Saturday, November 26, 2022

Visa Bulletin January 2023 Predictions

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

Please see January 2023 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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F101FEB1501FEB1501FEB1522DEC0022APR12
F2ACCCCC
F2B01NOV1501NOV1501NOV1522JUN0101DEC11
F308DEC0808DEC0808DEC0808NOV9701JUL02
F415APR0715APR0708OCT0515SEP0022SEP02
"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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F115AUG1615AUG1615AUG1601FEB0308JUN15
F2ACCCCC
F2B08JAN1708JAN1708JAN1701FEB0208NOV13
F315NOV0915NOV0915NOV0908JUL0101DEC03
F408JAN0808JAN0815MAR0622MAY0101MAY04



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Wednesday, November 23, 2022

USCIS Extends and Expands Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processing for Afghan Nationals

Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it is extending and expanding previously announced filing fee exemptions and expedited application processing for certain Afghan nationals. These actions will help Afghan nationals resettle, and in many cases reunite with family, in the United States by enabling USCIS to process their requests for work authorization, long-term status, status for immediate relatives, and associated services more quickly. We encourage you to use the webpages below to learn more about the eligibility details for each type of filing you may wish to pursue.

<a data-enti



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Monday, November 21, 2022

Recommendations for Paper Filings to Avoid Scanning Delays

As we move toward an increasing electronic environment, we now scan and upload many documents into electronic database systems. To avoid delays and improve scanning efficiency, we recommend that you do not:

  • Hole punch, staple, paper clip, binder clip, or otherwise attach documents to one another.
  • Include photos or documents smaller than 4x6 inches for evidentiary purposes. Provide photocopies of these items instead. The only exception is when we request a passport photo with the filing.
  • Include anything that contains electronic chips and batteries (such as musical greeting cards) or any non-paper materials such as cassette tapes, CD-ROMs, DVDs, toys, action figures, or thumb drives. We will not accept these types of materials. However, we will accept photographs or photocopies of these items.
  • Submit forms or evidence documents bound with a


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Saturday, November 19, 2022

DHS Continues Temporary Protected Status and Related Documentation for Certain Beneficiaries of TPS

On Nov. 10, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a Federal Register Notice announcing the continuation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and certain related documents for beneficiaries under the TPS designations that remain subject to the court orders in the Ramos et al. v. Nielsen and <a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="993ecb44-848a-4f06-b6ec-86a3e0447ed7" href="https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/update-on-bh



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Wednesday, November 16, 2022

December 2022 Visa Bulletin Analysis

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

Please see below analysis of December 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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1No ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F2ANo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F2BNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F3No ChangeNo ChangeNo Change-14 DaysNo Change
F4No ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo 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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1No ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F2ANo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F2BNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F3No ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F4No ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change



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December 2022 Visa Bulletin

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

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

December 2022 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 15NOV00 01MAR12
F2A C C C C C
F2B 22SEP15 22SEP15 22SEP15 01JUN01 22OCT11
F3 22NOV08 22NOV08 22NOV08 01NOV97 08JUN02
F4 22MAR07 22MAR07 15SEP05 01AUG00 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 08AUG16 08AUG16 08AUG16 01DEC02 22APR15
F2A C C C C C
F2B 01JAN17 01JAN17 01JAN17 01JAN02 01OCT13
F3 08NOV09 08NOV09 08NOV09 15JUN01 08NOV03
F4 15DEC07 15DEC07 22FEB06 01APR01 22APR04



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USCIS Hosts Special Naturalization Ceremonies in Honor of Veterans Day

Agency Committed to Removing Barriers to Naturalization

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will host several Veterans Day-themed naturalization ceremonies across the country, welcoming veterans, service members, and military spouses as America's newest citizens.

More than 3,900 naturalization candidates, including members of the U.S military, veterans, and their families will take the Oath of Allegiance in 50 ceremonies. These events will honor the sacrifices they have made by serving our country, and also highlight our agency's commitment to providing immigration services to the military community.

"USCIS is grateful to all members of the U.S. military, veterans, and their families who have put their faith and trust in America. We are honored to have a role in supporting non-citi



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Monday, November 14, 2022

USCIS Announces Online Filing for Affirmative Asylum Applications

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, is available to file online for certain affirmative asylum applicants. USCIS continues to accept the latest paper version of this form by mail.

"The expansion of online filing is a priority for USCIS as we make our operations more efficient and effective for the agency and our stakeholders, applicants, petitioners, and requestors," said USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou. "The option to file affirmative asylum applications online is part of USCIS' ongoing move to minimize reliance on paper records and further transition to an electronic environment."

At this time, the option to file an online Form I-589 is only available for certain affirmative asylum applicants.



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Saturday, November 12, 2022

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, 2022.

Effective Nov. 10, 2022, the secretary of homeland security, with the concurrence of the secretary of state, has decided to:

  • Add the Kingdom of Eswatini (Eswatini) to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs.

DHS maintains its authority to amend the eligible countries lists at any time through public



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Wednesday, November 9, 2022

DHS Begins Limited Implementation of DACA under Final Rule

WASHINGTON— On Monday, October 31, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security's final rule (PDF) to preserve and fortify Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) went into effect. The final rule's implementation means that DACA is now based on a formal regulation, thereby preserving and fortifying the program while the program remains the subject of litigation in court. Previously, DACA was based on a policy memorandum that then-DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano issued on August 15, 2012. Since its inception in 2012, DACA has allowed over 800,000 young people to remain with their families in the only country many of them have ever known and continue to contribute to their communities in the United States.

Under the final rule, USCIS will continue to accept and process



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Monday, November 7, 2022

New Processing Time Method for Orphan and Hague Applications and Petitions

Starting in mid-November, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will change how we calculate processing times for orphan and Hague cases. These changes provide stakeholders better information about the total time it may take to receive a decision on their application or petition and are consistent with an agency-wide shift in how processing times for other cases are calculated. Most importantly, USCIS remains committed to processing intercountry adoption cases as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Changes Starting in Mid-November

We are transitioning our orphan and Hague case processing times from the previous method ("cycle time") to a new method ("80% completion"). For more information on these methods, see Background, below.

Starting in mid-November, our website will reflect the following times, which we will u



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Saturday, November 5, 2022

ACICS Loss of Recognition May Affect Certain Students Applying for English Language Study and 24-month STEM OPT Extension Programs, H-1B, and I-140 Applicants

On Aug. 19, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it no longer recognizes the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as an accrediting agency. This determination immediately affects two immigration-related student programs:

  • English language study programs, as the programs are required to be accredited under the Accreditation of English Language Training Programs Act; and 
  • F-1 students applying for a 24-month science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) optional practical training (OPT) extension, as the regulations require


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Wednesday, November 2, 2022

USCIS Will Only Consider CW-1 Petitions Approved and with Starting Validity on or after June 18, 2020, when Applying the Temporary Departure Requirement

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is clarifying its Aug. 25, 2020, policy on implementing the requirement that workers leave the United States for at least 30 days after two renewals of their CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1) visa classification.

Effective immediately, the only CW-1 petitions we will classify as consecutive petitions for purposes of the temporary departure requirement are approved CW-1 petitions that have a starting validity date on or after June 18, 2020. Any extension of CW-1 status granted on or after June 18, 2020, will be considered a consecutive petition if the extension has a starting validity date on or after that date (and not ba



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