Release Date 03/13/2023 On Nov. 2, 2022 USCIS announced a change in our method for calculating orphan and Hague adoption case processing times. In response to this announcement, we received several questions from stakeholders that we address in this FAQ posted on our USCIS Electronic Reading Room (PDF, 136.04 KB). We know that behind every

Release Date 03/15/2023 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today issued policy guidance (PDF, 313.21 KB) on how we analyze an employer’s ability to pay the proffered wage for immigrant petitions in certain first, second, and third preference employment-based immigrant visa classifications.  Employers seeking to classify prospective or current employees under the first, second, and third preference

Release Date 03/01/2023 Today, the Department of Homeland Security posted a Federal Register notice providing information related to the EB-5 Integrity Fund. We will use the EB-5 Integrity Fund primarily to administer the EB-5 Regional Center Program, as required by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022. Starting March 2, we will collect an

Release Date 03/02/2023 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received enough petitions to meet the H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2023 and is announcing the filing dates for supplemental H-2B visas for the reminder of FY 2023 made available under the FY 2023 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule. H-2B

Release Date 03/03/2023 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today issued policy guidance (PDF, 310.33 KB) clarifying how it evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for O-1B nonimmigrants of extraordinary ability in the arts and nonimmigrants of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry. Policy updates include adding a chart in the appendix that describes

Release Date 03/06/2023 WASHINGTON — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today the expansion of premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions who have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and wish to request a premium processing upgrade. 

Release Date 03/07/2023 We are issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address how we provide mobile biometrics services. The purpose of the new guidance is to reduce barriers for benefit requestors who are unable to attend appointments at Application Support Centers to provide biometrics, such as fingerprints, required for certain benefit requests.

Release Date 02/08/2023 ALERT: As a reminder, VAWA self-petitioning abused spouses, children, and parents must file Form I-485 and Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, at the Nebraska Service Center.  Starting February 10, 2023, self-petitioning abused spouses, children, and parents must file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, and Form I-485, Application to

Release Date 02/10/2023 Save time by filing all required initial evidence and supporting documentation listed under the “Checklist of Required Initial Evidence” heading at the same time you file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. (The checklist is an optional tool to use as you prepare your form, but does not

Release Date 02/14/2023 WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to update when an immigrant visa number “becomes available” for the purpose of calculating a noncitizen’s age in certain situations under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). For a child to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United