H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129 Effective Jan. 17, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security's H-1B final rule and H-2 final rule take effect on Friday, January 17, 2025, modernizing and improving requirements for the H-1B nonimmigrant and H-2 nonimmigrant visa programs. USCIS will also publish a revised Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (edition date 01/17/25) on Jan. 17, reflecting combined changes associat

USCIS Updates Guidance on EB-2 National Interest Waiver Petitions

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating its policy guidance to clarify how we evaluate eligibility for the second preference employment-based (EB-2) classification for immigrant petitions filed with a request for a national interest waiver (NIW).

In general, an employer files an EB-2 petition using Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, after obtaining a labor certification from the Department

USCIS Updates Filing Procedures for Form I-140

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a Federal Register notice (FRN) providing updated procedures for submitting a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, accompanied by a permanent labor certification, application for Schedule A designation, or national interest waiver (NIW) request.

On June 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) implemented a new system for permanent labor certifications, called the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG), and revised the Application for Permanent Employment Certification (Form ETA-9089) for use within the FLAG system. The revised Form ETA-9089 coll

Visa Bulletin March 2025 Predictions

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

Please see March 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	15DEC15	15DEC15	15DEC15	22MAR05	01MAY12
F2A	22FEB22	22FEB22	22FEB22	15JUN21	22FEB22
F2B	08JUN16	08JUN16	08JUN16	01SEP05	01DEC11
F3	22JUL10	22JUL10	22JUL10	01FEB01	22NOV02
F4	22AUG07	22AUG07	15APR06	15MAR01	01JUN04

"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

Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the First Half of FY 2025

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of fiscal year 2025 with start dates on or before March 31, 2025, under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (FY 2025 TFR). Jan. 7, 2025 was the final receipt date for petitions requesting supplemental H-2B visas under the FY 2025 first half returning worker allocation.

We are still accepting petitions for H-2B nonimmigrant workers with start dates on or before March 31, 2025, for the additional 20,000 visas allotted for nationals of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Extending Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador

Extension Allows Eligible Salvadoran Nationals to Maintain TPS and Employment Authorization 

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security announced today the extension of Temporary Protected Status for El Salvador for 18 months, from March 10, 2025, to Sept. 9, 2026, due to environmental conditions in El Salvador that prevent individuals from safely returning. The corresponding Federal Register notice provides information about how to re-register for TPS under El Salvador's TPS extension.

After reviewing the country conditions in El S

February 2025 Visa Bulletin

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

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

February 2025 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from February 1 to February 28 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

February 2025 Visa Bulletin Analysis

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

Please see below analysis of February 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	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

USCIS Offices Closed Jan. 9, 2025

President Biden has declared Thursday, Jan. 9, a National Day of Mourning to remember the life and legacy of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th president of the United States, and has issued an Executive Order Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on January 9, 2025.

Accordingly, all USCIS offices will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 9. We will reschedule all naturalization ceremonies, interviews, and appointments set for that day, and promptly inform

USCIS to Publish Revised Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker

On Jan. 17, 2025, we will publish a revised edition of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (edition date: 01/17/25). The form has been revised to align with the recently announced H-1B modernization final rule and the H-2 modernization final rule.  

<p paraid="157647

USCIS Updates Guidance on Flexibilities Available During and After Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating our Policy Manual to clarify flexibilities that may be available to benefit requestors during and after an emergency or unforeseen circumstance. 

The update explains that during certain emergencies or unforeseen circumstances that may present unanticipated challenges to immigration benefit requestors, we may use our discretion to implement certain flexibilities relating to requests for extension of stay and change of status,

USCIS Updates Guidance on Case Assistance and Feedback

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it is updating Volume 1, Part A, of the USCIS Policy Manual to reflect the available avenues for case assistance or feedback.

Specifically, the update:

• Recommends that stakeholders submit changes

DHS Publishes Final Rule for the Application of Certain Mandatory Bars in Fear Screenings

As part of our continued efforts to deliver more timely consequences for noncitizens encountered who do not have a legal basis to remain in the United States—efforts that have resulted in a 60% decrease in unlawful entries since June 4—the Department of Homeland Security has finalized the rule for the Application of Certain Mandatory Bars in Fear Screenings, following publication of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in May 2024.

This rule will enhance operational flexibility by allowing asylum officers to consider whether certain noncitizens are barred from asylum or withholding of removal based on national security or public safety grounds during <a target='_blank' href="https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-and-asylum/