DHS Announces the Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia

After careful consideration and deliberation of country conditions, the secretary is terminating Ethiopia's designation for TPS. 

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced her decision to terminate the Temporary Protected Status designation of Ethiopia. 

"Temporary Protected Status designations are time-limited and were never meant to be a ticket to permanent residency," said a USCIS spokesperson. "Conditions in Ethiopia no longer pose a serious threat to the personal safety of returning Ethiopian nationals. Since the situation no longer

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Establishes New Center to Strengthen Immigration Screening and Target Bad Actors

New vetting center will focus on powerful screening resources to keep America safe

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced the establishment of a specialized unit to strengthen the ability of America's immigration system to screen out terrorists, criminal aliens, and other foreign nationals who pose potential threats to public safety or who have committed fraud or other crimes. Once fully operationalized, the USCIS Vetting Center, headquartered in Atlanta, will centralize the enhanced vetting of aliens and allow the agency to respond more nimbly to changes in a shifting threat landscape.

"USCIS' role in the nation's immigration system has never been more critical. In the wake of several recent incidents of violence, including a foreign national attacking National Guard service members on U.

USCIS Updates Policy on Biometrics for Detainees

We are updating USCIS Policy Manual Volume 1, Part C to deter the filing of frivolous claims and provide operational consistency. This update clarifies that the Department of Homeland Security generally will not take biometrics of detained aliens unless they are in removal proceedings and have a pending application or petition filed with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after the publication date.

The policy guidance:

• Reiterates that USCIS does not approve requests to collect biometrics from aliens or other persons who are detained or incarcerated in any jail, prison, or simil

Visa Bulletin February 2026 Predictions

For official January 2026 Visa Bulletin & Analysis, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-january-2026.aspx

Please see February 2026 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	08DEC16	08DEC16	08DEC16	01NOV06	01APR13
F2A	08APR24	08APR24	08APR24	01APR23	08APR24
F2B	15DEC16	15DEC16	15DEC16	08MAR09	01FEB13
F3	15OCT11	15OCT11	15OCT11	15MAY01	15MAY05
F4	22JAN08	22JAN08	22NOV06	01MAY01	01OCT06

"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	01NOV17	01NOV17	01NOV17	01NOV07	08JUN15
F2A	C	C	C	C	C
F2B	01MAY17	01MAY17	01MAY17	01MAR10	08NOV13
F3	08AUG12	08AUG12	08AUG12	08JUL01	01APR06
F4	01APR09	01APR09	01JAN07	22MAY01	15FEB08

USCIS Increases Screening, Vetting of Aliens Working in U.S.

Maximum validity periods of some Employment Authorization Documents will be reduced

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual to reduce the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for certain categories of aliens. This update also incorporates changes to EAD validity periods made by recent legislation to ensure proper vetting and screening of aliens.

The reduced maximum validity periods for certain categories will result in more frequent vetting of aliens who apply for authorization to work in the United States. Vetting an alien more often will enable USCIS to deter fraud and detect aliens with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the United States.

"Re

January 2026 Visa Bulletin Analysis

For January 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-january-2026.aspx

Please see below analysis of January 2026 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	No Change	No Change	No Change	+6 Months	+1 Month 10 Days
F2A	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change
F2B	No Change	No Change	No Change	+6 Months	+2 Months 14 Days
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	+4 Months
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	+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	No Change	No Change	No Change	+6 Months	No Change
F2A	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month	+1 Month
F2B	+7 Days	+7 Days	+7 Days	+6 Months	No Change
F3	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	+3 Months
F4	No Change	No Change	No Change	No Change	+14 Days

January 2026 Visa Bulletin

For December 2025 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2025/visa-bulletin-december-2025.aspx

For analysis of January 2026 Visa Bulletin, please click here: https://www.mygcvisa.com/visa-bulletin/2026/visa-bulletin-analysis-january-2026.aspx

January 2026 Visa Bulletin has been officially released (valid from January 1 to January 31 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	08NOV16	08NOV16	08NOV16	01SEP06	01MAR13
F2A	01FEB24	01FEB24	01FEB24	01FEB23	01FEB24
F2B	01DEC16	01DEC16	01DEC16	15NOV08	22DEC12
F3	08SEP11	08SEP11	08SEP11	01MAY01	01MAR05
F4	08JAN08	08JAN08	01NOV06	08APR01	22JUL06

"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	01SEP17	01SEP17	01SEP17	01SEP07	22APR15
F2A	22DEC25	22DEC25	22DEC25	22DEC25	22DEC25
F2B	15MAR17	15MAR17	15MAR17	15NOV09	01OCT13
F3	22JUL12	22JUL12	22JUL12	01JUL01	01FEB06
F4	01MAR09	01MAR09	15DEC06	30APR01	15JAN08