U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Labor Issue Joint Rule Supplementing H-2B Visa Cap

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) have published a joint temporary final rule making available an additional 22,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural guest worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2021 to employers who are likely to suffer irreparable harm without these additional workers. Of the supplemental visas, 6,000 are reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala.

DHS first announced the planned supplemental increase of 22,000 visas for the H-2B Temp

DHS Issues Final Rule to Remove Vacated H-1B Rule from Code of Federal Regulations

The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule that removes from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) an interim final rule (IFR) issued in October 2020, which has since been vacated by a federal district court.

On Oct. 8, 2020, DHS issued an IFR titled, Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa
Classification Program. On Dec. 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California <a target='_blank' href="https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/us-district-court-for-the-northern-district-of-california-vacates-the-st

Visa Bulletin July 2021 Predictions

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

Please see July 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	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	08NOV14	08NOV14	08NOV14	15MAY98	15MAR12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01SEP15	01SEP15	01SEP15	22SEP99	08NOV11
F3	08SEP08	08SEP08	08SEP08	01DEC96	01JUL02
F4	15DEC06	15DEC06	15MAY05	08SEP98	08JUL02

"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	01APR16	01APR16	01APR16	01JUN00	01AUG14
F2A	01JUN21	01JUN21	01JUN21	01JUN21	01JUN21
F2B	01SEP16	01SEP16	01SEP16	01SEP00	08OCT13
F3	08AUG09	08AUG09	08AUG09	15SEP00	22SEP03
F4	22OCT07	22OCT07	22DEC05	01JUN99	01OCT03

USCIS Announces Open Application Period for Citizenship and Integration Grant Program

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is accepting applications for two funding opportunities under the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program. The grant opportunities 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 integration through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics. USCIS received support from Congress through appropriations to make these funding opportunities available to communities.

"It is critical that we provide immigrants pursuing citizenship and the organizations who help support their efforts with the tools to be successful," said Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. "The Citizenship and Integration Grant

USCIS Temporarily Suspends Biometrics Requirement for Certain Form I-539 Applicants

Effective May 17, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will temporarily suspend the biometrics submission requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539, Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrant status. USCIS will allow adjudications for those specific categories to proceed based on biographic information and related background checks, without capturing fingerprints and a photograph. This suspension will apply through May 17, 2023, subject to affirmative extension or revocation of the suspension period by the USCIS director. 

This temporary suspension will apply to applicants filing Form I-539 requesting the f

June 2021 Visa Bulletin

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

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

June 2021 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from June 1 to June 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	01NOV14	01NOV14	01NOV14	01MAY98	22FEB12
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	22AUG15	22AUG15	22AUG15	08SEP99	15OCT11
F3	01SEP08	01SEP08	01SEP08	15NOV96	08JUN02
F4	08DEC06	08DEC06	08MAY05	01SEP98	08JUN02

"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	01MAR16	01MAR16	01MAR16	15MAY00	15MAY14
F2A	01MAY21	01MAY21	01MAY21	01MAY21	01MAY21
F2B	15AUG16	15AUG16	15AUG16	08AUG00	01AUG13
F3	01AUG09	01AUG09	01AUG09	08SEP00	08AUG03
F4	01OCT07	01OCT07	01DEC05	08MAY99	08AUG03

June 2021 Visa Bulletin Analysis

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

Please see below analysis of June 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	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	+10 Days	+10 Days	+10 Days	+1 Month	+21 Days
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	+7 Days	+7 Days	+7 Days	+24 Days	+1 Month
F3	+10 Days	+10 Days	+10 Days	+1 Month	+1 Month 7 Days
F4	+1 Month	+1 Month	+23 Days	+24 Days	+1 Month 7 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	INDIA	MEXICO	PHILIPPINES
F1	+5 Months	+5 Months	+5 Months	+2 Months 14 Days	+6 Months 14 Days
F2A	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month
F2B	+1 Month 23 Days	+1 Month 23 Days	+1 Month 23 Days	No Change	+6 Months 24 Days
F3	+1 Month 9 Days	+1 Month 9 Days	+1 Month 9 Days	No Change	+1 Month 7 Days
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	+1 Month 7 Days