USCIS Issues Updates to Biometrics Collection Guidance

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced updates to its Policy Manual that address mobile biometrics services and fingerprint waivers.

USCIS requires biometrics from individuals who submit applications, petitions, and requests for certain immigration benefits. USCIS uses biometrics to verify identity, produce secure documents, and conduct required criminal and national security background checks. 

Mobile Biometrics Services

Generally, individuals have their biometrics collected by appointment at an Applicant Support Center (ASC). In limited cases, at the discretion of the agency, U

USCIS Adjusts Process for Managing EB-5 Visa Petition Inventory

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a process change for Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Alien Investor, from a first-in, first-out basis to a visa availability approach.

This new operational approach aligns with other visa-availability agency adjudications processes, is more consistent with congressional intent for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, and increases fairness in the administration of the program.

“Changing our approach from a first-in, first-out adjudication process to one that prioritizes petitions connected to individuals from countries where visas are currently available better aligns the EB-5 program with congressional intent and makes it mo

Tools Outage

USCIS will conduct system maintenance to the Contact Relationship Interface System (CRIS) on Wednesday, January 29th at 11:59 p.m. until Thursday, January 30th at 3:00 a.m. (EST).

During this timeframe, users may experience technical difficulties with one or more of the following online tools:

• Check My Case Status
• e-Request
• Change of Address Online
• Check Processing Times
• Civil Surgeon Locator
• Office Locator
• File Online
• myUSCIS Online Account

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

DHS Obtains Another Judicial Victory on Implementing Public Charge Inadmissibility Rule

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security obtained a pivotal judicial victory today after the U.S. Supreme Court stayed a nationwide injunction that prevented the agency from enforcing its regulatory interpretation of section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, a long-standing law that makes an alien inadmissible if the alien is likely at any time to become a public charge.

The high court granted DHS’s motion for a stay of the preliminary injunction issued by a single judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and recently upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

“DHS has always been confident that an objective judi

Treaty Termination Ends Certain Visa Eligibility for Iranian Nationals

USCIS today announced (PDF) that, due to the Oct. 3, 2018, termination of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights with Iran, Iranian nationals are no longer eligible for E-1 treaty trader and E-2 treaty investor changes or extensions of status based on the treaty.

The E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrant visa classifications allow an alien of a treaty country to be admitted to the United States for the purposes of engaging in international trade or investing a substantial amount of capital into a U.S. business.

E-1 and E-2 nonimmigrant visas are based on trade and investment treaties or specific legisla

Visa Bulletin March 2020 Predictions

For official February 2020 Visa Bulletin and analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-february-2020.aspx

Please see March 2020 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based):

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	22OCT13	22OCT13	22OCT13	08SEP97	08JUN09
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01NOV14	01NOV14	01NOV14	15OCT98	01JUL09
F3	01JAN08	01JAN08	01JAN08	01APR96	22AUG99
F4	01AUG06	01AUG06	01DEC04	08FEB98	22OCT99

"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	22MAY14	22MAY14	22MAY14	01DEC99	22NOV09
F2A	01FEB20	01FEB20	01FEB20	01FEB20	01FEB20
F2B	22MAY15	22MAY15	22MAY15	22JUN99	01JAN10
F3	08SEP08	08SEP08	08SEP08	22JUL00	08JAN00
F4	01SEP07	01SEP07	08AUG05	22JAN99	08MAR00

USCIS Final FY 2019 Statistics Available

WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) final fiscal year (FY) 2019 agency statistics are now available online. These statistics include naturalizations, green cards, employment authorizations and protected populations, among other categories.  The agency’s FY 2019 asylum statistics are available <a target='_blank' href="https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-studies/immigration-forms-data?topic_id=20667&field_native_doc_i