DHS Announces Extension and Redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status

Redesignation Allows Additional Eligible Somalis To Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents 

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice (FRN) extending and redesignating Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from Sept. 18, 2021, through March 17, 2023.  Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas made the decision to extend and redesignate Somalia for TPS after consultation with interagency partners and careful consideration of the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Soma

USCIS Expands Credit Card Payment Pilot Program to Form I-140 When Requesting Premium Processing

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that it has expanded a previously announced pilot program at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) for accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for certain applicants applying for premium processing.

On July 19, the NSC started accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450 for petitioners filing <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-t

Applicants for Change of Status to F-1 Student No Longer Need to Submit Subsequent Applications to ‘Bridge the Gap’

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced new policy guidance that eliminates the need for individuals who have applied for a change of status (COS) to F-1 student to apply to change or extend their nonimmigrant status while their initial F-1 COS application is pending.

Under the previous policy, applicants needed to maintain status up to 30 days before the program start date listed on their Form I-20, Certificate for Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, which required them to file extensions, or an initial COS and subsequent extensions ensuring that they would not have a "gap" in status.

To prevent a "gap" in status, USCIS will grant the change of status to F-1 effective the day we approve an applicant's <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="debc7fed-381c-404a-9ea1-4997363cdefb" href="https://www.usci

Visa Bulletin September 2021 Predictions

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

Please see September 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	22JAN15	22JAN15	22JAN15	01FEB99	08MAR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01NOV15	01NOV15	01NOV15	01APR00	01NOV11
F3	22NOV08	22NOV08	22NOV08	15MAY97	15JUN02
F4	15MAR07	15MAR07	15SEP05	08FEB99	01SEP02

"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	08JUN16	08JUN16	08JUN16	15AUG00	15JUL15
F2A	01JUL21	01JUL21	01JUL21	01JUL21	01JUL21
F2B	08OCT16	08OCT16	08OCT16	01SEP00	22NOV13
F3	01SEP09	01SEP09	01SEP09	15SEP00	01NOV03
F4	22OCT07	22OCT07	22DEC05	01JUN99	22MAR04

Statement from USCIS Acting Director Tracy Renaud on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Court Decision

"Pursuant to the July 16, 2021 Order issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas in Texas v. United States, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is enjoined from granting initial DACA requests. 

All individuals whose DACA requests were granted prior to this decision will continue to have and be eligible to renew DACA, and to request and receive advance parole, consistent with the court's order. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will provide additional specific operational guidance in the coming days.

USCIS is proud to play an important role in implementing DACA. DACA recipients are students, military service members, essential workers, and part of our communities in every way, shape, and form. USCIS will comply with the court order, continue to implement the components of DACA that remain in place, and work on publ

Secretary Mayorkas Announces Extension and Re-Designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status

Extension and Re-Designation Allows Additional Eligible Somalis to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents

WASHINGTON—Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced an 18-month extension and re-designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).  This extension and re-designation will be in effect from September 18, 2021, through March 17, 2023.

"Through the extension and re-designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status, the United States will be able to offer safety and protection to Somalis who may not be able to return to their country, due to ongoing conflict and a worsening humanitarian crisis," said Secretary Mayorkas.  "We will continue to offer our support to Somali nationals through this temporary form of humanitarian relief."

Secretary Mayorkas made this dec

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Extending and Re-Designating Yemen for Temporary Protected Status

Re-Designation Allows Additional Eligible Yemenis to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice (FRN) extending and re-designating Yemen for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from Sept. 4, 2021, through March 3, 2023. The extension and re-designation of Yemen for TPS is due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent Yemeni nationals (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Yemen) from safely returning.

The extension of TPS for Yemen allows approximately 1,700 current beneficiaries to r

August 2021 Visa Bulletin Analysis

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

Please see below analysis of August 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	+7 Days	+7 Days	+7 Days	+3 Months	+8 Days
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	+7 Days	+7 Days	+7 Days	+1 Month	+7 Days
F3	+7 Days	+7 Days	+7 Days	+1 Month 14 Days	No Change
F4	+21 Days	+21 Days	+17 Days	+1 Month 7 Days	+1 Month 16 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	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change

August 2021 Visa Bulletin

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

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

August 2021 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from August 1 to August 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	22NOV14	22NOV14	22NOV14	01JAN99	01MAR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	22SEP15	22SEP15	22SEP15	01MAR00	22OCT11
F3	08NOV08	08NOV08	08NOV08	22APR97	08JUN02
F4	01MAR07	01MAR07	01SEP05	22JAN99	08AUG02

"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	15MAY16	15MAY16	15MAY16	01AUG00	22APR15
F2A	01JUN21	01JUN21	01JUN21	01JUN21	01JUN21
F2B	22SEP16	22SEP16	22SEP16	08AUG00	01OCT13
F3	22AUG09	22AUG09	22AUG09	08SEP00	01OCT03
F4	01OCT07	01OCT07	01DEC05	08MAY99	01FEB04

August 2021 Visa Bulletin Special Notes

For the official August 2021 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-august-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. EXPIRATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT-BASED FIFTH PREFERENCE I5 and R5 REGIONAL CENTER VISA CATEGORIES

Division O, Title 1, Section 104 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 extended the immigrant investor pilot program until June 30, 2021. No I5 or R5 visas may be issued overseas or final action taken on adjustment of status cases after June 30, 2021.

The final action dates for the I5 and R5 categories have been listed as "Unavailable" for August.

If there is legislative action extending this category for August, the final action dates would immediately become "Current" for August for all countries except China-mainland born I5 and R5, which would be subject to a November 15, 2015 final action date.

E. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PLEASE VI

Secretary Mayorkas Announces Extension and Re-Designation of Yemen for Temporary Protected Status

Extension and Re-Designation Allows Additional Eligible Yemenis to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced an 18-month extension and re-designation of Yemen for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). This extension and re-designation will be in effect from Sep. 4, 2021, through March 3, 2023.

"Yemen continues to experience worsening humanitarian and economic conditions that prevent individuals from safely returning to their homes," said Secretary Mayorkas. "Therefore, I have decided to extend and re-designate Yemen for Temporary Protected Status. We will continue to protect and offer these individuals a place of residency temporarily in the United States."

Secretary Mayorkas made this decision to extend and re-desig

DHS releases Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization

WASHINGTON – Today the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released the Interagency Strategy for Promoting Naturalization (PDF, 3.77 MB), a whole-of-government approach to breaking down barriers to U.S. citizenship and promoting naturalization to all who are eligible, as outlined in <a target='_blank' href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/02/executive-order-restoring-faith-in-our-legal-immigration-systems-and-strengthening-integration-and-inclusion-efforts-for-new-a

USCIS Naturalization Policies Issued Since January 2021

The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to making the naturalization process both welcoming and accessible to all who are eligible. As part of that effort, President Biden issued Executive Order 14012: Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration System and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans. Since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued the following naturalization policies designed to support implementation of this Executive Order:

<a target='_blank' href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210222-Ci

USCIS to Celebrate Independence Day with Naturalization Ceremonies Across the Country

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will celebrate Independence Day this year by welcoming more than 9,400 new citizens in 170 naturalization ceremonies between June 30 and July 7. These ceremonies demonstrate our commitment to welcoming immigrants. USCIS is proud to welcome people from all over the world as our newest U.S. citizens during this celebration of Independence Day. 

"This year marks the 245th birthday of our Nation," said Acting USCIS Director Tracy Renaud. "We are committed to promoting policies and procedures that ensure we operate fairly and efficiently, and continue to encourage and embrace the full participation of the newest Americans in our democracy."  

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USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners and requestors who are responding to certain:

• Requests for Evidence;
• Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
• Notices of Intent to Deny;
• Notices of Intent to Revoke;
• Notices of Intent to Rescind;
• Notices of Intent to Terminate regional centers; and
• Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant.

In addition, USCIS will consider a Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, or Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA), if:

• The form was filed up to 60 calendar days from the issuance of a

USCIS Will Allow Resubmission of Certain FY 2021 H-1B Petitions Rejected or Closed Due to Start Date

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today it will accept resubmitted fiscal year (FY) 2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions that were rejected or administratively closed solely because the requested start date was after Oct. 1, 2020.

If your FY 2021 petition was rejected or administratively closed solely because your petition was based on a registration submitted during the initial registration period, but you requested a start date after Oct. 1, 2020, you may re-submit that previously filed petition, with all applicable fees, at the address below. Such petitions must be resubmitted before Oct. 1, 2021. If properly resubmitted, we will consider the petition to have been filed on the original receipt date.

USPS	FedEx, UPS, and DHL Deliveries	Forms I-129/I-907 Premi

USCIS Launches H-2B Employer Data Hub

USCIS has launched an H-2B Employer Data Hub to provide information to the public on employers or agents petitioning for H-2B workers. The data hub is part of our continued effort to increase transparency in employment-based visa programs, and allows the public to search for H-2B petitioners by cap fiscal year (back to FY 2015), employer (petitioner) name, city, state, ZIP code, worksite state, cap type, North American Industry Classification System code, and Standard

Statement from USCIS Acting Director Tracy L. Renaud on World Refugee Day June 20, 2021

On Sunday, June 20, we observe World Refugee Day. Every year, this day draws attention to the plight of refugees across the globe. At U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the occasion is particularly meaningful.

Since 1980, the United States has resettled more than 3 million refugees who were forced to flee their homeland. USCIS plays a critical role in helping the U.S. government fulfill its humanitarian obligations by adjudicating refugee claims overseas and offering compassion to the displaced and persecuted.

This year, USCIS commemorates the 16th anniversary of our agency's refugee corps. Now, more than ever, this corps exemplifies the belief that generosity is a sign of American strength, and that when we offer refuge to those in need of protection, we are living up to our nation's highest ideals.

In the first days of his Administration, President Bi

USCIS Clarifies Evidence Requirements Under Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding eligibility for adjustment of status under Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF). The updated guidance clarifies what evidence an applicant may submit to establish Liberian nationality when applying for adjustment of status under LRIF.

The updated guidance includes examples of secondary evidence that could support an applicant's claim of Liberian nationality, as part of the totality of the evidence. These examples include, but are not limited to, expired Liberian passports, baptismal records or other religious documents, school records, and medical records. USCIS will evaluate all evidence an applicant provides, including the applicant's testimony during an interview, to evaluate their eligibility for adjustment of status

U