USCIS Updates Guidance for F/M Nonimmigrant Student Classification

We are updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding when students may be eligible for optional practical training (OPT) extensions for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. This guidance, found in Volume 2, Part F, of the Policy Manual, also provides clarifying guidance for F/M nonimmigrant students concerning online study, school transfers, the grace period, and study abroad.

The Policy Manual update:

• Clarifies that students may count one class or three credits (or the equivalent) per academic session (or the equivalent) toward a full course of study if they take the class online or through distance learning not requiring physical atte

DHS Implements Keeping Families Together

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today announced a Federal Register notice to implement Keeping Families Together, a process for certain noncitizen spouses and stepchildren of U.S. citizens. This is part of an effort to promote the unity and stability of families, increase the economic prosperity of American communities, strengthen diplomatic relationships with partner countries in the region, reduce strain on limited U.S. government resources, and further national security, public safety, and border security objectives.

"Too often, noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens – many of them mothers and fathers – live with uncertainty due to undue barriers in our immigration system." said Ur M. Jaddou, Director of U.S. Citiz

USCIS Publishes Filing Guide for Keeping Families Together

On Aug. 19, USCIS will begin accepting requests for, using a new electronic form, Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens. Form I-131F will not be available on uscis.gov until Aug. 19. USCIS is not accepting any other form for Keeping Families Together. Do not file a request for parole in place under this process before Aug. 19, 2024.

We are publishing a 

Visa Bulletin October 2024 Predictions

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

Please see October 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	15FEB22	15FEB22	15FEB22	08APR21	15FEB22
F2B	22MAY16	22MAY16	22MAY16	08OCT04	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

California Service Center Moving to New Address August 12

On Aug. 12, the California Service Center will move to a new address. The new facility will help streamline processes by concentrating operations in the new location. The California Service Center will continue to provide prompt and efficient service in processing requests for immigration benefits. The updated address for the California Service Center will be:

California Service Center
2642 Michelle Drive 
Tustin, CA 92780 

Please refer to form filing address pages on uscis.gov to find the specific address information, including suite numbers, you should use depending on which form you are submitting. As a reminder, service cent

Second Random Selection from Previously Submitted Registrations Complete for FY 2025 H-1B Regular Cap

USCIS recently announced that we would need to select additional registrations for unique beneficiaries to reach the fiscal year 2025 H-1B regular cap numerical allocation. Our projections indicate we have now randomly selected a sufficient number of registrations for unique beneficiaries as needed to reach the regular cap from the remaining properly submitted FY 2025 registrations. Additionally, we have notified all prospective petitioners with selected registrations from this round of selection that they are eligible to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for the beneficiary named in the applicable selected

USCIS Will Conduct Second Random Selection for Regular Cap from Previously Submitted FY 2025 H-1B Cap Registrations

In March, USCIS conducted an initial random selection on properly submitted electronic registrations for the fiscal year 2025 H-1B cap, including for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption. Only those petitioners with selected registrations for FY 2025 are eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions during the filing period on their registration selection notice. The initial filing period for those with selected registrations for FY 2025 was from April 1 through June 30, 2024.

We recently determined that we would need to select additional registrations for unique beneficiaries to reach th

September 2024 Visa Bulletin Analysis

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

Please see below analysis of September 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	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

September 2024 Visa Bulletin

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

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

September 2024 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from September 1 to September 30 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

USCIS to Begin Triennial Investment and Revenue Threshold Updates for International Entrepreneur Rule

Effective Oct. 1, 2024, we will increase the investment and revenue thresholds under the International Entrepreneur Rule, as required every three years. The application fee will not change, however.

Background

The International Entrepreneur Rule, published in 2017, provides a framework for the Department of Homeland Security to use its parole authority to grant a period of authorized stay, on a case-by-case basis, to noncitizen entrepreneurs who would provide a significant public benefit through their startup entity's potential for rapid growth and job creation. If granted parole, the entrepreneur would be authorized to work for their startup entity incident to their parole, and their spouse, if also granted parole, would be eligible to apply for employment authorization to work in the United States. We recently updated our <a target='_blank' href="https:/