USCIS Extends Temporary Suspension of Biometrics Submission for Certain Form I-539 Applicants

USCIS has extended the temporary suspension of the biometrics submission requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, or E nonimmigrant status. The previously announced suspension, which was initially in place until May 17, 2023, has been extended through Sept. 30, 2023.

We will allow adjudications for those specific categories to proceed based on biog

Visa Bulletin June 2023 Predictions

For official May 2023 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-may-2023.aspx

Please see June 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	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	15FEB15	15FEB15	15FEB15	08MAY01	22APR12
F2A	01OCT20	01OCT20	01OCT20	01DEC18	01OCT20
F2B	01NOV15	01NOV15	01NOV15	08JUN01	01DEC11
F3	22DEC08	22DEC08	22DEC08	08NOV97	01JUL02
F4	01MAY07	01MAY07	08OCT05	15AUG00	22SEP02

"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	22JAN17	22JAN17	22JAN17	22JAN03	08JUN15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	08JAN17	08JAN17	08JAN17	22JAN02	08NOV13
F3	22FEB10	22FEB10	22FEB10	22JUN01	01DEC03
F4	15FEB08	15FEB08	15MAR06	22APR01	22MAY04

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance on Safe Mailing Address and Case Handling Procedures for Certain Protected Persons

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to provide guidance on mailing address procedures for persons eligible for and recipients of victim-based immigration relief, specifically Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners as well as those who are seeking or currently hold T or U nonimmigrant status (protected persons). This guidance also applies to abused spouses of certain nonimmigrants applying for employment authorization under section 106 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Under 8 U.S.C 1367 confidentiality provisions, USCIS must ensure that information related to a protected person is disclosed only to authorized parties identified

Employers May File H-2B Petitions for FY 2023 Late Second Half Returning Workers

Starting April 13, 2023, USCIS will begin accepting petitions for workers for the late second half of fiscal year (FY) 2023, requesting employment start dates from May 15, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2023 under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule. The 10,000 visas made available under this allocation are limited to returning workers who were issued H-2B visas or held H-2B status in fiscal years 2020, 2021, or 2022, regardless of country of nationality. These supplemental visas are available only to U.S. businesses that are suffering irreparable harm or will suffer impending irreparable harm without the ability to employ all the H-2B workers requested in their petition, as attested by the employer on a new attestation form.

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USCIS Updates Guidance on Administrative Naturalization Ceremony Venues

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the types of venues USCIS may use for administrative naturalization ceremonies.

This clarifying guidance is part of USCIS efforts to educate the public and those seeking to donate venue spaces, and to provide more transparency on how to partner with USCIS on naturalization ceremonies. USCIS has a long-standing goal of promoting public understanding of the naturalization process and welcomes facility donations from public and private entities in line with our Policy Manual guidance and corresponding federal regulations.

This update, contained in Volume 12 of the Policy Manual, is effective immediately

Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the Early Second Half of FY 2023

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 16,500 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the early second half of fiscal year (FY) 2023 with start dates from April 1, 2023 to May 14, 2023, under the FY 2023 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule. We will reject and return any H-2B petitions received after March 30, 2023, that are filed for a returning worker under the early second half of FY 2023 allocation.

We continue to accept petitions for H-2B nonimmigrant workers for the additional 20,000 visas allotted for nationals of Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras for the first and second halves of FY 2023. Eligible petitioners whose work

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance on Self-Selecting a Gender Marker on Forms and Documents

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that, effective immediately, USCIS will accept the self-identified gender marker for individuals requesting immigration benefits. The gender marker they select does not need to match the gender marker indicated on their supporting documentation.

The update also clarifies that people requesting benefits do not need to submit proof of their gender identity when submitting a request to change their gender marker, except for those submitting Form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization/Citizenship Document. The guidance in this Policy Manual section does not currently apply to Form N-565, and individuals submitting this form must continue to f

USCIS Removes 60-Day Rule for Civil Surgeon Signatures on Form I-693

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is removing the requirement that civil surgeons sign Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, no more than 60 days before an individual applies for an underlying immigration benefit, including Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. The requirement had been subject to a temporary waiver since Dec. 9, 2021.

This policy update will allow USCIS to adjudicate cases with immigration medical examinations that would previously have been considered invalid. Rather than issuing Requests for Evidence (RFEs) for Form I-693 signed more than 60 days before the filing of the I-485, but otherwise valid, we will be able to accept these Forms I-693 for adjudicative purposes for up to 2 years after the date the civil surgeon signed the form.

Applicants, civil

May 2023 Visa Bulletin

For April 2023 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-april-2023.aspx

For analysis of May 2023 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-analysis-may-2023.aspx

May 2023 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from May 1 to May 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	15DEC14	15DEC14	15DEC14	01APR01	01MAR12
F2A	08SEP20	08SEP20	08SEP20	01NOV18	08SEP20
F2B	22SEP15	22SEP15	22SEP15	01JUN01	22OCT11
F3	08DEC08	08DEC08	08DEC08	01NOV97	08JUN02
F4	08APR07	08APR07	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	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	01DEC02	22APR15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN02	01OCT13
F3	08FEB10	08FEB10	08FEB10	15JUN01	08NOV03
F4	01FEB08	01FEB08	22FEB06	01APR01	22APR04

May 2023 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For May 2023 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2023/visa-bulletin-may-2023.aspx

Please see below analysis of May 2023 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	+14 Days	+14 Days	+14 Days	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	+16 Days	+16 Days	+16 Days	No Change	No Change
F4	+17 Days	+17 Days	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	+4 Months 24 Days	+4 Months 24 Days	+4 Months 24 Days	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	+3 Months	+3 Months	+3 Months	No Change	No Change
F4	+1 Month 17 Days	+1 Month 17 Days	No Change	No Change	No Change

New Filing Address for Courier Delivery Services to USCIS Phoenix Lockbox

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has changed the filing location for courier delivery services to the Phoenix lockbox. The facility has moved to Tempe, Arizona, and the filing location for courier delivery services for UPS, FedEx, and DHL has also changed to Tempe. The filing location remains the same when using the U.S. Postal Service.

We will forward any applications, petitions, or requests received in Phoenix via courier delivery services to Tempe between March 30 and April 28. After April 28, we will not accept courier delivery at the previous address.

Our Lockbox Filing Location Updates page provides an up-to-date summary of changes we make to any lockbo

Provision Allowing Special Immigrant Juveniles to File Form I-360 in Person Before Their 21st Birthday

Petitioners for Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification (or their representatives) may schedule an appointment within two weeks before their 21st birthday to file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, in person.

SIJ petitioners must file Form I-360 before their 21st birthday. SIJ petitioners nearing age 21 may call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 to schedule an SIJ expedite appointment at a local field office so they can file Form I-360 in person within two weeks before they turn 21.

The SIJ petitioner (or their representative) may use that appointment to file Form I-360 in person at the field office. We will not examine the request for completeness, but we will pro

USCIS Updates Policy on Time Frames for Paper-Based Filings and Responses Ending on Saturdays, Sundays, or Federal Holidays

We are updating the USCIS Policy Manual (PDF, 317.61 KB) to address situations when the last day to file a benefit request or respond to a USCIS action falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday. In these situations, we will consider a filing or response submitted on paper timely if we receive it by the end of the next business day. While the receipt date for these cases will continue to reflect the date USCIS physically received the request, USCIS will consider the benefit request timely filed.

In some cases, benefit requestors must file a benefit request or submit a response to a USCIS action within a certain time period prescribed by statute, regulation, or form instructions. Examples include filing a pape

FY 2024 H-1B Cap Season Updates

H-1B Initial Electronic Registration Selection Process Completed

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2024 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master's cap). We have randomly selected from the registrations properly submitted to reach the cap, and have notified all prospective petitioners with selected registrations that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected registration.

Registrants' online accounts will now show one of the following statuses for each registration (that is, for each beneficiary registered):

• Submitted: The registration has been submitte

USCIS Announces End of COVID-Related Flexibilities

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that certain flexibilities it first announced in March 2020, to address the COVID-19 pandemic will end on March 23, 2023. USCIS previously notified the public in its Jan. 24, 2023, announcement that barring any changes presented by the pandemic, the extension of these flexibilities announced on Jan. 24 would be the last.

You must respond to any notices or requests from USCIS dated after March 23 by the deadlines listed in the notice or request. This includes:

• Requests for Evidence;
• Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);
• Notices of Intent to Deny;
• Notices of Inten

USCIS Form and Policy Updates for Applying for Naturalization Based on Military Service

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify and conform with the revision of Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service. The updated policy guidance provides that only applicants filing for naturalization based on military service (INA 328 or 329) who are currently serving in the U.S. armed forces are required to file Form N-426 with their naturalization application.

Former service members applying for naturalization under INA 328 or 329 are no longer required to file Form N-426 with their naturalization application, but they must submit a photocopy of their Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214), National Guard Report of Separat