04 Nov 2021

My I-485 was approved at the end of October. However, my wife’s I-485 is still pending, and the cutoff date has now retrogressed before my priority date. Can I sponsor her for a family-based green card? Do I have to wait a certain amount of time after getting my GC before I can sponsor someone?

Answer There is no set amount of time a lawful permanent resident must wait to sponsor a qualifying family member for a green card. Further, the fact that she has a pending employment-based green card case does not prevent her from also being sponsored for a...

22 Sep 2021

October 2021 Visa Bulletin Check-In

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) recently held its monthly YouTube program with Charlie Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division. The October 2021 Visa Bulletin included predictions, but Mr. Oppenheim provided some additional information during the program. Most notably, he provided more...

13 Sep 2021

NewsFlash! Use “Dates for Filing Chart” for Oct 2021 Visa Bulletin

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its adjustment-of-status filing charts webpage today, indicating that the more favorable dates for filing chart (i.e., Chart B) is to be used for virtually all family and employment-based categories in the October 2021 Visa Bulletin. The only...

26 Aug 2021

USCIS Updates Policy on Children Born Using Assisted Reproductive Technology

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has revised its policy related to the definition of a parental relationship. The USCIS will now recognize a parent-child relationship for children born abroad using assisted reproductive technology (ART), as long as the child's parents were married at...

04 Aug 2021

I filed my H-4 and H-4 EAD extensions with my husband’s H1B extension. His extension was approved through 2024, but my applications are still pending. I recently traveled and was issued a new I-94 valid through 2024 when I returned. Can I update the USCIS with my new I-94? Will it speed up the processing of my EAD?

Answer The USCIS does not appear to have an official policy on this. Anecdotally, however, we have had cases where we have provided an updated I-94 to the USCIS while the form I-765 application for employment authorization was pending. For at least some of those cases,...