Release Date 09/27/2023 We are updating guidance in the Policy Manual to increase the maximum validity period to 5 years for initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain noncitizens who are employment authorized incident to status or circumstance, including those admitted as refugees, paroled as refugees, and granted asylum, as well as recipients

09/25/2023 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that it is exempting the biometric services fee for Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. Beginning Oct. 1, we are exempting the $85 biometric services fee as part of the application process for Form I-539. You do not need to pay the fee if your

Release Date 09/21/2023 WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension and redesignation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from November 21, 2023, to May 20, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Afghanistan that prevent individuals from safely returning. The corresponding Federal Register

Release Date 09/18/2023 On Sept. 13, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a decision finding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Final Rule unlawful and expanding the original July 16, 2021 injunction and order of vacatur to cover the Final Rule. However, the court maintained a partial stay

Release Date 09/18/2023 WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) took steps to strengthen protections for temporary workers through the H-2A temporary agricultural and the H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker programs (H-2 programs). In a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published today, DHS proposed modernizing and improving the H-2 programs by providing greater flexibility and protections

Release Date 09/15/2023 Weeklong celebration highlights naturalization ceremonies and new initiatives WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day by welcoming more than 6,900 new citizens in over 130 naturalization ceremonies across the nation between Sept. 17 and Sept. 22. “USCIS will continue to work in communities to raise awareness about

Release Date 09/12/2023 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in our Policy Manual to clarify the types of evidence that we may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) and outstanding professor or researcher (E12) EB-1 immigrant visa classifications. The update adds clarifying guidance describing examples of evidence that may satisfy

Release Date 09/11/2023 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services reminds affirmative asylum applicants that, starting Sept. 13, 2023, you must bring an interpreter to your asylum interview if you are not fluent in English or wish to proceed with your interview in a language other than English. Sign language interpreters are the only exception to this

Release Date 09/08/2023 The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending from 60 days to 18 months the periods to re-register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the designations of El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua and Sudan.  The 18-month re-registration period under the designation of:  El Salvador now runs through March 9, 2025;  Haiti

Release Date 09/05/2023 Redesignation Allows Additional Eligible South Sudanese Nationals to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension and redesignation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months, from November 4, 2023, through May 3, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict