USCIS Announces New Locations for Onsite Overseas Military Naturalization Services

WASHINGTON—Today U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it will provide military naturalization services at four overseas military bases, due to the agency’s shifting international footprint and office closures overseas.

Service members and eligible family members who are stationed overseas will now complete their naturalization process at one of four “hubs” located at Camp Humphreys, South Korea; Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan; U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, Germany; and Naval Support Activity Naples, Italy. These hubs were selected based on their proximity to locations where USCIS international offices historically provided the most overseas military naturaliz

Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct a system maintenance starting at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, September 29^th until 8 a.m.  All times are Eastern.

During this time you may experience technical difficulties with one or more online tools:

• 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.

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Refugee Admissions Part of Overall Humanitarian Relief Efforts says USCIS Acting Director Cuccinelli

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli today issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s proposed refugee ceiling for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020.

“The United States is the most generous country in the world when it comes to humanitarian relief efforts, and we are committed to maintaining that leadership position. In keeping with that goal, the President has proposed that we resettle 18,000 refugees from around the world, which will be in addition to the hundreds of thousands of asylum applicants we will process. This domestic support of refugees and asylum seekers is in addition to our commitment of billions of dollars to support refugees and oth

USCIS Awards FY 2019 Citizenship and Assimilation Grants

WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services awarded nearly $10 million in grants to 41 organizations in 24 states to help prepare lawful permanent residents (LPRs) for naturalization.

The fiscal year 2019 grants, which run through September 2021, promote prospective citizens’ assimilation into American civic life by funding educational programs designed to increase their knowledge of English, U.S. history and civics.

“Our country welcomes legal immigrants from all over the world who come to the United States, positively contribute to our society and engage in American civic life,” said USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli. “Immigrants who assimilate, embrace our

Filing Guidance for CW-1 Petitions Seeking to Extend Status for Fiscal Year 2020

USCIS will consider certain fiscal year (FY) 2020 CW-1 petitions seeking an extension of status for temporary workers present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) to be filed on time, even if USCIS receives them after the worker’s current period of CW-1 petition validity expires.

USCIS is providing this one-time, limited accommodation to facilitate the initial implementation of the new requirement that CW-1 petitions with employment start dates on or after Oct. 1, 2019, include a Temporary Labor Certification (TLC) approved by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Normally, under Department of Homeland Security regulations, an employer may only file a CW-1 petition on behalf of a worker present in the CNMI if the

Re-Registration Period Now Open for Individuals with TPS under Syria’s Designation

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that current beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under Syria’s designation who want to maintain their status through March 31, 2021, must re-register between Sept. 23 and Nov. 22, 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.

Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct a system maintenance starting at 11:59 pm on Thursday, September 19^th until 3 am on Friday, September 20^th.  All times are Eastern.

During this time you may experience technical difficulties with one or more online tools:

• 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.

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October 2019 Visa Bulletin Analysis

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

Please see below analysis of October 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	+14 Days	+14 Days	+14 Days	+1 Year 7 Days	+9 Days
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Month	+1 Month
F3	+14 Days	+14 Days	+14 Days	+2 Months 21 Days	+2 Months
F4	+21 Days	+21 Days	+9 Days	+11 Months 14 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	+2 Months 14 Days	+2 Months 14 Days	+2 Months 14 Days	+7 Days	+1 Month
F2A	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month
F2B	+1 Month 17 Days	+1 Month 17 Days	+1 Month 17 Days	+1 Month	+1 Month
F3	+1 Month 24 Days	+1 Month 24 Days	+1 Month 24 Days	No Change	+2 Months
F4	+2 Months 7 Days	+2 Months 7 Days	+10 Days	+10 Days	+7 Days

October 2019 Visa Bulletin

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

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

October 2019 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	15JAN13	15JAN13	15JAN13	08AUG97	01JUL08
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01JUN14	01JUN14	01JUN14	01AUG98	01SEP08
F3	15SEP07	15SEP07	15SEP07	22FEB96	01APR98
F4	22NOV06	22NOV06	01OCT04	15DEC97	08JUL98

"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	15JUL13	15JUL13	15JUL13	15NOV99	01JAN09
F2A	01AUG19	01AUG19	01AUG19	01AUG19	01AUG19
F2B	01DEC14	01DEC14	01DEC14	01APR99	01MAR09
F3	15MAR08	15MAR08	15MAR08	15JUL00	01OCT98
F4	15MAY07	15MAY07	01JUN05	01JAN99	08JAN99

October 2019 Visa Bulletin Special Notes

For the official October 2019 Visa Bulletin and analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2019/visa-bulletin-october-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. SCHEDULED EXPIRATION OF TWO EMPLOYMENT VISA CATEGORIES

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

Pursuant to Section 102 of Division H, Title I of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (Public Law 116-6), the non-minister special immigrant program expires on September 30, 2019. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight September 29, 2019. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of September 29, 2019, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight September 29, 2019.

The final action date for this category has been listed as "Unavailable" for October.

If there is legislative action extending this category for FY-2020, the

USCIS to Welcome More Than 34,000 New Citizens in Celebration of Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

WASHINGTON—USCIS announced today that it will celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day by welcoming nearly 34,300 new U.S. citizens during 316 naturalization ceremonies across the nation between Sept. 13 and 23.

The USCIS Constitution Week activities will feature a naturalization ceremony at the DAR Constitution Hall on Sept. 17, where USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli will administer the Oath of Allegiance and provide congratulatory remarks to 1,000 new U.S. citizens. View a list of other notable 2019 Constitution Week-themed naturalization ceremonie

Celebrating Constitution Day and Citizenship Day (Constitution Week) 2019 with Naturalization Ceremonies

On Sept. 17, the nation observes Constitution Day and Citizenship Day as part of Constitution Week. The commemoration honors both the signing of the Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787, and an observance that began in 1940 as “I Am an American Day.”

USCIS celebrates Constitution Week with naturalization ceremonies across the country. This year, we will welcome nearly 34,300 new citizens at during 316 naturalization ceremonies between Sept. 13 and 23. A list of highlighted ceremonies is below.

We encourage you to share your experiences and photos from naturalization ceremonies through social media, using the hashtags #newUScitizen, #ConstitutionWeek and #WethePeople. You can also follow us on Twitter (<a target='_blank' href="

Cuccinelli Statement on Supreme Court’s Decision Allowing Enforcement of the Asylum Rule

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli issued the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to permit the enforcement of the Trump Administration’s asylum rule requiring asylum seekers to seek protection in at least one third country they traveled through en route to the United States.

“I applaud the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down judicial activists’ injunction and allow the Trump Administration to carry out its rule to strengthen the asylum process. I commend the work done by the attorneys at the Department of Justice to achieve this outstanding outcome. The Administration’s rule is designed to safeguard the integrity of the U.S. a

USCIS Proposes More Effective and Efficient Processing of Work Authorization Requests for Asylum Applicants

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a proposed regulation to improve the process for granting or denying an initial application for employment authorization documents (EADs) by reforming the current 30-day timeline pertaining to pending asylum applicants.

These proposed changes will allow USCIS the time needed to receive, screen, and process applications, which in turn would strengthen national security, maintain technological advances in identity verification, and further deter those who may be attempting to defraud the legal immigration system under an improved process.

The original 30-day timeline was enacted more than 20 years ago. Since then, there have bee

Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct a system maintenance starting at 11:59 pm on Friday, September 6^th until 3 am on Saturday, September 7^th.  All times are Eastern.

During this time you may experience technical difficulties with one or more online tools:

• 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

</di

USCIS Proposes More Effective and Efficient Processing of Work Authorization Requests for Asylum Applicants

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a proposed regulation to improve the process for granting or denying an initial application for employment authorization documents (EADs) by reforming the current 30-day timeline pertaining to pending asylum applicants.

These proposed changes will allow USCIS the time needed to receive, screen, and process applications, which in turn would strengthen national security, maintain technological advances in identity verification, and further deter those who may be attempting to defraud the legal immigration system under an improved process.

The original 30-day timeline was enacted more than 20 years ago. Since then, there have bee

E-Verify launches new video resource page

USCIS Re-Opens Previously Pending Deferral Requests

Today, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services announced it will reopen non-military deferred action cases that were pending on August 7.  Letters will be sent this week re-opening all cases that were pending on August 7.

On August 7, USCIS stopped its consideration of deferred action for non-military requestors. At that time, USCIS sent out letters informing those who had requested deferred action that USCIS was no longer entertaining such requests. Deferred action is a discretionary determination to defer the deportation of an individual who is illegally present in the United States as an act of prosecutorial discretion on a case-by-case basis.  Those denied requests that were pending on August 7 did not have removal orders pend