for each count of wrongfully using government seals.

According to the indictment, Intriago portrayed herself as an immigration attorney and personal representative offering immigration-related services. She advertised her services on social media, targeting immigrants and immigrant families

USCIS is Ending Forms Request Line

Starting June 1, we are ending the Forms Request Line service that allows you to order forms by phone. This is part of our continuing effort to modernize our processes and promote our online products and services.

Israeli Nationals Eligible for Treaty Investor Visas

Certain Israeli nationals who are lawfully present in the United States will soon be able to request a change of status to the E-2 treaty investor classification. Beginning May 1, eligible Israeli nationals already in the United States in a lawful nonimmigrant status can file Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, to request a change of status to E-2 classification, or a qualifying employer can file the petition on their behalf. Spouses and unmarried children under 21 years of age of treaty investors and employees who are already in the United States may also seek to change status to E-2 classification as dependents by filing <a target='_blank' href="https://www.uscis.gov/i-539"

USCIS Issues Policy Guidance Clarifying How Federal Controlled Substances Law Applies to Naturalization Determinations

USCIS is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that violations of federal controlled substance law, including violations involving marijuana, are generally a bar to establishing good moral character for naturalization, even where that conduct would not be an offense under state law.  The policy guidance also clarifies that an applicant who is involved in certain marijuana-related activities may lack good moral character if found to have violated federal law, even if such activity has been decriminalized under applicable state laws.

Since 1996, some states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to decriminalize the manuf

USCIS Commemorates Second Anniversary of Buy American and Hire American Executive Order

WASHINGTON— Since President Trump signed the Buy American and Hire American executive order in April 2017, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented it through rules, policy memoranda, and operational changes that protect the economic interests of U.S. workers and prevent fraud and abuse in employment-based visa programs. Later today, USCIS will host a U.S. worker listening session covering the past two years’ worth of policies and rulemaking in support of the Buy American and Hire American executive order.

“USCIS is achieving the president’s goal of putting U.S. workers first

Visa Bulletin June 2019 Predictions

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

Please see June 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	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	01FEB12	01FEB12	01FEB12	22AUG97	22JUN07
F2A	15JUN17	15JUN17	15JUN17	01JUN17	15JUN17
F2B	01APR13	01APR13	01APR13	22MAR98	22OCT07
F3	01DEC06	01DEC06	01DEC06	01MAR96	01DEC96
F4	01APR06	01APR06	15AUG04	01MAR98	08MAY97

"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	08SEP12	08SEP12	08SEP12	15NOV99	01MAY08
F2A	15JAN18	15JAN18	15JAN18	15JAN18	15JAN18
F2B	08NOV14	08NOV14	08NOV14	15NOV98	08JUN08
F3	15JUL07	15JUL07	15JUL07	22AUG00	15DEC97
F4	22NOV06	22NOV06	22MAR05	08DEC98	01MAY98

USCIS Strengthens Guidance for Spousal Petitions Involving Minors

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced additional guidance (PDF, 222 KB) regarding the adjudication of spousal petitions involving minors, following up on the agency’s February update to its policy.

The guidance, published as an update to the USCIS Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM), instructs officers to conduct an additional interview for certain I-130 spousal petitions involving a minor. Generally, the bona fides of the spousal relationship are assessed in person by USCIS when the alien spouse applies to adjust status, or by the Department of State when the alien spouse applies for an immigrant visa. Howe

USCIS Completes the H-1B Cap Random Selection Process for FY 2020 and Reaches the Advanced Degree Exemption Cap

On April 10, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process to select enough H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally-mandated regular cap and the U.S. advanced degree exemption for fiscal year (FY) 2020. After completing the random selection process for the regular cap, USCIS also determined that it has received a number of petitions projected as sufficient to meet the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, also known as the master’s cap.

USCIS received 201,011 H-1B petitions during the filing period, which began April 1, including petitions filed for the advanced degree exemption. USCIS announced on April 5 that it had received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated H-1B regular cap of 65,000.

In accordance with the <a target='_blank' href="htt

May 2019 Visa Bulletin Analysis

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

Please see below analysis of May 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	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	+1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	No Change	+1 Month 7 Days
F2A	+2 Months 14 Days	+2 Months 14 Days	+2 Months 14 Days	+2 Months 14 Days	+2 Months 14 Days
F2B	+3 Months 10 Days	+3 Months 10 Days	+3 Months 10 Days	+2 Months 14 Days	+2 Months
F3	+1 Month 16 Days	+1 Month 16 Days	+1 Month 16 Days	+7 Days	+4 Months 7 Days
F4	+1 Month 14 Days	+1 Month 14 Days	+17 Days	No Change	+9 Months

"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	+1 Month 21 Days	+1 Month 21 Days	+1 Month 21 Days	+7 Days	+7 Days
F2A	+24 Days	+24 Days	+24 Days	+24 Days	+24 Days
F2B	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+3 Months	+2 Months 14 Days
F3	+2 Months	+2 Months	+2 Months	+7 Days	+1 Month
F4	+2 Months	+2 Months	+1 Month	+7 Days	+1 Month

May 2019 Visa Bulletin Special Notes

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

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

D. CHINA-mainland born AND INDIA EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIRST (E1) PREFERENCE VISA AVAILABILITY

Despite the final action date for these two countries having been held in recent months, there continues to be an extremely high rate of demand for E1 numbers, primarily for USCIS adjustment of status applicants. This situation may require the retrogression of this final action date in an effort to limit future number use.

May 2019 Visa Bulletin

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

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

May 2019 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	08JAN12	08JAN12	08JAN12	08AUG97	15MAY07
F2A	15MAY17	15MAY17	15MAY17	01MAY17	15MAY17
F2B	01FEB13	01FEB13	01FEB13	15FEB98	01OCT07
F3	08NOV06	08NOV06	08NOV06	15FEB96	08OCT96
F4	15FEB06	15FEB06	01AUG04	08FEB98	01MAR97

"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	22AUG12	22AUG12	22AUG12	08OCT99	15APR08
F2A	08JAN18	08JAN18	08JAN18	08JAN18	08JAN18
F2B	01AUG14	01AUG14	01AUG14	01OCT98	15MAY08
F3	22JUN07	22JUN07	22JUN07	22JUN00	01OCT97
F4	01OCT06	01OCT06	15MAR05	22NOV98	15FEB98

Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct a widespread system maintenance on Wednesday, April 10, 2019, from 9 p.m. until 12 a.m.(Eastern).

During this time you may experience technical difficulties and many of 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
• File Online
• myUSCIS Online Account 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

USCIS Partners with Joint Task Force-West to Stop Transnational Criminal Organizations

MCALLEN, Texas—Since the creation of the Southern Border and Approaches Campaign in December 2014, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been an active partner within Joint Task Force-West (JTF-W) South Texas Corridor, providing assistance in intelligence and investigative efforts involving our immigration laws.

JTF-W seeks to enforce our immigration laws and interdict individuals seeking to illegally cross our land, sea and air borders. The JTF-W STC is comprised of inter-agencies working to stop transnational criminal organizations along the south Texas-Mexico border.

“It is important that USCIS plays a role in providing support to our law enforcement partners in the South Texas Corridor,” said District Director Mario Ortiz. “Our knowledge of immigration benefits helps in the efforts to disru

Mayor of Bacum, Mexico Sentenced for False Statement in Application and Use of a United States Passport

TUCSON, Ariz. – On April 8, 2019, Rogelio Aboyte Limon, 47, of Bacum, Mexico, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Judge Raner C. Collins to 15 months of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Aboyte Limon had previously pleaded guilty to false statement in application and use of a passport.                

     On Dec. 27, 2018, Aboyte Limon was arrested using a fraudulently obtained United States passport in an attempt to enter the United States through the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Ariz. Aboyte Limon originally obtained the passport in 2005, renewed it in 2015, and used it on multiple occasions.  The false statements in the renewal application included using another person’s identity, claiming United States

USCIS Reaches FY 2020 H-1B Regular Cap

USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions projected as needed to reach the congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap for fiscal year 2020. USCIS will next determine if we have received a sufficient number of petitions to meet the 20,000 H-1B 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, an

Re-Registration Period Now Open for Individuals with Temporary Protected Status under South Sudan’s Designation

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under South Sudan’s designation who want to maintain their status through the 18-month extension period ending on Nov. 2, 2020, must re-register between April 5, 2019 and June 4, 2019.

Re-registration procedures, including how to renew employment authorization documents (EADs), have been published in the Federal Register and are available at uscis.gov/tps.

All applicants must submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status. Applicants may

Hampden Woman Sentenced to Five Years of Probation for Conspiracy to Commit Marriage Fraud

BANGOR, Maine - United States Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced that Marena Mushero, 28, recently of Hampden, Maine, was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court by Judge Lance E. Walker to five years of probation for conspiring to enter a marriage in order to evade U.S. immigration laws.

According to court records, Mushero, a United States citizen, posted an advertisement on an on-line forum, in which she offered to marry a person in need of permanent resident status in exchange for money.   On June 13, 2018, she received a response from a Nepalese citizen who was lawfully in the U.S. and living in another state.  Mushero agreed to marry him in exchange for cash payments so that he could get a “green card.”  On June 25, 2018, Mushero and her coconspirator were married in Brewer, Maine.  Before and after

Non-Profit Organization Operator Pleads Guilty for Her Role in Armenian for-Profit U.S. Visa Fraud Scheme

Stella Boyadjian, 48, of Rego Park, New York pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to unlawfully bring in aliens, visa fraud, and aggravated identity theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara in the Eastern District of New York for her role in a multi-year visa fraud scheme that brought Armenian citizens into the United States for profit.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue of the Eastern District of New York and U.S. Department of State Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Director Christian J. Schurman, made the announcement.

According to the indictment, Boyadjian, led a transnational network of co-conspirators who engaged in a widespread visa fraud scheme to bring Armenian citizens into the United States by fraudulently claiming to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigr

Consultants From California And Texas Charged With Visa Fraud And Conspiracy

Eleven-Count Indictment Alleges Defendants’ Staffing Company Submitted Fraudulent Applications for High-Tech Worker Visas

SAN JOSE - A federal grand jury indicted Kishore Dattapuram, Kumar Aswapathi, and Santosh Giri, charging the defendants in a visa fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin. 

According to the indictment, Dattapuram, 49, of Santa Clara, Aswapathi, 49, of Austin, Texas, and Giri, 42, of San Jose, operated Nanosemantics, Inc., a Santa Clara-based consulting firm whose services included placing skilled foreign workers at software and technology companies in the Bay Area.  According to the indictment, the defendants worked together to submit fraudulent H-1B visa applications on behalf of foreign

USCIS Launches H-1B Employer Data Hub

USCIS has launched an H-1B Employer Data Hub to provide information to the public on employers petitioning for H-1B workers. The data hub is part of our continued effort to increase transparency in employment-based visa programs by allowing the public to search for H-1B petitioners by fiscal year (back to FY 2009), NAICS code, employer name, city, state, or ZIP code. This will give the public the ability to calculate approval and denial rates and to review which employers are using the H-1B program. Data for individual fiscal years is available to download on the H-1B Employer Data Hub Files page.

To help the public use the data hub and understand the terminology in it