Certain Petitioners for U Nonimmigrant Status May Receive a Refund for Applications for Employment Authorization Submitted Before Sept. 30, 2021

USCIS mistakenly rejected certain applications for employment authorization (Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization) from petitioners for U nonimmigrant status that were filed without a fee (or request for fee waiver) from June 14 through Sept. 29, 2021. USCIS also mistakenly accepted fees where certain petitioners for U nonimmigrant status unnecessarily submitted a fee with their Form I-765. USCIS is tracking this issue and is committed to correcting errors and expects to issue refunds by March 22, 2022.

On June 14, 2021, USCIS implemented a process allowing individuals living in the United States with a pending bona fide <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f1d

Visa Bulletin January 2022 Predictions

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

Please see January 2022 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	08DEC14	08DEC14	08DEC14	22JUN99	22APR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01NOV15	01NOV15	01NOV15	08AUG00	01DEC11
F3	01DEC08	01DEC08	01DEC08	15AUG97	15JUN02
F4	08APR07	08APR07	01OCT05	08APR99	08SEP02

"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	01JAN01	15JUL15
F2A	08OCT21	08OCT21	08OCT21	08OCT21	08OCT21
F2B	08OCT16	08OCT16	08OCT16	08FEB01	22NOV13
F3	01SEP09	01SEP09	01SEP09	15SEP00	01NOV03
F4	22OCT07	22OCT07	22JAN06	08AUG99	22MAR04

USCIS Conducts Third Random Selection from Previously Submitted FY 2022 H-1B Cap Registrations

We recently determined that we needed to select additional registrations to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B numerical allocations, including the advanced degree exemption. On Nov. 19, we selected from among previously submitted electronic registrations using a random selection process. The petition filing period based on registrations selected on Nov. 19 will begin on Nov. 22, 2021, and close on Feb. 23, 2022. Individuals with selected registrations will have their myUSCIS accounts updated to include a selection notice, which includes details about when and where to file. 

In July 2021, we <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="dddfce7b-0c26-4414-9475-ef5732ac9b09" href="https://www.u

USCIS Opening a New Lockbox Facility

We are planning to open a new facility in Elgin, Illinois, next year to expand our lockbox capability.

To prepare for this shift, on Oct. 15 we adjusted the filing locations for some applications. Now, certain adjustment of status applicants submit their applications to the Phoenix Lockbox instead of the Chicago or Dallas Lockbox. Additionally, we have streamlined filing locations for certain employment-based forms to a single lockbox location. You can find the latest filing instructions on our Form I-130, <a data-entit

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), has announced the lists of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in the next year. The notice listing the eligible countries will be published in the Federal Register on Nov. 10, 2021.

For the next year, the secretary of homeland security, with the concurrence of the secretary of state, has decided to:

• Add Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Cyprus, the Dominican Republic (currently only eligible for the H-2A program), Haiti, Mauritius, and Saint Lucia to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B program

DHS Announces Fee Exemptions, Streamlined Processing for Afghan Nationals as They Resettle in the U.S.

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will exempt filing fees and streamline application processing for Afghan nationals who were paroled into the United States for humanitarian reasons on or after July 30, 2021. These actions will help facilitate their resettlement in the U.S. by streamlining the processing of requests for work authorization, Green Cards, and associated services. DHS is the lead federal agency coordinating Operation Allies Welcome, the ongoing all-of-government effort to resettle vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked on behalf of the United States.

"By providing these evacuees with access to streamlined processing and fee exemptions, we will open doors of opportunity for our Afghan allies and help them begin to rebuild their lives in communities across our country more quickly," said Secretar

December 2021 Visa Bulletin Analysis

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

Please see below analysis of December 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	+3 Months 24 Days	No Change
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+3 Months 17 Days	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	+2 Months	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Month 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	No Change	No Change	No Change	+4 Months	No Change
F2A	+3 Months	+3 Months	+3 Months	+3 Months	+3 Months
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+3 Months	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	+2 Months	No Change

December 2021 Visa Bulletin

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

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

December 2021 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from December 1 to December 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	01DEC14	01DEC14	01DEC14	08MAY99	01MAR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	22SEP15	22SEP15	22SEP15	01JUL00	22OCT11
F3	22NOV08	22NOV08	22NOV08	15JUL97	08JUN02
F4	22MAR07	22MAR07	15SEP05	15MAR99	22AUG02

"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	01DEC00	22APR15
F2A	01SEP21	01SEP21	01SEP21	01SEP21	01SEP21
F2B	22SEP16	22SEP16	22SEP16	01JAN01	01OCT13
F3	22AUG09	22AUG09	22AUG09	08SEP00	01OCT03
F4	01OCT07	01OCT07	01JAN06	01AUG99	01FEB04

USCIS Commemorates Veterans Day with Special Naturalization Ceremonies

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will honor Veterans Day this year by holding more than 90 ceremonies naturalizing more than 4,440 current and former members of the military and their families. Each year, on Nov. 11, the nation honors members of the U.S. armed forces who have served our country and defended our freedom.

"USCIS is committed to serving the U.S. military community by making sure they have meaningful and efficient access to the immigration benefits they or their families may be entitled to," said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou. "USCIS is dedicated to improving policies and procedures that assist service members and their loved ones on their path to U.S. citizenship."

Additionally, USCIS Director Jaddou will strengthen the agency's collaborative partnership with the National Park Service (through a memorandum of understand

USCIS Expands Credit Card Payment Pilot Program to California Service Center

As part of our credit card payment pilot program, the California Service Center is now accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for petitioners filing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for O and P nonimmigrants.

At the end of the pilot, we will evaluate the results and determine the next steps for expanding this payment option for other forms or other service centers. The goal of this pilot is to bring USCIS one step closer to accepting digital payments using a credit card at all service centers.

Policy Update: Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF)

USCIS has expanded its guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual about Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) to clarify steps applicants must take if they cannot submit primary evidence of Liberian nationality to support an LRIF-based application for adjustment of status. The deadline to apply to adjust status under LRIF is Dec. 20, 2021.

At the time of this update, the Department of State's Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country for Liberia webpage indicates that primary evidence is available. Examples of primary evidence include, but are not limited to, an unexpired Liberian passport or Liberian certificate of naturalization. However, if an applicant cannot provide primary evidence at the time of filing (for example, if they have

Directions for Class Members Filing Motions to Reopen Pursuant to Settlement Agreement in H-1B Market Research Analyst Class Action Litigation

USCIS reached a settlement agreement (PDF, 268.06 KB) [PDF] in the case of MadKudu Inc., et al. v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, et al., No. 20-cv-2653 (N.D. Cal.). On Oct. 19, 2021, the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, San Jose Division, granted final approval of the settlement agreement. This agreement outlines new, overarching guidance for adjudicating pending or future H-1B petitions for market research analysts.

Additionally, the agreement allows class members to submit a Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion, to request that certain denied Forms I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, seeking H-1B classification for a market research analyst be reopened and adjudicated per