uscis

USCIS Announces Increase of Filing Fees

On January 30, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an increase to its filing fees across the board. The last such increase was in 2016. This change will be effective April 1, 2024. In some cases, increases are minor, but several are substantive.




uscis

USCIS Announces Upcoming H-1B Cap Lottery Dates and New Beneficiary-Centric Selection Process

USCIS has officially announced the dates for the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap lottery, which will open on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at noon ET and end on Friday, March 22, 2024, at noon ET. This annual lottery is meant to select new H-1B candidates, who will be eligible to file an H-1B petition and, if approved, begin H-1B employment on October 1, 2024 (the first day of FY 2025).




uscis

USCIS to Implement Varying Filing Fees by Visa Category

In just two weeks, on April 1, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will implement its new filing fee structure. The new fees will vary by visa type with exceptions for small employers and non-profit entities. A new Asylum Program Fee will also be added to certain petitions.

As an example of the upcoming changes, the following chart covers a comparison of the most common visa types:

VISA CATEGORY




uscis

Summary of Upcoming Changes to USCIS Filing Requirements in April 2024

April 1, 2024, will mark the beginning of new changes to USCIS form editions, filing fees, and direct filing addresses for many common immigration applications and petitions.

Of particular note are the upcoming changes to the filing requirements for the Form I-129 and Form I-140. With the H-1B lottery filing window set to open on April 1 for those selected in the FY 2025 H-1B lottery, it is imperative for visa petitioners to be mindful of the upcoming changes to avoid any unnecessary rejections of their potentially time-sensitive filings.

Filing Fees




uscis

USCIS Extends Work Permits Under TPS Designations for Certain Countries

On June 20, 2024, USCIS extended the validity of certain work permits issued to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries under the TPS designations for El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. All impacted beneficiaries will receive Form I-797, Notice of Action, notifying them of the extension of their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs or “work permits”) through March 9, 2025.




uscis

USCIS Has Introduced E-Verify+ — What Is It?

  • E-Verify+ is a new voluntary employee verification process that allows employees to complete their Forms I-9 through E-Verify.
  • The process has benefits and detriments, so employers invited to participate in the program should discuss E-Verify+ with their immigration counsel to determine whether it is right for their organization.




uscis

USCIS Changes Policy Guidance Regarding Special Student Relief

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services recently announced that it is clarifying the validity period of off-campus employment authorization for international students pursuant to the Special Student Relief (SSR) package.




uscis

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance for International Students

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated guidance in its policy manual regarding international students within F and M student classifications. This new guidance consolidates and provides greater clarity on existing policy for international students.




uscis

USCIS Updates Guidance for F-1 Students on OPT and STEM OPT Eligibility

The F-1 nonimmigrant visa status allows noncitizens to study in the United States at U.S. colleges and universities. F-1 students may be eligible for off-campus employment under the following programs: Curricular Practical Training; Optional Practical Training (OPT); and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Optional Practical Training Extension (STEM OPT). General eligibility requirements for off-campus F-1 employment include that the training be related to the student’s area of study and be authorized by the Designated School Official and U.S.




uscis

Amid hiring issues, USCIS’ Jaddou aims to boost current workforce

Hiring remains a “substantial challenge” for USCIS, but a couple early signs indicate that the agency could be turning a corner with its current workforce.

The post Amid hiring issues, USCIS’ Jaddou aims to boost current workforce first appeared on Federal News Network.




uscis

Nasscom questions legality of USCIS’ visa fee hike plan

The fee hike by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is for the short-term work permits used by IT companies to send highly-skilled workers to the US, and Nasscom has opposed it in a submission to the immigration agency’s parent, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).




uscis

USCIS announces flexibility in responding to RFEs

The immigration agency has said that it would be relaxing its policies in coming months in light of the current situation. “USCIS is adopting several measures to protect our workforce and community, and to minimize the immigration consequences for those seeking immigration benefits during this time,” it said.




uscis

Poursina v. USCIS

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed. The district court denied Plaintiff’s national-interest waiver petition for lack of jurisdiction. Affirming, the panel held that 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii) strips the federal courts of jurisdiction to review the denial of a national-interest waiver.




uscis

Poursina v. USCIS

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed. The district court denied Plaintiff’s national-interest waiver petition for lack of jurisdiction. Affirming, the panel held that 8 U.S.C. § 1252(a)(2)(B)(ii) strips the federal courts of jurisdiction to review the denial of a national-interest waiver.




uscis

USCIS Fee Increase Proposed Rule Could Represent the Latest Step in Reshaping Immigration to United States

While much attention has been given to the move by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to raise its application fees—including an 83 percent hike to apply for U.S. citizenship—the policy changes embedded in the proposed rule have been less scrutinized. The changes, including the elimination of most fee waivers for lower-income applicants, would likely reduce the number and shift the profile of those getting a green card or other immigration status.




uscis

USCIS intends to introduce changes to H-1B Visa Lottery

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has a proposal regarding changing the selection of a number of H-1B visa petitions each year.AimsThis requires employers to register online for getting selected randomly before submitting the visa petitions.…




uscis

USCIS Resumes the Premium Processing for H-1B applications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have begun the premium processing in respect of all H-1B petitions. This translates to a guaranteed processing time covering 15 days. In the other scenario, it will refund the premium processing fee to the petitioner.The…




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Attorney General Holder and USCIS Director Welcome New Citizens at Justice Department Building Swearing in Ceremony

Attorney General Eric Holder delivered keynote remarks after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas administered the Oath of Allegiance to 70 new citizens today during a special naturalization ceremony at the Department of Justice’s Great Hall.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Associate Attorney General Tony West Delivers Remarks at USCIS Naturalization Ceremony

You see, the United States is more than a place on the map -- it’s an idea; the idea that you are free to control your own destiny, for yourselves and your family; the idea that you are part of something larger than yourselves; that you have a chapter to write in the great story of our nation; the idea that no matter where you came from, or who your ancestors are, how you worship or what you look like, you have a role in shaping our shared future