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January 2025 Visa Bulletin – Modest Forward Movement in EB-2 and EB-3 Final Action Dates; USCIS to Honor Dates for Filing, Which Remain Unchanged

According to the State Department’s January Visa Bulletin, Final Action cutoff dates for issuance of an immigrant visa or approval of an adjustment of status application will be as follows:  EB-1: India will remain at February 1, 2022, and China will…

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Bundled Processing of H-4 and L-2 Dependent Applications with a Principal’s Form I-129 Set to Expire January 18

After January 18, 2025, USCIS could resume its practice of adjudicating H-4 and L-2 applications for changes or extensions of status (Form I-539) and for employment authorization (Form I-765) several months after H-1B and L-1 principals’ nonimmigrant petitions (Form I-129),…

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December 2024 DOL PERM and PWD Processing Times

As of December 1, 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) was conducting analyst review for PERM applications filed in September 2023 or earlier, and processing audited cases with priority dates of December 2022 or earlier. DOL is working on standard…

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DOS Issues Revised J-1 Exchange Visitor Skills List with Retroactive Effect; China and India, Among Other Countries, Have Been Removed From the List

The Department of State (DOS) has released an update of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Skills List (“Skills List”) effective December 9, 2024. The revised list removes a large number of countries (including China, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, and United…

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H-1B Cap Is Reached for FY 2025

USCIS has received enough petitions to meet the annual H-1B quota of 85,000 for Fiscal Year 2025, according to an agency announcement issued today. The announcement means that USCIS will not conduct a third cap lottery selection for H-1B employment in the…

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Holiday Travel Guidelines for Foreign Nationals

If you are a foreign national planning to travel abroad this holiday season, now is the time to make sure you have the information, immigration documents, and instructions you need to depart and reenter the United States. Understanding your immigration…

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December 2024 Visa Bulletin – Modest Advancement for India EB-2 and EB-3; All Other Employment-Based Categories Remain Unchanged

According to the State Department’s December Visa Bulletin, Final Action cutoff dates for issuance of an immigrant visa or approval of an adjustment of status application will be as follows:  EB-1: China will remain at November 8, 2022, and India will…

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FY 2026 Diversity Visa Lottery Registration Opens October 2

The State Department will begin accepting online registrations for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery starting Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at noon EDT. Foreign nationals who wish to enter the lottery have until Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at…

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Congress Passes Stopgap Spending Bill; Immigration Operations Funded Through December 20

A continuing resolution passed by Congress late Wednesday will fund the federal government through December 20, 2024, while negotiations on the FY 2025 budget continue. The stopgap bill funds the federal government at current levels through December 20. Current funding…

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Potential Federal Government Shutdown due to FY 2025 Budget Impasse (Some Immigration Processing Would Continue)

As FY 2025 federal budget discussions continue, U.S. government funding could expire after midnight on September 30, 2024 if Congress fails to pass legislation to avoid a government shutdown. In the event of a shutdown, some immigration processes would be…

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EB-2 Immigrant Visa Category Unavailable Through September 30 After Reaching Annual Limit for FY 2024

The State Department has announced that the annual limit for the EB-2 immigrant visa category has been met for FY 2024. As a result, the category is immediately unavailable and will remain so through September 30, the end of the fiscal year.…

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District Court Extends Halt of Keeping Families Together PIP Approvals Through September 23

The Eastern District Court of Texas has extended its administrative stay of parole in place (PIP) approvals under the Biden Administration’s new Keeping Families Together program through September 23, 2024, from September 9. While the administrative stay is in place, PIP applicants can continue…

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EB-1 Immigrant Visa Category Unavailable Through September 30 After Reaching Annual Limit for FY 2024

The State Department has announced that the annual limit for the EB-1 immigrant visa category has been met for FY 2024. As a result, the category is immediately unavailable and will remain so through September 30, the end of the fiscal year.…

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District Court Temporarily Halts Parole Approvals Under New PIP Program

The Eastern District Court of Texas has issued a 14-day administrative stay of parole in place (PIP) approvals under the Biden Administration’s new “Keeping Families Together” program, following a lawsuit filed last week by 16 U.S. states challenging the program. While the administrative…

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