USCIS has posted for public inspection, a final rule amending regulations governing H-1B cap-subject petitions reversing the order by which USCIS selects H-1B petitions in the lottery. See https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/dhs-announces-final-rule-a-more-effective-and-efficient-h-1b-visa-program for more information.
USCIS has announced that it will resume premium processing on Monday, January 28, 2019 for all pending fiscal year 2019 H-1B cap petitions. See https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-resumes-premium-processing-fiscal-year-2019-h-1b-cap-petitions for more information.
President Trump announced that he reached a deal with congressional leadership to sign a short-term funding bill to reopen the government that does not include funds to construct a border wall. EOIR announced that assuming that Congress passes the proposed…
The U.S. Embassy in Caracas has suspended routine visa services due to the ordered departure of non-emergency personnel. See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/20190125_routine-visa-services-suspended-in-caracas.html for more information.
USCIS advised that it will accept adjustment of status petitions for employment-based adjustment of status petitions for February based upon the final action date. USCIS will continue to accept family-based adjustment of status petitions based on their filing date. See…
In the February 2019 Visa Bulletin, Charlie provides his predictions for monthly forward movement for various categories. These predictions are based on current demand trends and are reliable through May 2019. See https://www.aila.org/infonet/visa-bulletin-for-february-2019 for more information.
On January 11, 2019, USCIS sent a final version of the proposed regulations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Once the OMB has reviewed the final version of the proposed regulations, a final rule must be…
The Department of State posted the visa bulletin for February today. USCIS has not yet advised whether it will accept adjustment of status petitions for family- or employment-based petitions based on the filing dates, rather than the final action dates.…
While many consulates across the globe accept payment by credit cards for visa application fees, Mission Mexico will continue to require fees be paid in cash at a bank in Mexico due to a high rate of credit card charge-backs.…
USCIS announced that, effective immediately, the categorical Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands parole programs are terminated. After any parole authorized through these programs expires, USCIS will not renew that parole. See https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/termination-categorical-parole-programs-certain-individuals-present-commonwealth-northern-mariana-islands-cnmi for more information.