The October 2022 Visa Bulletin provided unwelcome news to many in the form of significant retrogression in several employment-based categories. Whenever there is retrogression – that is, a cutoff date that moves backwards in the monthly visa bulletin – it inevitably raises questions and concerns...
This evening, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the October 2022 Visa Bulletin. This is the first visa bulletin for fiscal year 2023. All cutoff dates listed refer to the dates in the final action chart (i.e., Chart A), unless otherwise specified. Visa Bulletin Summary Employment-Based,...
A formal declaration from a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official in relation to a pending lawsuit has revealed some updated information and short-term predictions regarding the monthly visa bulletin. The declaration was signed on September 6, 2022 by Mr. Andrew Parker, who is...
The Biden Administration has published a final rule to codify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program as a regulation. The DACA program provides certain temporary protections and benefits to qualifying undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors. The rule...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a regulation that, if implemented, would provide the DHS with greater authority to alter certain requirements during the form I-9 employment eligibility verification process. In particular, the rule would further empower the DHS to implement alternative...
On August 10, 2022, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) shared a briefing where Ms. Julie M. Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services in the Bureau of Consular Affairs, discussed the status of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing at U.S. embassies and consulates around...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published several new guides aimed at attracting STEM professionals to the United States. The publications provide overviews of nonimmigrant and immigrant visa options for foreign nationals to work in STEM fields in the U.S. Overview of STEM Guides The...
Over the weekend, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began sending out non-selection notices for registrations not selected in the first – and apparently only – lottery for fiscal year 2023 (FY2023). As of the time of this writing, the USCIS has not officially...
For most types of immigrant petitions, such as a family-based petition for an alien relative (form I-130) or an employment-based petition for an alien worker (form I-140), the petitioner must indicate whether the foreign national beneficiary will be applying for adjustment of status (form I-485)...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated its policy manual to provide additional guidance on evidence that can be used in support of O1A petitions. The O1A nonimmigrant visa category is reserved for individuals who possess extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education,...
