Starting Feb. 24, 2021, petitioners filing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting a change or extension of status to E-3 classification will have the option to request premium processing service for their petition. The E-3 classification applies only to nationals of Australia who are coming to the United States solely to perform services in a specialty occupation.
An Australian national who is outside the United States may apply for an E-3 nonimmigrant visa
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2021. Feb. 12, 2021, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date before Oct. 1, 2021. We will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after Feb. 12 that request an employment start date before Oct. 1.
On Feb. 12, the number of beneficiaries for whom USCIS received petitions surpassed the total number of remaining H-2B visas available for the H-2B cap for the second half of FY 2021. In accordance w
Please see April 2021 Visa Bulletin Predictions below (for both Family Based and Employment Based categories for all countries):
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 15OCT14 | 15OCT14 | 15OCT14 | 22FEB98 | 08MAR12 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 15AUG15 | 15AUG15 | 15AUG15 | 01AUG99 | 01OCT11 |
| F3 | 15AUG08 | 15AUG08 | 15AUG08 | 01OCT96 | 08MAY02 |
| F4 | 01NOV06 | 01NOV06 | 01APR05 | 01AUG98 | 01MAY02 |
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 08SEP15 | 08SEP15 | 08SEP15 | 08MAR00 | 01JAN13 |
| F2A | 08MAR21 | 08MAR21 | 08MAR21 | 08MAR21 | 08MAR21 |
| F2B | 22JUN16 | 22JUN16 | 22JUN16 | 01JAN00 | 08JUN12 |
| F3 | 15JUL09 | 15JUL09 | 15JUL09 | 15SEP00 | 15MAR03 |
| F4 | 22OCT07 | 22OCT07 | 08DEC05 | 15MAY99 | 01DEC02 |
WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today it is reverting to the 2008 version of the naturalization civics test beginning March 1, 2021.
On Dec. 1, 2020, USCIS implemented a revised naturalization civics test (2020 civics test) as part of a decennial test review and update process. USCIS determined the 2020 civics test development process, content, testing procedures, and implementation schedule may inadvertently create potential barriers to the naturalization process. This action is consistent with the framework of the <a target='_blank' href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/02/02/executive-order-restoring-faith-in-our-legal-immigration-systems-and-str
Please see below analysis of March 2021 Visa Bulletin:
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | +7 Days | +7 Days | +7 Days | +17 Days | +7 Days |
| F2A | No Change | No Change | No Change | No Change | No Change |
| F2B | +7 Days | +7 Days | +7 Days | +1 Month 14 Days | No Change |
| F3 | +17 Days | +17 Days | +17 Days | +14 Days | +7 Days |
| F4 | +7 Days | +7 Days | +7 Days | +7 Days | +1 Month |
| 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 | +1 Month | +1 Month | +1 Month | +1 Month | +1 Month |
| 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 |
For analysis of March 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-analysis-march-2021.aspx
March 2021 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from March 1 to March 31 only). Please see below for more details.
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA-mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 22SEP14 | 22SEP14 | 22SEP14 | 08FEB98 | 08JAN12 |
| F2A | C | C | C | C | C |
| F2B | 22JUL15 | 22JUL15 | 22JUL15 | 15JUL99 | 15AUG11 |
| F3 | 01AUG08 | 01AUG08 | 01AUG08 | 15SEP96 | 08MAR02 |
| F4 | 22OCT06 | 22OCT06 | 22MAR05 | 15JUL98 | 01MAR02 |
| Family- Sponsored | All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed | CHINA- mainland born | INDIA | MEXICO | PHILIPPINES |
| F1 | 08AUG15 | 08AUG15 | 08AUG15 | 01MAR00 | 22OCT12 |
| F2A | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 | 01FEB21 |
| F2B | 22MAY16 | 22MAY16 | 22MAY16 | 22DEC99 | 15APR12 |
| F3 | 22JUN09 | 22JUN09 | 22JUN09 | 08SEP00 | 08JAN03 |
| F4 | 01OCT07 | 01OCT07 | 01DEC05 | 08MAY99 | 01OCT02 |
Apart from posting current dates, State Department has also added special notes to Visa Bulletin mentioned above. Please see full details below:
D. FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION ON VISA PROCESSING AT U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, PLEASE VISIT THE BUREAU OF CONSULAR AFFAIRS WEBSITE AT TRAVEL.STATE.GOV
E. REPORTING CHANGES OF ADDRESS FOR CASES BEING PROCESSED OVERSEAS
All readers should be aware that any change of address or email for applicants processing their case overseas should always be reported to the National Visa Center (NVC). It is essential that NVC have the correct address and email so they can send information regarding the processing of the case to the applicant.
When contacting NVC directly about an immigrant visa petition, always include the following information: