USCIS NEWS AND ALERTS

**************************

SPECIAL TRAVEL NEWS ALERT FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS:

INFORMATION FOR U.S. CITIZENS IN SUDAN

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT NOTICE TO AMERICAN CITIZENS TO LEAVE RUSSIA IMMEDIATELY !!!

CLICK HERE FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR U.S. CITIZENS SEEKING TO DEPART FROM RUSSIA

****************************

U.S. CITIZENS IN AN EMERGENCY

1-88-407-4747 (U.S. / CANADA) OR +1-202-501-4444 OR

CONTACT NEAREST EMBASSY: travelstate.gov

JUNE 2023 VISA BULLETIN

MAY 2023 VISA BULLETIN 

***************************************************************

SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM FOR U.S. CITIZENS 

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

 ***************************************************************

TRAVEL ADVISORIES

RUSSIA TRAVEL ADVISORY - DO NOT TRAVEL AND LEAVE IMMEDIATELY

See "Special Travel News Travel Alert for American Citizens" Above

****************************************************************

USCIS OFFICE CLOSINGS - Check for current office closure, COVID information and office location prior to visiting one of our offices.

USCIS ANNOUNCES END OF COVID RELATED FLEXABILITIES - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that certain flexibilities it first announced in March 2020, to address the COVID-19 pandemic will end on March 23, 2023.

FIND A USCIS OFFICE 

USCIS Response to COVID - 19  (Misc Content Info May Still Be Relevant)

***************************************************************

HELPFUL LINKS : 

WHY DO I NEED AN IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY?

New Edition G-1055, Fee Schedule Dated 07/20/2022

LOCKBOX FILING LOCATION UPDATES 

See for changes in form filing locations

FILING FEES

LOCKBOX FILING LOCATION UPDATES 

TRACK U.S. IMMIGRATION BILLS - govtrack.us

DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)  

USCIS FACT SHEETS BY CATEGORY

VISA BULLETINS :   TRAVEL ADVISORIES     U.S. EMBASSIES  & CONSULATES

COVID 19 Traveler Information - 12-30-2021

WORLD WIDE TRAVEL CAUTION - AL-QA'IDA LEADER'S DEATH

U.S. CITIZEN TRAVELERS 

Also see Special Travel News Alert for American Citizens Above

RECEIVE ALERTS AND ENSURE YOU CAN BE LOCATED IN AN EMERGENCY. Enroll in step.state.gov 

U.S. Citizen  Travelers in an emergency call 888-407-4747 (U.S./ Canada)

or 202-501-4444 (Overseas) or contact the nearest embassy.  travel.state.gov

DHS Extends COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Non-U.S. Travelers Entering the United States via Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals

Immigration Relief in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances

***************************************************************

JUNE 2023

MAY 2023

USCIS Updates Review Process for the Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans

USCIS Providing Documents After Notice of Immigration Judge and BIA Decisions About Immigration Status

APRIL 2023 

USCIS Clarifies Guidance on Citizenship and Naturalization for Adopted Children

USCIS Extends Temporary Suspension of Biometrics Submission for Certain Form I-539 Applicants

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance on Safe Mailing Address and Case Handling Procedures for Certain Protected Persons

Employers May File H-2B Petitions for FY 2023 Late Second Half Returning Workers

MARCH 2023

Immigration Relief in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances

USCIS Updates Policy on Time Frames for Paper-Based Filings and Responses Ending on Saturdays, Sundays, or Federal Holidays

FY 2024 H-1B Cap Season Updates

USCIS Announces End of COVID-Related Flexibilities

USCIS Form and Policy Updates for Applying for Naturalization Based on Military Service

Update to Filing Location for U Nonimmigrant-Based Form I-485

USCIS Relocates Lockbox From Phoenix To Tempe, Arizona for Courier Delivery Services

USCIS Announces Additional Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp

USCIS Removes Biometrics Requirement for Form I-526E Petitioners

USCIS Extends Rule Providing Interpreters at Affirmative Asylum Interviews

USCIS Issues Guidance on Analyzing Employers’ Ability to Pay Wages

USCIS Processing Times for Orphan and Hague Adoption Cases

DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Extending and Redesignating Somalia for Temporary Protected Status

USCIS Provides Guidance on Program for International Entrepreneurs

New Entrepreneur Resources Available on USCIS Website

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance on Mobile Biometrics Services

USCIS Announces Premium Processing; New Online-Filing Procedures for Certain F-1 Students Seeking OPT or STEM OPT Extensions

USCIS Issues Clarifying Guidance on Eligibility for the O-1B Visa Classification

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for Second Half of FY 2023 and Announces Filing Dates for the Second Half of FY 2023 Supplemental Visas

USCIS to Start Collecting Fee for EB-5 Integrity Fund

Information for Afghan Nationals

Uniting for Ukraine

Processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans

FEBRUARY 2023

USCIS Web Page Tools Outage

USCIS Issues Clarifying Guidance for Individuals Authorized to Work Under Special Student Relief Provisions

USCIS Updates Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) Age Calculation for Certain Adjustment of Status Applicants

Reminder to Submit All Required Initial Evidence and Supporting Documentation, including Form I-693, for Form I-485

Update to Filing Location for Form I-360 and Form I-485 for Self-Petitioning Abused Spouses, Children, and Parents

USCIS Clarifies Physical Presence Guidance for Asylees and Refugees Applying for Adjustment of Status

Immigration Relief in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances

JANUARY 2023

Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the First Half of FY 2023

FY 2024 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 1

USCIS Extends COVID-19-related Flexibilities

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity for Conditional Permanent Residents with a Pending Form I-751 or Form I-829

USCIS Announces Final Phase of Premium Processing Expansion for EB-1 and EB-2 Form I-140 Petitions and Future Expansion for F-1 Students Seeking OPT and Certain Student and Exchange Visitors

DHS Implements New Processes for Cubans, Haitians, and Nicaraguans and Eliminates Cap for Venezuelans

USCIS Redesigns Green Card and Employment Authorization Document

USCIS Releases New Strategic Plan Highlighting Long-Term Goals

DHS Announces Process Enhancements for Supporting Labor Enforcement Investigations

Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Somalia for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months

USCIS Issues Proposed Rule to Adjust Certain Immigration and Naturalization Fees

DECEMBER 2022

Options for Nonimmigrant Workers Following Termination of Employment

DHS’s Public Charge Final Rule Goes into Effect on Dec. 23

USCIS Updates Policy to Automatically Extend Green Cards for Naturalization Applicants

USCIS Announces Important Filing Information for Upcoming FY 2023 H-2B Supplemental Cap Petitions

NOVEMBER 2022

USCIS Extends and Expands Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processing for Afghan Nationals

Certain Afghan and Ukrainian Parolees Are Employment Authorized Incident to Parole

Recommendations for Paper Filings to Avoid Scanning Delays

DHS Continues Temporary Protected Status and Related Documentation for Certain Beneficiaries of TPS

DHS Announces Countries Eligible for H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

USCIS Announces Online Filing for Affirmative Asylum Applications

New Processing Time Method for Orphan and Hague Applications and Petitions

USCIS Hosts Special Naturalization Ceremonies in Honor of Veterans Day

DHS Begins Limited Implementation of DACA under Final Rule

ACICS Loss of Recognition May Affect Certain Students Applying for English Language Study and 24-month STEM OPT Extension Programs, H-1B, and I-140 Applicants   

OCTOBER 2022

DHS Designates Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status for 18 Months

USCIS Form and Policy Updates Remove Barriers to Naturalization for Applicants with Disabilities

USCIS Will Only Consider CW-1 Petitions Approved and with Starting Validity on or after June 18, 2020, when Applying the Temporary Departure Requirement

USCIS Extends COVID-19-related Flexibilities

Filing Guidance for CW-1 Petitions Seeking to Extend Status

USCIS Implements New Process for Venezuelans

USCIS Updates Military Naturalization Guidance for Calixto Class Members

SEPTEMBER 2022

Extension of Temporary Waiver of 60-Day Rule for Civil Surgeon Signatures on Form I-693

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity Extension to 24 Months for Green Card Renewals

USCIS Stops Accepting CW-1 Petitions Under the Disaster Recovery Workforce Act

USCIS Reviewing Military Naturalization Policy Based on Settlement Agreement in Calixto v. Department of the Army, Civ. A. No 18-1551 (PLF) (D.D.C.)

Immigration Help Available to Those Affected by Natural Disasters and Other Unforeseen Circumstances

DHS Publishes Final Rule to Restore Asylum Regulations Consistent with Asylumworks Vacatur

USCIS to Implement Next Phase of Premium Processing for Certain Previously Filed EB-1 and EB-2 Form I-140 Petitions

USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for First Half of FY 2023

USCIS Resumes Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program Operations

September to December 2022 Postings Kept for Previous Year Reference