DHS Proposes Fair and Humane Public Charge Rule

News release originally published by the Department of Homeland Security

Proposed Rule Breaks from Prior Administration's Harsh Approach in the 2019 Rule

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would regulate how DHS applies the public charge ground of inadmissibility. The proposed rule would provide fair and humane treatment for noncitizens requesting admission to the United States or applying for lawful permanent residence from within the United States. DHS has posted an <a target='_blank' href="https:/

Visa Bulletin April 2022 Predictions

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

Please see April 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	01JUL02
F4	01APR07	01APR07	01OCT05	15MAY99	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	08MAY01	15JUN15
F2A	22DEC21	22DEC21	22DEC21	22DEC21	22DEC21
F2B	01OCT16	01OCT16	01OCT16	22APR01	01NOV13
F3	08SEP09	08SEP09	08SEP09	15MAR01	15OCT03
F4	22OCT07	22OCT07	22JAN06	15OCT00	01MAR04

USCIS Opens a New Lockbox Facility

As we announced in November 2021, we have opened a new lockbox facility in Elgin, Illinois. We are beginning to transition incoming work to the new location.

On Feb. 1, we added Elgin as a filing location for certain applicants filing Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. In the coming weeks, we will move additional workloads to the Elgin lockbox, including certain applicants filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, and Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. We expect to complete the trans

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance on VAWA Self-Petitions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is publishing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual on eligibility, filing, and adjudication requirements addressing Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions to update practices and align USCIS policies with recent court decisions.

We are updating our interpretation of the requirement for shared residence to occur during the qualifying spousal or parent-child relationship. Instead, the self-petitioner must demonstrate that they are residing or have resided with the abuser at any time in the past.

We are also implementing nationwide the decisions in Da Silva v. Attorney General, 948 F.3d 629 (3rd Cir. 2020), and Arguijo v. United States, 991 F

USCIS Announces New Agency Mission Statement

"USCIS upholds America's promise as a nation of welcome and possibility with fairness, integrity, and respect for all we serve." 

WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur M. Jaddou announced the agency's new mission statement. Last year, USCIS leadership empowered employees to submit words that they felt best illustrated the agency's work. The new mission statement is a reflection of this feedback from the workforce, the priorities of the Biden Administration, and Director Jaddou's vision for an inclusive and accessible agency. 

The new mission statement 

USCIS Issues Policy Guidance Regarding Exemptions from the Temporary Need Requirement for H-2B Workers on Guam and the CNMI Under the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act

USCIS is issuing updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how petitioners may demonstrate that they qualify for an exemption from the temporary need requirement for a nonimmigrant visa petition for a temporary nonagricultural H-2B worker on Guam and in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) that falls under the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.

Specifically, the guidance clarifies how petitioners may demonstrate, depending on the facts presented in each case, that they qualify for the exemption based on contracts or subcontracts that are "supporting" or "adversely affected by" the military realignment on Guam and in the CNMI. 

For more information, see the <a data-entity-substitution="media" data-entity-type="media" href="https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20220208-H2BCNMIAnd

USCIS Updates Guidelines on Maximum Validity Periods for New Employment Authorization Documents for Certain Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today published updated policy guidance to change the maximum validity period that may be granted for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to certain applicants, as well as to provide general guidance on adjudicating Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

Starting today, USCIS will generally grant new and renewed EADs that are valid for two years to applicants in the following categories:

• Admitted as a refugee (a)(3);
• Granted asylum (a)(5);
• Granted withholding of deportation or removal (a)(10); and
• VAWA self-petitioner (c)(31).

Additionally, USCIS will generally grant new and renewed EADs up to the end of the parole or deferred action period to applicants in the following categories:

• Paroled into the United States for urgent humanitarian rea

March 2022 Visa Bulletin

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

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

March 2022 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	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	01APR01	22APR15
F2A	01DEC21	01DEC21	01DEC21	01DEC21	01DEC21
F2B	22SEP16	22SEP16	22SEP16	01APR01	01OCT13
F3	22AUG09	22AUG09	22AUG09	01MAR01	01OCT03
F4	01OCT07	01OCT07	01JAN06	01SEP00	01FEB04

March 2022 Visa Bulletin Analysis

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

Please see below analysis of March 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	+2 Months	No Change
F2A	+2 Months	+2 Months	+2 Months	+2 Months	+2 Months
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Month	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	+4 Months 24 Days	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Year 10 Days	No Change

USCIS Statement on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation

On Feb. 6, the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 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 refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

The United Nations reports that more than 200 million women and girls around the world have undergone some form of FGM/C. On Zero Tolerance Day, we are raising awareness about this practice, which is happening here in the United States in small towns and big cities alike. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates approximately 500,000 girls in the United States are at risk of having FGM/C performed on them.

<

Readout of Director Ur M. Jaddou’s Virtual Briefing with Stakeholders to Mark One-Year Anniversary of Executive Orders Aimed at Restoring Faith in Our Immigration System

WASHINGTON— Yesterday, on the one-year anniversary of several executive orders (EOs) from the Biden-Harris administration aimed at restoring faith in our nation's legal immigration system, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur M. Jaddou briefed national stakeholders on the agency's efforts to implement these EOs. During this briefing, Director Jaddou and senior USCIS leadership shared policy and operational updates highlighting USCIS' progress in responding to these executive orders.

<img src="https://www.uscis.gov/sit

USCIS Updates Medical Examination Guidance for Afghan Parolees Arriving Under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW)

USCIS announced today that it is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding immigration medical examination requirements for certain Afghan nationals applying for adjustment of status after arriving in the United States under Operation Allies Welcome (OAW). Effective immediately, these applicants may not need to repeat an immigration medical examination if they already completed an immigration medical examination conducted by a panel physician before they arrived in the United States.

The updated guidance allows Afghan nationals applying for adjustment of status after arriving under OAW to use a report of medical examination completed outside the United States by a panel physician to satisfy the requirement normally demonstrated by submitting <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="ea20dcd6-cd25-402b-84c2-39f1c66f00e1" href

FY 2023 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 1

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 1 and run through noon Eastern on March 18, 2022. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations using our online H-1B registration system.

USCIS will assign a confirmation number to each registration submitted for the FY 2023 H-1B cap. This number is used solely to track registrations; you cannot use this number to track your case status in Case Status Online.

Prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners or their representatives are required to use a myUSCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee for each registration submitted on behalf of each

DHS Announces Availability of Additional H-2B Visas for First Half of Fiscal Year

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) today announced the availability of 20,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2022. These visas are for U.S. employers that are facing irreparable harm without additional workers and seeking to employ additional workers on or before March 31, 2022.

"DHS is taking action to address the needs of our economy by making an additional 20,000 H-2B visas available to workers," said Secretary Mayorkas. "We are providing employers with the resources and support needed to sustain their businesses while expanding lawful pathways to the United States. At the same time, DHS and DOL are protecting against the exploitation of H-2B workers."

This supplemental cap increase, which comes at a time of record job growth and reduce