Wednesday, October 30, 2019

USCIS Adjusting Premium Processing Fee

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced beginning on Nov. 29, it is adjusting the fee to request premium processing for certain employment-based petitions.

The premium processing fee will increase to $1,440 from the current fee of $1,410 for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. This increase, which is done in accordance with the Immigration and Nationality Act, reflects the full a

Friday, October 25, 2019

USCIS Updates Fee Waiver Requirements

WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has revised Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, by removing the means-tested benefit criteria that was previously used as a factor in determining whether an applicant was exempt from paying for filing fees or biometric services. Individuals may still request a fee waiver if their documented annual household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or they demonstrate financial hardship.

A means-tested benefit is a public benefit—offered by federal, state, or local agencies—for which eligibility and amount considerations are based on a person’s income and resour

Thursday, October 24, 2019

USCIS Begins Producing Security-Enhanced Travel Documents

To prevent secure document tampering, counterfeiting, and fraud, we will begin producing on Oct. 24 a new security-enhanced U.S. travel document, which is a booklet that looks similar to a U.S. passport and serves dual purposes. The travel document can serve in place of:

  • Form I-327, Permit to Reenter the United States: Lawful permanent residents use the Reentry Permit to return from temporary travel outside of the United States and, in some cases, may use a Reentry Permit for travel in place of a passport; and
  • Form I-571, Refugee Travel Document: Those with refugee or asylum status use a Refugee Travel Document if they wish to temporarily travel outside of the United States and, in some cases, may use a Refugee Travel Documen

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Cuccinelli Announces USCIS’ FY 2019 Accomplishments and Efforts to Implement President Trump’s Goals

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today released preliminary fiscal year 2019 agency statistics, accomplishments and efforts to implement President Trump’s agenda. These preliminary statistics highlight important immigration trends and illustrate the work accomplished by USCIS in FY 2019. The agency will publish final, verified FY 2019 statistics later next month.

“FY 2019 has been a historic year for USCIS and we have achieved many of President Trump’s goals to make our immigration system work better for America. As an agency, we have worked hand-in-hand with our fellow DHS components to answer President Trump’s call to address the ongoing crisis at our sout

November 2019 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For November 2019 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2019/visa-bulletin-november-2019.aspx

Please see below analysis of November 2019 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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1+1 Month 17 Days+1 Month 17 Days+1 Month 17 DaysNo Change+2 Months 14 Days
F2ANo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F2B+1 Month 7 Days+1 Month 7 Days+1 Month 7 Days+21 Days+1 Month
F3+1 Month+1 Month+1 MonthNo Change+2 Months
F4+1 Month 9 Days+1 Month 9 Days+14 DaysNo Change+1 Month 24 Days
"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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F1+1 Month 17 Days+1 Month 17 Days+1 Month 17 DaysNo Change+2 Months 14 Days
F2A+1 Month+1 Month+1 Month+1 Month+1 Month
F2B+1 Month 7 Days+1 Month 7 Days+1 Month 7 Days+21 Days+1 Month
F3+1 Month+1 Month+1 MonthNo Change+2 Months
F4+1 Month 17 Days+1 Month 17 Days+14 DaysNo Change+1 Month 24 Days

November 2019 Visa Bulletin

For October 2019 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2019/visa-bulletin-october-2019.aspx

For analysis of November 2019 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2019/visa-bulletin-analysis-november-2019.aspx

November 2019 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from November 1 to November 30 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 01MAR13
01MAR13 01MAR13 08AUG97 15SEP08
F2A C C C C C
F2B 08JUL14 08JUL14 08JUL14 22AUG98 01OCT08
F3 15OCT07 15OCT07 15OCT07 22FEB96 01JUN98
F4 01JAN07 01JAN07 15OCT04 15DEC97 01SEP98
"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 01SEP13 01SEP13 01SEP13 15NOV99 15MAR09
F2A 01SEP19 01SEP19 01SEP19 01SEP19 01SEP19
F2B 08JAN15 08JAN15 08JAN15 22APR99 01APR09
F3 15APR08 15APR08 15APR08 15JUL00 01DEC98
F4 01JUL07 01JUL07 15JUN05 01JAN99 01MAR99

November 2019 Visa Bulletin Special Notes

For the official November 2019 Visa Bulletin and analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2019/visa-bulletin-november-2019.aspx

Apart from posting current dates, State Department has also added special notes to Visa Bulletin mentioned above. Please see full details below:

D. EXPIRATION OF TWO EMPLOYMENT VISA CATEGORIES

Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR):

Pursuant to the continuing resolution (H.R. 4378 - Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, and Health Extenders Act of 2019), signed on September 27, 2019, the non-minister special immigrant program expires on November 21, 2019. No SR visas may be issued overseas, or final action taken on adjustment of status cases, after midnight November 20, 2019. Visas issued prior to this date will only be issued with a validity date of November 20, 2019, and all individuals seeking admission as a non-minister special immigrant must be admitted (repeat, admitted) into the U.S. no later than midnight November 20, 2019.

The final action date for this category has been listed as "Current" for November for all countries except El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, a