USCIS to Replace Sticker That Extends Validity of Green Cards

Starting in January, we will replace the sticker that is currently issued to lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to extend the validity of their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (PRC or "Green Card"), with a revised Form I-797, Notice of Action. LPRs file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, when their Green Cards expire or are about to expire. The revised Form I-797 notice will serve as a receipt notice for the Form I-90. 

When presented together with the Green Card, the revised Form I-797 notice will extend the Green Card's validity for 12 months from the date on the front of the Green Card and will serve as temporary proof of the LPR's status. This change ensures that LPRs with a recently expired Green Card will have documentation of identity, employment authorization, and authorization to return to the United States following temporary foreign travel

USCIS Suspending In-Person Services Jan. 19 and 20

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced it will temporarily suspend in-person services at all field offices, asylum offices and application support centers on Jan. 19 and 20 to ensure the safety of our employees and individuals with appointments.

Visa Bulletin March 2021 Predictions

For official February 2021 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-february-2021.aspx

Please see March 2021 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries):

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	15OCT14	15OCT14	15OCT14	01FEB98	15MAR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	08AUG15	08AUG15	08AUG15	22JUN99	15OCT11
F3	01AUG08	01AUG08	01AUG08	15SEP96	22MAY02
F4	22OCT06	22OCT06	22MAR05	22JUL98	15APR02

"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	15SEP15	15SEP15	15SEP15	08MAR00	15JAN13
F2A	01FEB21	01FEB21	01FEB21	01FEB21	01FEB21
F2B	22JUN16	22JUN16	22JUN16	08JAN00	15JUN12
F3	22JUL09	22JUL09	22JUL09	15SEP00	01APR03
F4	22OCT07	22OCT07	08DEC05	15MAY99	15DEC02

DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State (DOS), have announced the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in 2021. The notice listing the eligible countries will be published in the Federal Register on Jan. 13, 2021.

For 2021, the acting secretary of homeland security and the secretary of state have agreed to:

• Add the Philippines to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2B program;
• No longer designate the Independent State of Samoa and Tonga as eligible countries because they no longer meet the regulatory standards for the H-2A and H-2B visa prog

February 2021 Visa Bulletin

For January 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-january-2021.aspx

For analysis of February 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-analysis-february-2021.aspx

February 2021 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from February 1 to February 28 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	15SEP14	15SEP14	15SEP14	22JAN98	01JAN12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	15JUL15	15JUL15	15JUL15	01JUN99	15AUG11
F3	15JUL08	15JUL08	15JUL08	01SEP96	01MAR02
F4	15OCT06	15OCT06	15MAR05	08JUL98	01FEB02

"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	08AUG15	08AUG15	08AUG15	01MAR00	22OCT12
F2A	01JAN21	01JAN21	01JAN21	01JAN21	01JAN21
F2B	22MAY16	22MAY16	22MAY16	22DEC99	15APR12
F3	22JUN09	22JUN09	22JUN09	08SEP00	08JAN03
F4	01OCT07	01OCT07	01DEC05	08MAY99	01OCT02

February 2021 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For February 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-february-2021.aspx

Please see below analysis of February 2021 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	No Change	No Change	No Change	+7 Days	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	+7 Days	+7 Days	+7 Days	+1 Month	No Change
F3	+7 Days	+7 Days	+7 Days	+10 Days	No Change
F4	+7 Days	+7 Days	No Change	+7 Days	No Change

"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	+17 Days	+17 Days	+17 Days	+8 Days	+14 Days
F2A	+5 Months	+5 Months	+5 Months	+5 Months	+5 Months
F2B	+21 Days	+21 Days	+21 Days	+21 Days	+14 Days
F3	+21 Days	+21 Days	+21 Days	+24 Days	+17 Days
F4	+16 Days	+16 Days	+9 Days	+16 Days	+1 Month

February 2021 Visa Bulletin Special Notes

For the official February 2021 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-february-2021.aspx

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

D. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV

E. VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE COMING MONTHS

FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)

Worldwide dates:
F1: Up to two weeks
F2A: Current
F2B: Up to two weeks
F3: Up to three weeks
F4: Up to two weeks

EMPLOYMENT-based categories (potential monthly movement)

Employment First:
Worldwide: Current
China: Up to six months
India: Up to six months

Employment Second:
Worldwide: Current
China: Up to three weeks
India: Up to two weeks

Employment Third:
Worldwide: Current
China:

USCIS Lockbox Updates

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, USCIS is experiencing delays in issuing receipt notices for some applications and petitions filed at a USCIS lockbox facility. The information below explains the current state of our lockbox operations and the issues affecting receipt notices.

Current Situation

As a result of COVID-19 restrictions, an increase in filings, current postal service volume and other external factors, you may experience a delay of four to six weeks in receiving your receipt notice after properly filing an application or petition with a USCIS lockbox. These dela

Filing Location Change for Certain Forms I-765

On Jan. 8, we adjusted the filing location for certain foreign students filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Please review our Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-765 page to see where you should file your application.

Filing Location Change for Certain Forms I-485

On Jan. 8, we adjusted the filing locations for certain Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Please review our Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-485 page to see where you should file your application.

USCIS Modifies H-1B Selection Process to Prioritize Wages

Rule Expected to Protect the Economic Interests of American Workers

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced a final rule that will modify the H-1B cap selection process, amend current lottery procedures, and prioritize wages to protect the economic interests of U.S. workers and better ensure the most highly skilled foreign workers benefit from the temporary employment program.

Modifying the H-1B cap selection process will incentivize employers to offer higher salaries, and/or petition for higher-skilled positions, and establish a more certain path for businesses to achieve personnel needs and remain globally compet

New Filing Address for Forms I-924 and I-924A

On Jan. 5, we changed the filing location for Form I-924, Application For Regional Center Designation Under the Immigrant Investor Program, and Form I-924A, Annual Certification of Regional Center. Applicants previously filed these forms at the California Service Center. Now, they must send them to the USCIS Dallas Lockbox. When filing at a USCIS lockbox, applicants may pay the fee with a money order, personal check, cashier's check, or credit card. For more information, please see the Where to File and Filing Fee sections of the I-924 and I-924A webpages.