Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct system maintenance to the Contact Relationship Interface System (CRIS) on Thursday, February 27th at 11:59 p.m. until Friday, February 28th at 3:00 a.m. (EST).

During this timeframe, users may experience technical difficulties with one or more of the following online tools:

• Check My Case Status
• e-Request
• Change of Address online
• Check Case Processing Times
• Civil Surgeon Locator
• Office Locator
• File Online
• myUSCIS online account

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

H-2B Cap Reached for Second Half of FY2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year 2020. Feb. 18, 2020, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before Oct. 1, 2020. USCIS will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after Feb. 18 that request an employment start date before Oct. 1.

On Feb. 18, the number of beneficiaries for whom USCIS received petitions surpassed the total number of remaining H-2B visas available for the H-2B cap for the secon

USCIS Clarifies Effect of Breaks in Continuity of Residence on Eligibility for Naturalization

USCIS today announced an update to the USCIS Policy Manual to align USCIS practice with congressional intent and existing regulations by clarifying requirements surrounding naturalization applicants’ absences from the United States. This update concerns absences of more than six months but less than one year during the statutorily required continuous residence period.

This update clarifies the following requirements for naturalization:

• An applicant who has been absent from the United States for more than six months but less than a year must overcome the presumption that they have broken the continuity of their residence in the Unite

DHS Implements Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final Rule

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security today implemented the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule. Under the final rule, DHS will look at the factors required under the law by Congress, like an alien’s age, health, family status, assets, resources, and financial status, education and skills, among others, in order to determine whether the alien is likely at any time to become a public charge. The rule now applies nationwide, including in Illin

DHS to Implement Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds Final Rule Nationwide

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule (“Final Rule”) on Feb. 24, 2020 nationwide, including in Illinois, following another judicial victory lifting the injunction in that state.

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Feb. 21, 2020 decision to stay the statewide injunction preventing implementation of the Final Rule issued by U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, USCIS will now apply the Final Rule to all applications and petitions postmarked (or submitted electronically) on or after Feb. 24, 2020. For applications and petitions that are sent by commercial courier (e.g., UPS/F

USCIS Announces H-1B Registration Account Creation

On Dec. 6, 2019, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that we would implement the electronic registration process for the fiscal year (FY) 2021 H-1B cap. Prospective petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those filing for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register with USCIS.

Submitting an H-1B registration requires a USCIS online account. The appropriate type depends on the submitter’s role:

• Representatives will use the same type of representative account that is already available and may use an existing account.
• Prospective petitioners submitting their own registrations (U.S. employers and U.S. agents, collectively

USCIS Opens Application Period for New Status for Long-Term Residents of CNMI

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that the application period for those seeking the new Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term resident status will open on February 19, 2020. 

Eligible aliens will have 180 days to apply for the new status, which was created by the Northern Mariana Islands Long-Term Legal Residents Relief Act (48 U.S.C. 1806(e)(6)), signed by President Trump on June 25, 2019. Applicants must file Form I-955, Application for CNMI Long-Term Resident Status, together with Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, by August 17, 2020. CNMI long-term r

Visa Bulletin April 2020 Predictions

For official March 2020 Visa Bulletin and analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-march-2020.aspx

Please see April 2020 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	08DEC13	08DEC13	08DEC13	01OCT97	22NOV09
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	15NOV14	15NOV14	15NOV14	15NOV98	08DEC09
F3	22JAN08	22JAN08	22JAN08	15APR96	22JAN00
F4	15JUL06	15JUL06	22DEC04	08MAR98	01APR00

"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	08AUG14	08AUG14	08AUG14	08DEC99	08JUL10
F2A	08MAR20	08MAR20	08MAR20	08MAR20	08MAR20
F2B	15JUN15	15JUN15	15JUN15	22JUL99	15AUG10
F3	01OCT08	01OCT08	01OCT08	22JUL00	01SEP00
F4	22AUG07	22AUG07	22AUG05	01FEB99	22SEP00

USCIS Accepting Petitions Under the CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act

USCIS is accepting CW-1 petitions filed under the Disaster Recovery Act. If you want us to consider your case under the Disaster Recovery Act, you should submit Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker, along with a cover sheet stating “CNMI Disaster Recovery Workforce Act Eligible” in large, bold letters, and evidence to show that a worker:

• Is performing service or labor under a contract or subcontract for construction, repairs, renovations or facility services directly connected to, or associated with recovery from a presidentially declared major disaster or emergency (as those terms are defined in section 102 of the Robert

March 2020 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For March 2020 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-march-2020.aspx

Please see below analysis of March 2020 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 17 Days	+1 Month 17 Days	+1 Month 17 Days	+24 Days	+5 Months
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	+24 Days	+24 Days	+24 Days	+1 Month	+5 Months
F3	+23 Days	+23 Days	+23 Days	+17 Days	+5 Months
F4	No Change	No Change	+16 Days	+1 Month	+5 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	+2 Months 17 Days	+2 Months 17 Days	+2 Months 17 Days	+7 Days	+7 Months
F2A	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month
F2B	+23 Days	+23 Days	+23 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	+7 Months
F3	+24 Days	+24 Days	+24 Days	No Change	+7 Months
F4	No Change	No Change	+17 Days	+7 Days	+6 Months

March 2020 Visa Bulletin

For February 2020 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-february-2020.aspx

For analysis of March 2020 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-analysis-march-2020.aspx

March 2020 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from March 1 to March 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	08OCT13	08OCT13	08OCT13	15SEP97	01SEP09
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	15SEP14	15SEP14	15SEP14	15OCT98	01OCT09
F3	15DEC07	15DEC07	15DEC07	08APR96	01OCT99
F4	01JUL06	01JUL06	08DEC04	15FEB98	01DEC99

"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	08JUN14	08JUN14	08JUN14	22NOV99	01MAY10
F2A	01JAN20	01JAN20	01JAN20	01JAN20	01JAN20
F2B	15MAY15	15MAY15	15MAY15	22JUN99	01JUN10
F3	15AUG08	15AUG08	15AUG08	15JUL00	01JUN00
F4	22JUL07	22JUL07	08AUG05	08JAN99	01JUL00

March 2020 Visa Bulletin Special Notes

For the official March 2020 Visa Bulletin and analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-march-2020.aspx

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

D. OVERSUBSCRIPTION OF THE WORLDWIDE, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, MEXICO, AND PHILIPPINES EMPLOYMENT-BASED THIRD AND THIRD OTHER WORKER PREFERENCE CATEGORIES

As readers were advised in item E of the February Visa Bulletin, there continues to be an extremely high rate of demand for Employment Third (E3) and Third Other Worker (EW) numbers, primarily for USCIS adjustment of status applicants. Therefore, pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, it has been necessary to impose E3 and EW final action dates for the month of March.

The March final action date is 01JAN17 and is being imposed immediately for all future requests for numbers. This action will allow the Department to hold worldwide number use within the maximum allowed under these FY 2020 annual limits. No forward movement of this date is expected in the foreseeable future.

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Fiscal Year 2021 H-1B Cap Pre-Paid Mailer Suspension

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will not use pre-paid mailers to send out any communication or final notices for fiscal year 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions, including those requesting consideration under the advanced degree exemption.

USCIS Supports Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

Feb. 6 is designated as the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. In support of this important issue, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) joins other U.S. government agencies and the international community in calling for an end to the practice of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C).   

FGM/C is the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for no medical reason. The practice has no medical benefit. It is a human rights violation and a crime under federal law. When committed against children, it is a form of child abuse. The U.S. government opposes&

USCIS Response to the 2019 Coronavirus

USCIS is actively monitoring the effects of the public health emergency related to the 2019 coronavirus outbreak on agency operations.

Office Closures in China

According to U.S. Department of State guidance, USCIS is temporarily closing its field offices in Beijing and Guangzhou. We will reschedule all affected appointments and will send new appointment notices to applicants.

Check our Beijing and Guangzhou webpages for updates on the status of these offic

Public Charge Inadmissibility Final Rule: Revised Forms and Updated Policy Manual Guidance

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has published revised forms consistent with the final rule on the public charge ground of inadmissibility, which the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including USCIS, will implement on Feb. 24, 2020. Beginning Feb. 24, 2020, applicants and petitioners must use new editions of the following forms below (except in Illinois, where the rule remains enjoined by a federal court): 

• Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
• Form I-129CW, Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Worker
• Form I-485, <a target='_blank' href

USCIS Updates Process for Accepting Petitions for Relatives Abroad

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that, as part of the adjustment of its international footprint to increase efficiencies, Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, will only be processed domestically by USCIS or internationally by the Department of State in certain circumstances beginning Feb 1, 2020.  

DOS will assume responsibility for certain services previously provided at USCIS international offices, services th

USCIS Announces Public Charge Rule Implementation Following Supreme Court Stay of Nationwide Injunctions

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement the Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds final rule (“Final Rule”) on Feb. 24, 2020, except for in the State of Illinois where the rule remains enjoined by a federal court as of Jan. 30, 2020. Under the Final Rule, USCIS will look at the factors required under the law by Congress, like an alien’s age, health, income, education and skills, among others, in order to determine whether the alien is likely at any time to become a public charge.

The Final Rule, issued in August and originally scheduled to be effective in October, prescribes how DHS would determine whether an alien is inadmiss