Reminder for Requesting DACA

From USCIS: If you request either initial or renewal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), you must submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization and required fees.

USCIS will reject your request if you fail to submit Form I-765, the required filing fee, Form I-765 Worksheet, and Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. For complete instructions on requesting DACA, go to the Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) page.

For DACA renewals, USCIS strongly encourages you to submit your renewal request between 150 days and 120 days before the expiration date located on your current Form I-797 DACA approval notice and Employment Authorization Document.

Filing during this window will minimize the possibility that your current period of DACA will expire before you receive a decision on your renewal request.

Latest USCIS Visa Bulletin Predictions

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) recently met again with Charles Oppenheim to discuss the current demand and expected movements in various visa bulletin categories.

Charles Oppenheim is the Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division within Department of State (DOS). Please see the important details below:

EB2 India: As mentioned in the earlier blog post, DOS has started moving dates forward in EB2 India starting from February 2015 Visa Bulletin. The expected forward movement is 4-6 months for the next several months.

Since the dates are moving slowly, most of the visas would be allocated to EB3 India who are upgrading to EB2 India; since very few original EB2 India are remaining at this date. If the porting continues to increase, DOS is expecting dates to move forward by maximum Summer 2009 for FY 2015. This is similar to dates reached by EB2 India for FY 2014.

PERM Processing Statistics As Of 12/31/2014

CBP Announces Reciprocal Arrangement with Germany for Trusted Traveler Programs

From CBP: U.S. Customs and Border Protection announces a reciprocal arrangement with Germany for each nation’s trusted traveler program—the U.S. Global Entry program and the German EasyPASS. Global Entry and EasyPASS allow expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers.

“CBP is pleased to further our partnership with Germany by offering Global Entry to German citizens,” said Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske. “Global Entry and the German EasyPASS program allow our officers to focus more on travelers we do not know while at the same time efficiently and securely facilitating low-risk travelers.”

Currently available at 42 U.S. airports and 12 preclearance locations, Global Entry streamlines the screening process at airports for trusted travelers. More than 1.8 million members are enrolled in Global Entry and approximately 50,000 new applications for the program are filed monthly. As an added benefit, Global Entry members are also eligible to participate in the TSA Pre✓™ expedited screening program.

EasyPASS is an automated border control system available to registered third-country nationals when entering Germany. EasyPASS uses eGates as a simple, quick and convenient alternative to traditional border controls. The automated border control system is easy to operate and allows for quicker processing at border crossings. The system does not replace manual border checks, but is an additional service.

Revised Form I-129 Now Available

USCIS recently published revised Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. The revised Form I-129 is labeled with an Oct. 23, 2014, edition date. You can download the revised form and details about who may file Form I-129 from the USCIS forms website.

Starting on May 1, 2015, USCIS will accept only the Oct. 23, 2014, edition of Form I-129. USCIS will not accept previous editions of Forms I-129 (edition dates: Oct. 7, 2011, Jan. 19, 2011, and Nov. 23, 2010) on or after May 1, 2015.

USCIS Visa Bulletin Predictions From March 2015 - May 2015

Department of State have posted their visa bulletin prediction for the next few months:

FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement):

Worldwide dates:

• F1: Up to three weeks

• F2A: Three or four weeks

• F2B: Three to six weeks

• F3: Up to three weeks

• F4: Two to four weeks

EMPLOYMENT-based categories (potential monthly movement):

Employment First: Current

Employment Second:

• Worldwide: Current

• China:        Three to six weeks

• India:         Four to six months

Temporary Protected Status Extended for El Salvador

From USCIS: Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has extended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible nationals of El Salvador for an additional 18 months, effective March 10, 2015, through Sept. 9, 2016.
Current TPS El Salvador beneficiaries seeking to extend their TPS must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period that runs from Jan. 7, 2015, through March 9, 2015. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) encourages beneficiaries to re-register as soon as possible once the 60-day re-registration period begins. USCIS will not accept applications before Jan. 7, 2015.

The 18-month extension also allows TPS re-registrants to apply for a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Eligible TPS El Salvador beneficiaries who re-register during the 60-day period and request a new EAD will receive one with an expiration date of Sept. 9, 2016.

USCIS recognizes that some re-registrants may not receive their new EAD until after their current one expires. Therefore, USCIS is automatically extending current TPS El Salvador EADs that have a March 9, 2015, expiration date for an additional six months. These existing EADs will now be valid through Sept. 9, 2015.