USCIS Extends Transitional Parole for CNMI Long-Term Resident Status Applicants

USCIS announced today that it will automatically extend parole, and employment authorization if applicable, for parolees who timely applied for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) long-term resident status.

This specific extension of parole applies only to current parolees who timely filed Form I-955, Application for CNMI Long-Term Resident Status, and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and whose applications remain pending on Aug. 17. USCIS will automatically extend their parole (and emplo

USCIS Adjusts Fees to Help Meet Operational Needs

WASHINGTON—Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule (PDF) that adjusts fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefit requests to ensure U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recovers its costs of services.

Unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee funded. Fees collected and deposited into the Immigration Examinations Fee Account fund nearly 97% of USCIS' budget.

As required by federal law, USCIS conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review and determined that current fees do not recover the cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services. DHS is adjusting USCIS fees by a weighted average increase of 20% to help recover its operational costs. Current fees would leave the agency underfunded by

Application Period Open for Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Programs

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Assimilation Grant Program. The grant opportunities, mandated by Congress and funded with appropriations rather than the agency's operating funds, will provide up to $10 million in grants for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country.    

These competitive grant opportunities are open to organizations that prepare lawful permanent residents for naturalization and promote civic assimilation through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics. 

USCIS expects to announce award recipients in September 2020, if agency staff are available to review applications and oversee the program. However, should agency staff be furloughed in late August, USCIS anticipates that the grant program coul

How Trump's coronavirus immigration orders affect visas and green cards

President Trump tweeted in April that he would “temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!” leading to confusion and panic.

For those affected by the rapidly shifting regulations, it can be hard to make sense of documents written in inscrutable legalese. The problem is that somebody thinks that something applies to them when it doesn’t or doesn’t realize something applies to them when it does.

To make things easier, here’s a breakdown of recently implemented restrictions on work and resident visas.

Applying Discretion in USCIS Adjudications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has consolidated existing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding officers’ application of discretion in adjudications.

For many immigration benefits, including certain applications for lawful permanent residence and employment authorization, requestors must show that a favorable exercise of discretion is warranted, in addition to showing that they meet all other eligibility requirements. 

Visa Bulletin September 2020 Predictions

For official August 2020 Visa Bulletin and Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2020/visa-bulletin-august-2020.aspx

Please see September 2020 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	08OCT14	08OCT14	08OCT14	08FEB98	15DEC11
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	08JUL15	08JUL15	08JUL15	15APR99	01JUL11
F3	22JUN08	22JUN08	22JUN08	01AUG96	22MAR02
F4	01OCT06	01OCT06	08MAR05	01AUG98	15DEC01

"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	15AUG15	15AUG15	15AUG15	08FEB00	01OCT12
F2A	01AUG20	01AUG20	01AUG20	01AUG20	01AUG20
F2B	01MAY16	01MAY16	01MAY16	01DEC99	01MAR12
F3	22JUN09	22JUN09	22JUN09	08AUG00	01JAN03
F4	15SEP07	15SEP07	22NOV05	08APR99	01SEP02

USCIS Launches Updated Website

Today, USCIS launched an updated uscis.gov website, which they designed with input from applicants, petitioners and the public. In addition to a new look and feel, they have improved the website to help visitors better navigate our existing online tools and resources, as well as to file and manage applications and petitions online.

They are also making information about our processes easier to find by streamlining our navigation based on user feedback, data and best practices.