Secretary Mayorkas Announces Extension and Redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status

Redesignation Allows Additional Newly Eligible Somali Nationals to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension and redesignation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from September 18, 2024, to March 17, 2026, due to conditions in Somalia that prevent individuals from safely returning.

After consulting interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas determined that an 18-month extension and redesignation of Somalia for TPS is warranted because conditions, which include ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions, that support Somalia's designation are ongoing. Those conditions include widespread insecurity and violence that have exposed civilian populations to abuse and displacement.

USCIS Issues Policy Guidance on Children’s Acquisition of Citizenship

USCIS is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding provisions for children's acquisition of citizenship.

We are updating guidance relating to children's acquisition of citizenship in response to public feedback. We are also updating guidance based on the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sessions v. Morales-Santana, 582 U.S. 47 (2017), and clarifying other provisions related to acquisition of citizenship.

The guidance:

• Affirms that applicants who already filed an application for a Certificate of Citizenship and were denied, but become eligible following a change in USCIS policy, may file a motion to reopen the prior USCIS denial of their application.
• Clari

Reminders on the Process to Promote the Unity and Stability of Families

On June 18, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced actions to promote family unity in the immigration process. This announcement is consistent with the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to keep families together. DHS is establishing a process to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests for parole in place from certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have been in the U.S. for at least a decade. If parole is granted, noncitizens who are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence based on their marriage to a U.S. citizen will be able to do so without having to leave the United States. 
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Visa Bulletin September 2024 Predictions

For official August 2024 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2024/visa-bulletin-august-2024.aspx

Please see September 2024 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	15NOV15	15NOV15	15NOV15	08JUN02	22APR12
F2A	22MAR22	22MAR22	22MAR22	01JUL21	22MAR22
F2B	22MAY16	22MAY16	22MAY16	22OCT04	01DEC11
F3	08MAY10	08MAY10	08MAY10	08MAY00	15SEP02
F4	08AUG07	08AUG07	01FEB06	22FEB01	22MAR04

"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	01NOV17	01NOV17	01NOV17	15APR05	08JUN15
F2A	08JUL24	08JUL24	08JUL24	08JUL24	08JUL24
F2B	15FEB17	15FEB17	15FEB17	22MAY05	08NOV13
F3	01FEB11	01FEB11	01FEB11	22JUN01	01DEC03
F4	22MAR08	22MAR08	22JUN06	22MAY01	01JUN06

New Policy Guidance on Noncompliance with EB-5 Regional Center Program

We are issuing policy guidance on new provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) that cover consequences for noncompliance with the EB-5 Regional Center program.

The guidance interprets the provisions related to sanctions, including terminations, debarments, and suspensions, for noncompliant regional centers, new commercial enterprises, job-creating entities, investors, and others. The guidance also explains what may be considered threats to the national interest, fraud, intentional material misrepresentation, deceit, and criminal misuse in the context of discreti

Secretary Mayorkas Announces Extension and Redesignation of Yemen for Temporary Protected Status

Alert Type info

News release originally published by the Department of Homeland Security.

USCIS Updates Customer Service and Safe Address Procedures for Individuals Protected Under Confidentiality Provisions

We have implemented provisions in the USCIS Policy Manual that provide guidance on customer service and safe address procedures for individuals protected under 8 U.S.C. 1367. The confidentiality provisions at 8 U.S.C. 1367 protect information about individuals who have pending or approved victim-based immigration relief, specifically relief under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), such as Form I-360 VAWA self-petitions and Form I-751 waivers based on battery or extreme cruelty, T nonimmigrant status applications or U nonimmigrant status petitions, and their derivat

August 2024 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For August 2024 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2024/visa-bulletin-august-2024.aspx

Please see below analysis of August 2024 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	+7 Days	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	+7 Months 14 Days	+7 Months 14 Days	+7 Months 14 Days	+7 Months 14 Days	+7 Months 14 Days
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F3	+3 Months	+3 Months	+3 Months	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	+2 Days	No Change

August 2024 Visa Bulletin

For July 2024 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2024/visa-bulletin-july-2024.aspx

For analysis of August 2024 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2024/visa-bulletin-analysis-august-2024.aspx

August 2024 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from August 1 to August 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	22OCT15	22OCT15	22OCT15	08MAY02	01MAR12
F2A	15NOV21	15NOV21	15NOV21	01FEB21	15NOV21
F2B	01MAY16	01MAY16	01MAY16	15JUL04	22OCT11
F3	01APR10	01APR10	01APR10	01MAR00	08SEP02
F4	01AUG07	01AUG07	22JAN06	08FEB01	01FEB04

"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	01SEP17	01SEP17	01SEP17	01APR05	22APR15
F2A	15JUN24	15JUN24	15JUN24	15JUN24	15JUN24
F2B	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	01MAY05	01OCT13
F3	01JAN11	01JAN11	01JAN11	15JUN01	08NOV03
F4	01MAR08	01MAR08	15JUN06	30APR01	01APR06