DHS Helps Companies Fill More Jobs, Strengthens Worker Protections in the H-2 Programs with Final Rule

Final Rule strengthens worker protections and program integrity, increases flexibility for workers, and improves program efficiency

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule that will allow U.S. companies that need seasonal workers to more quickly and efficiently fill those jobs. The rule will modernize and improve the H-2 nonimmigrant visa programs, which allow qualified U.S. employers who are unable to hire qualified U.S. workers to petition for foreign nationals to fill temporary or seasonal agricultural and nonagricultural jobs. The final rule significantly strengthens worker protections by, among other things, imposing new consequences on comp

DHS Strengthens H-1B Program, Allowing U.S. Employers to More Quickly Fill Critical Jobs

Rule will provide greater benefits and flexibilities for U.S. employers and specialty occupation workers, helping to meet U.S. labor needs

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule that will significantly enhance U.S. companies' ability to fill job vacancies in critical fields, strengthening our economy. The new rule modernizes the H-1B program by streamlining the approvals process, increasing its flexibility to better allow employers to retain talented workers, and improving the integrity and oversight of the program. The rule builds on previous efforts by the Administration to ensure the labor needs of American

USCIS Issues Updated Guidance on Evidence for Applicants Under the International Entrepreneur Rule

We are issuing updated policy guidance on the types of evidence that may support an application under the International Entrepreneur Rule. The guidance covers evidence of the applicant's central and active role in the startup entity and of the applicant's position to substantially help the entity grow and succeed.

The guidance also expands on the types of evidence that can show qualified investments and qualified gov

Visa Bulletin February 2025 Predictions

For official January 2025 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-january-2025.aspx

Please see February 2025 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	22DEC15	22DEC15	22DEC15	22MAR05	01MAY12
F2A	08MAR22	08MAR22	08MAR22	01JUL21	08MAR22
F2B	15JUN16	15JUN16	15JUN16	01SEP05	01DEC11
F3	08AUG10	08AUG10	08AUG10	01FEB01	22NOV02
F4	22AUG07	22AUG07	22APR06	15MAR01	22JUN04

"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	15OCT05	08JUN15
F2A	15AUG24	15AUG24	15AUG24	15AUG24	15AUG24
F2B	15FEB17	15FEB17	15FEB17	08DEC06	08NOV13
F3	08OCT12	08OCT12	08OCT12	22JUN01	22MAY04
F4	22MAR08	22MAR08	01SEP06	22MAY01	01MAY08

DHS Announces Permanent Increase of the Automatic Extension Period for Certain Employment Authorization Document Renewal Applicants

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule that will support U.S. employers, foster economic growth, and improve access to employment authorization documents (EAD) for eligible individuals by permanently increasing the automatic extension period of employment authorization and employment authorization documentation from up to 180 days to up to 540 days for eligible noncitizens who file a timely request to renew their work authorization. This announcement responds to feedback from the business community to create more certainty for employers.

Over the past several years, USCIS has significantly reduced processing times for EAD applications as part of its ongoing efforts to help support the U.S. economy, its employers, and those who Congress has made eligible to work here. This final rule continues these efforts by reducing the l

USCIS Revised Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

On Dec. 10, 2024, we published a new edition of Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status, which includes updates to questions and instructions. Starting Feb. 10, 2025, we will accept only the 10/24/24 edition of Form I-485 and will reject any older editions of Form I-485.

The new edition of Form I-485 features these major changes:

• Requires applicants who need to submit a Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, or a partial Form I-693 (such as a vaccination record), to submit the Form I-693 or partial Form I-693 with their Form I-485.  If the applicant does not submit the Form I-693 with Form I-485 when it is required, the F

USCIS Reaches Fiscal Year 2025 H-1B Cap

USCIS has received enough petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master's cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2025.

We will send non-selection notices to registrants through their online accounts over the next few days. When we finish sending these non-selection notifications, the status for properly submitted registrations that we did not select for the FY 2025 H-1B numerical allocations will show:

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January 2025 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For January 2025 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-january-2025.aspx

Please see below analysis of January 2025 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	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	No Change	+7 Days
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Month	No Change
F2B	+21 Days	+21 Days	+21 Days	No Change	No Change
F3	+2 Months 16 Days	+2 Months 16 Days	+2 Months 16 Days	+1 Month	+2 Months
F4	No Change	No Change	+1 Month	No Change	+3 Months

"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	+3 Months	No Change
F3	+3 Months	+3 Months	+3 Months	No Change	No Change
F4	No Change	No Change	+14 Days	No Change	+5 Months 10 Days

January 2025 Visa Bulletin

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

For analysis of January 2025 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-analysis-january-2025.aspx

January 2025 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from January 1 to January 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	22NOV15	22NOV15	22NOV15	22NOV04	08MAR12
F2A	01JAN22	01JAN22	01JAN22	15MAY21	01JAN22
F2B	22MAY16	22MAY16	22MAY16	01JUL05	22OCT11
F3	01JUL10	01JUL10	01JUL10	22NOV00	08NOV02
F4	01AUG07	01AUG07	08APR06	01MAR01	01MAY04

"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	01OCT05	22APR15
F2A	15JUL24	15JUL24	15JUL24	15JUL24	15JUL24
F2B	01JAN17	01JAN17	01JAN17	01OCT06	01OCT13
F3	22JUL12	22JUL12	22JUL12	15JUN01	08MAY04
F4	01MAR08	01MAR08	15AUG06	30APR01	01JAN08

USCIS Now Requires Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record to be Submitted with Form I-485 for Certain Applicants

We now require certain applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with their Form I-485 or the Form I-485 may otherwise be rejected.

Applicants for adjustment of status generally must complete an immigration medical examination and all required vaccinations and submit a properly completed Form I-693 signed by a civil surgeon to show they are free from health conditions that would render them inadmissible under the health-related grounds.

If you are required to submit Form I-693, or a partial Form I-693 (such as the Vaccination Record), you must submit it with your Form I-485. Otherwise, we may reject your Form I-485. We have r

DHS, DOL Make Nearly 65,000 Additional H-2B Visas Available for Fiscal Year 2025

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) issued a temporary final rule (TFR) making available an additional 64,716 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2025. These supplemental visas are aimed at helping U.S. employers who are unable to find U.S. workers who are available, willing, and qualified to do the temporary work in industries such as hospitality and tourism, landscaping, seafood processing, and many other sectors. DHS, in coordination with DOL, has authorized supplemental cap numbers in FY 2017, FY 2018, FY 2019, FY 2021, FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024 in accordance with the time-limited statutory authority granted for each of those fiscal years by Congress.

"There are employers across the country that would suffer greatly without H-2B workers. Authorizing these supplemental visas