USCIS Updates Guidance on Expedite Requests

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has updated the USCIS Policy Manual to reflect new guidance on how we determine whether a case warrants expedited treatment. The new guidance is effective immediately.

This update:

• Clarifies the criteria and circumstances under which we generally consider expedite requests from nonprofit organizations as determined by the Internal Revenue Service;
• Provides additional examples of when we may consider expedite requests made by federal, state, or local agencies, including labor and employment agencies;
• Adds examples to further illustrate how the expedite criteria relates to emergencies and urgent humanitarian reasons; and
• Explains t

Visa Bulletin March 2022 Predictions

For official February 2022 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-february-2022.aspx

Please see March 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	01FEB15	01FEB15	01FEB15	01NOV99	22APR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01NOV15	01NOV15	01NOV15	08OCT00	01DEC11
F3	01DEC08	01DEC08	01DEC08	15OCT97	15JUN02
F4	01APR07	01APR07	01OCT05	15MAY99	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	01MAR01	15JUL15
F2A	22OCT21	22OCT21	22OCT21	22OCT21	22OCT21
F2B	01OCT16	01OCT16	01OCT16	08APR01	15NOV13
F3	08SEP09	08SEP09	08SEP09	15OCT00	22OCT03
F4	22OCT07	22OCT07	22JAN06	01SEP99	15MAR04

USCIS Provides Clarifying Guidance for O-1 Petitions with a Focus on STEM Fields

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today issued policy guidance clarifying how it evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for O-1A nonimmigrants of extraordinary ability, with a focus on petitions filed for individuals in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) fields, as well as how USCIS determines whether an O-1 beneficiary's prospective work is within their area of extraordinary ability or achievement.

Individuals of extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics may be eligible for O-1A classification. The new update provides examples of evidence that may satisfy the O-1A evidentiary criteria and discusses considerations that are relevant to evaluating such evidence, with a focus on the highly technical nature of STEM fields and the complexity of the evidence often submitted.

The update also emphasizes that, if a petit

USCIS Updates Guidance on National Interest Waivers

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced updated guidance on adjudicating requests for "National Interest Waivers" regarding job offer and labor certification requirements for certain advanced degree professionals and individuals of exceptional ability. This includes discussing the unique considerations for persons with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and entrepreneurs.

Consistent with this Administration's goal of removing barriers to legal immigration under President Biden's <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-

USCIS Provides Clarifying Guidance on O-1 Nonimmigrants in Arts vs. Motion Picture and Television

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced clarifying guidance on how we determine whether an O-1B beneficiary will be evaluated as a person of extraordinary ability in the arts or as a person of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry when a case has elements of both.

Individuals of extraordinary ability in the arts or extraordinary achievement in motion picture or television industry may be eligible for O-1B classification. The updated guidance will help officers and petitioners determine whether a beneficiary falls into the arts category or the motion picture and television category.

The update will help with cases that have elements of both classifications, such as actors, directors, composers, or set designers who work in both motion pictures and television and live theater. It will also help officers and petitioners u

Immigration Help Available to Those Affected by Natural Disasters and Other Unforeseen Circumstances

USCIS is reminding the public that we offer immigration services that may help people affected by unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters. Examples of unforeseen circumstances include, but are not limited to, the Marshall fire in Colorado. 

The following measures may be available on a case-by-case basis upon request: 

• Changing a nonimmigrant status or extending a nonimmigrant stay for an individual currently in the United States. Failure to apply for the extension or change before expirati

February 2022 Visa Bulletin

For January 2022 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-january-2022.aspx

For analysis of February 2022 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-analysis-february-2022.aspx

February 2022 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	01DEC14	01DEC14	01DEC14	08SEP99	01MAR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	22SEP15	22SEP15	22SEP15	01SEP00	22OCT11
F3	22NOV08	22NOV08	22NOV08	15SEP97	08JUN02
F4	22MAR07	22MAR07	15SEP05	22APR99	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	01FEB01	22APR15
F2A	01OCT21	01OCT21	01OCT21	01OCT21	01OCT21
F2B	22SEP16	22SEP16	22SEP16	01MAR01	01OCT13
F3	22AUG09	22AUG09	22AUG09	08OCT00	01OCT03
F4	01OCT07	01OCT07	01JAN06	22AUG99	01FEB04

February 2022 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For February 2022 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-february-2022.aspx

Please see below analysis of February 2022 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	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

"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

USCIS Extends Flexibility for Responding to Agency Requests

In response to the 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.

Response Due Date:

This flexibility applies to the documents listed above if the issuance date listed on the request, notice or decision is between March 1, 2020, and March 26, 2022, inclusive. USCIS will consider a response to the above requests and notices