Friday, January 29, 2021

USCIS to Replace Sticker That Extends Validity of Green Cards

Starting in January, we will replace the sticker that is currently issued to lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to extend the validity of their Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (PRC or "Green Card"), with a revised Form I-797, Notice of Action. LPRs file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card, when their Green Cards expire or are about to expire. The revised Form I-797 notice will serve as a receipt notice for the Form I-90. 

When presented together with the Green Card, the revised Form I-797 notice will extend the Green Card's validity for 12 months from the date on the front of the Green Card and will serve as temporary proof of the LPR's status. This change ensures that LPRs with a recently expired Green Card will have documentation of identity, employment authorization, and authorization to return to the United States following temporary foreign travel

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

USCIS Suspending In-Person Services Jan. 19 and 20

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced it will temporarily suspend in-person services at all field offices, asylum offices and application support centers on Jan. 19 and 20 to ensure the safety of our employees and individuals with appointments.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Visa Bulletin March 2021 Predictions

For official February 2021 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-february-2021.aspx

Please see March 2021 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
INDIAMEXICOPHILIPPINES
F115OCT1415OCT1415OCT1401FEB9815MAR12
F2ACCCCC
F2B08AUG1508AUG1508AUG1522JUN9915OCT11
F301AUG0801AUG0801AUG0815SEP9622MAY02
F422OCT0622OCT0622MAR0522JUL9815APR02
"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
F115SEP1515SEP1515SEP1508MAR0015JAN13
F2A01FEB2101FEB2101FEB2101FEB2101FEB21
F2B22JUN1622JUN1622JUN1608JAN0015JUN12
F322JUL0922JUL0922JUL0915SEP0001APR03
F422OCT0722OCT0708DEC0515MAY9915DEC02

Monday, January 25, 2021

DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of State (DOS), have announced the list of countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in 2021. The notice listing the eligible countries will be published in the Federal Register on Jan. 13, 2021.

For 2021, the acting secretary of homeland security and the secretary of state have agreed to:

  • Add the Philippines to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2B program;
  • No longer designate the Independent State of Samoa and Tonga as eligible countries because they no longer meet the regulatory standards for the H-2A and H-2B visa prog

Friday, January 22, 2021

February 2021 Visa Bulletin

For January 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-january-2021.aspx

For analysis of February 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-analysis-february-2021.aspx

February 2021 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from February 1 to February 28 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 15SEP14
15SEP14 15SEP14 22JAN98 01JAN12
F2A C C C C C
F2B 15JUL15 15JUL15 15JUL15 01JUN99 15AUG11
F3 15JUL08 15JUL08 15JUL08 01SEP96 01MAR02
F4 15OCT06 15OCT06 15MAR05 08JUL98 01FEB02
"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 08AUG15 08AUG15 08AUG15 01MAR00 22OCT12
F2A 01JAN21 01JAN21 01JAN21 01JAN21 01JAN21
F2B 22MAY16 22MAY16 22MAY16 22DEC99 15APR12
F3 22JUN09 22JUN09 22JUN09 08SEP00 08JAN03
F4 01OCT07 01OCT07 01DEC05 08MAY99 01OCT02

February 2021 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For February 2021 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-february-2021.aspx

Please see below analysis of February 2021 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
F1No ChangeNo ChangeNo Change+7 DaysNo Change
F2ANo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo ChangeNo Change
F2B+7 Days+7 Days+7 Days+1 MonthNo Change
F3+7 Days+7 Days+7 Days+10 DaysNo Change
F4+7 Days+7 DaysNo Change+7 DaysNo Change
"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+17 Days+17 Days+17 Days+8 Days+14 Days
F2A+5 Months+5 Months+5 Months+5 Months+5 Months
F2B+21 Days+21 Days+21 Days+21 Days+14 Days
F3+21 Days+21 Days+21 Days+24 Days+17 Days
F4+16 Days+16 Days+9 Days+16 Days+1 Month

February 2021 Visa Bulletin Special Notes

For the official February 2021 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2021/visa-bulletin-february-2021.aspx

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. VISA AVAILABILITY IN THE COMING MONTHS

FAMILY-sponsored categories (potential monthly movement)

Worldwide dates:
F1: Up to two weeks
F2A: Current
F2B: Up to two weeks
F3: Up to three weeks
F4: Up to two weeks

EMPLOYMENT-based categories (potential monthly movement)

Employment First:
Worldwide: Current
China: Up to six months
India: Up to six months

Employment Second:
Worldwide: Current
China: Up to three weeks
India: Up to two weeks

Employment Third:
Worldwide: Current
China: