H-1B Lottery extended until March 25, 2024 (12:00 PM EST).
Due to technical issues on the USCIS H-1B portal, the initial March 22, 2004 deadline is extended until Monday. USCIS still intends to complete the selection process by March 31.
H-1B Lottery 2024
USCIS has announced that this year the H-1B lottery registration opens March 6th at 12 P.M. EST and ends on March 22nd at 12P.M. EST. The lottery registration can be only done online via a new USCIS portal that will become available by 12 PM EST on February 28, 2024.
USCIS Premium Processing Fee Increase Reminder
Effective Date: February 26, 2024 Reminder: all premium processing Form I-907s postmarked on or after February 26, 2024, will be subject to the new fee schedule. The premium processing fee will increase to $2,805 for Form I-140 petitions and most Form I-129 petitions, up from the previous $2,500...
New Form I-9 must be used from November 1, 2023
Employers must use a new Form I-9 (edition date: 08/01/23) starting November 1, 2023. Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is a mandatory form that must be filled out by each new employee working in the US. Failure to use the current edition of the I-9 form may subject employers to fin...
Green Card Lottery begins on Wednesday, October 4, 2023
The green card lottery program, also known as Diversity Visa Lottery, will begin on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time and concludes on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time. Only online registrations are allowed. Citizens of the following ...
TPS for Ukraine Extended
USCIS has extended the TPS designation of Ukraine for 18 months, beginning on 10/20/23 and ending on 4/19/25. USCIS has also redesignated Ukraine for TPS. Citizens of Ukraine who currently have the TPS status must re-register by 10/20/2023. In addition, citizens of Ukraine who are not in TPS...
USCIS Expands Premium Processing to Applicants Seeking to Change into F, M, or J Nonimmigrant Status
Starting June 13, USCIS will accept premium processing requests for applicants seeking a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 status, who have a pending Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status. Starting June 26, USCIS will accept premium processing requests fo...
Summary of anti-immigrant Florida law (FL 1718) which becomes effective on July 1, 2023
On July 1, a new anti-immigrant law called FL 1718 will take effect in Florida. This legislation introduces various provisions that aim to impose stricter regulations and restrictions regarding immigration-related matters within the state. FL 1718 encompasses changes to employment verification procedures, driver's licenses, professional licenses, coordination of immigration enforcement actions, and more. These measures reflect the state's approach to immigration policy and will have significant implications for individuals and institutions operating in Florida.
Covid-19 Vaccination no longer required for air travelers enter the US
On May 9, 2023, the President of the United States issued a proclamation providing that vaccination requirements for noncitizen nonimmigrant air travelers will be terminated effective 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 12, 2023.
DV Lottery results have been released
DV Lottery Results The long-awaited results are finally here. Check your status now to see if you've been selected for the Diversity Visa program. This is your chance to live and work in the United States, so don't delay! Good luck to all of the applicants.
White House Announces End to COVID Vaccine Requirement for International Air Travelers
The White House announced that the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for international air travelers will end on May 11, 2023. DHS also announced that beginning on May 11, it will no longer require non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals to have COVID-...
Report on where immigrants come from & how it has changed over the years
An interesting report by CNN which illustrates how the immigration has changed over the years. View full report here
Uniting for Ukraine – a 2-year stay in the US for Citizens of Ukraine
The new program enacted by the Biden administration will allow displaced citizens of Ukraine and their families to come the US for 2 years. The process: Affidavit of Support – a US based individual (does not have to be a family member) submits an affidavit of support application online at htt...
USCIS Increases Automatic Extension Period of Work Permits to 540 days
USCIS has just announced the automatic extension of work permits (EAD) to be increased from 180 days to 540 days. Currently, certain EAD categories are automatically extended by 180 days if an extension application is timely filed. The new rule will increase the 180 days to 540 days. The rule b...
Registration period for Ukraine’s TPS begins on 4/19/2022
USCIS announced that citizens of Ukraine meeting TPS requirements can file their requests for TPS and employment authorization from 4/19/2022 until 10/19/2023.
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukrainians
Every citizen of Ukraine who has resided in the USA since at least March 1, 2022, regardless of immigration status, will be able to apply for Temporary Protected Status and work authorization valid for 18 months. If the situation in Ukraine does not improve, the TPS designation will be most like...
COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements for travel to the United States
Effective November 8, 2021 new rules apply for travelers entering the United States. These rules do NOT apply to US citizens and green card holders. All travelers except for US citizens and green card holders must be fully vaccinated to enter the United States. List of acceptable vaccines: ...
Green Card Lottery Program Begins on Wednesday, October 6, 2021
DV-2023 Program: The online registration period for the DV-2023 Program begins on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) (GMT-4), and concludes on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 12:00 noon, Eastern Standard Time (EST) (GMT-5). Individuals who submit more than one entr...
USCIS Extends Evidence of Status for Conditional Permanent Residents to 24 Months with Pending Form I-751
Starting Sept. 4, 2021, USCIS is extending the time that receipt notices can be used to show evidence of status from 18 months to 24 months for petitioners who properly file Form I-751. Conditional permanent residents who properly file Form I-751 will receive a receipt notice that can be present...
Dept. of State clarifies how embassies and consulates are prioritizing immigrant visa applications
On August 30, Dept. of State issued the following update on which immigrant categories are prioritized. Tier One: Immediate relative intercountry adoption visas, age-out cases (cases where the applicant will soon no longer qualify due to their age), certain Special Immigrant Visas (SQ and SI f...
COVID-19 vaccine required for green card and refuge applicants
Beginning October 1, 2021 USCIS and Dept. of State will require green card and refuge status applicants to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Children and people with medical exceptions are exempt. All new immigration medical examinations, Form I-693 completed on or after October 1, 2021 will have ...
DOS Confirms NIEs Automatically Extended for 12 Months
On August 12, 2021, DOS updated its FAQs concerning the automatic extension of NIEs for 12 months. In those FAQs, DOS confirms that Customs and Border Protection will recognize the validity of all NIEs approved by DOS. The FAQs also make clear that the DOS announcement concerning extension of the...
Court Orders Government to Issue 9,095 Reserved 2020 Diversity Visas
On August 17, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the Biden administration to issue 9,095 diversity visas from FY2020 that the court reserved nearly a year ago. The decision was part of a lawsuit brought by AILA, Justice Action Center, and Innovation Law Lab, with pro bon...
USCIS is Temporarily Extending Validity Period of Medical Exams
Beginning Aug. 12, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is temporarily extending the validity period for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, from two years to now four years due to COVID-19-related delays in processing. USCIS may consider a completed Form...