Link:- https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-78

Law IMM Analysis: With the U.S. Department of State’s publication of the July 2022 Visa Bulletin, the USCIS has again confirmed that it will continue to follow the Final Action Dates for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Applications for the July 2022 Visa Bulletin.

Link:-  https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-77

Law IMM Analysis: After the U.S. Department of State’s publication of the June 2022 Visa Bulletin, the USCIS has again confirmed that it will continue to follow the Dates for Filing for Family-Sponsored Adjustment of Status Applications for the June 2022 Visa Bulletin as family-based immigrant visa usage continues to grow as U.S. consulates move toward normal operations.

Link:- https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-increases-automatic-extension-period-of-work-permits-for-certain-applicants

Law IMM Analysis: USCIS has announced that it has published Temporary Final Rule by providing that the automatic extension period applicable to expiring EADs for certain renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765 will be increased from up to 180 days to up to 540 days from the expiration date stated on their EADs.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-76

Law IMM Analysis: Following the U.S. Department of State’s publication of the May 2022 Visa Bulletin, the USCIS has once again confirmed that it will continue to follow the Dates for Filing for Family-Sponsored Adjustment of Status Applications for the May 2022 Visa Bulletin as family-based immigrant visa usage continues to improve as U.S. consulates move to normal operations.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-implements-risk-based-approach-for-conditional-permanent-resident-interviews

Law IMM Analysis: USCIS has announced that starting on April 7, 2022, it is updating its policy and relying on a risk-based approach when waiving interviews for conditional permanent residents (CPR) who have filed their I-751 Petition to Remove the Conditions on their permanent resident status.

What is the EB-5 Visa Classification?

USCIS oversees the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which was created by Congress in 1990 to help stimulate the United States economy by granting immigrant visas to foreign nationals who either start new commercial enterprises, or invest in existing businesses in the U.S. In order to qualify, investments must be made in any for-profit activities formed for the ongoing conduct of a lawful business. The new commercial enterprise must directly create full-time positions for at least ten (10) qualifying employees. Qualifying employees can be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or other immigrants authorized to work in the United States. Full-time employees must work a minimum of 35 hours per week. These jobs must be considered permanent full-time jobs. This can include jobs that are expected to last at least two (2) years.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/fy-2023-h-1b-cap-season-updates

Law IMM Analysis: USCIS has announced that it has received sufficient H-1B quota registrations for the fiscal year 2023, and it has also conducted the random selection/lottery drawing of those registrations. The USCIS also confirmed that it has notified the H-1B petitioners with selected registrations regarding the next steps to take, including the submission of H-1B quota petitions, starting on April 1, 2022 and lasting through at least June 30, 2022.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-75

Law IMM Analysis: Following the U.S. Department of State’s publication of the April 2022 Visa Bulletin, the USCIS has once again confirmed that it will continue to follow the Dates for Filing for Family-Sponsored Adjustment of Status Applications for the April 2022 Visa Bulletin as family-based immigrant visa usage continues to grow as U.S. consulates steadily re-open abroad and return to normal operations.

U.S. Congress has passed the Omnibus legislation to fund the federal government through September 30, 2022, and it includes the long-awaited reauthorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program, which has lapsed since June 30, 2021.

Once it goes to President Biden’s desk for signature and he is expected to sign it, the reauthorized EB-5 Regional Center Program will contain some interesting changes to it.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-74

Law IMM Analysis: Following the U.S. Department of State’s publication of the March 2022 Visa Bulletin, the USCIS has once again confirmed that it will continue to follow the Dates for Filing for Family-Sponsored Adjustment of Status Applications for the March 2022 Visa Bulletin as family-based immigrant visa usage continues to pick up the pace due to U.S. consulates steadily re-opening abroad.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/fy-2023-h-1b-cap-initial-registration-period-opens-on-march-1

Law IMM Analysis: USCIS has announced that the registration period for the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 H-1B quota will start at 12 p.m. EST on Tuesday, March 1, 2022 and run through 12 p.m. EST on Friday, March 18, 2022.

Link:- https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-73

Law IMM Analysis: Following the U.S. Department of State’s publication of the February 2022 Visa Bulletin, the USCIS has once again confirmed that it will continue to follow the Dates for Filing for Family-Sponsored Adjustment of Status Applications for the February 2022 Visa Bulletin as family-based immigrant visa usage continues to pick up the pace due to U.S. consulates steadily re-opening abroad.

Link: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/important-announcement-on-waivers-of-the-interview-requirement-for-certain-nonimmigrant-visas.html

Law IMM Analysis: The U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) has announced that it is authorizing consular officers to waive in-person interview requirements for certain temporary employment nonimmigrant visa applicants in the following visa categories: H-1B specialty occupation and H-4 dependent family members; H-3 trainee or special education visitors; L-1 intracompany transferees; O visas (individuals with extraordinary ability or achievement); P visas (athletes, artists, and entertainers); and Q visas (international cultural exchange program participants). This in-person visa waiver will last through December 31, 2022.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-72

Law IMM Analysis: Following the U.S. Department of State’s publication of the January 2022 Visa Bulletin, the USCIS has once again confirmed that it will continue to follow the Dates for Filing for Family-Sponsored Adjustment of Status Applications for the January 2022 Visa Bulletin as family-based immigrant visa usage slowly starts to speed up due to U.S. consulates steadily re-opening abroad.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-temporarily-waiving-60-day-rule-for-civil-surgeon-signatures

Law IMM Analysis: USCIS has announced that it is temporarily waiving the requirement for the Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that the USCIS-designated civil surgeon must sign the form no more than sixty (60) days before an applicant files an application for an immigration benefit (such as filing the Form I-485 adjustment of status) through September 30, 2022.

Law IMM wishes you and your family a happy and safe holiday season and all the best for the New Year 2022!

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-71

Law IMM Analysis: Following the U.S. Department of State’s publication of the December 2021 Visa Bulletin, the USCIS has once again confirmed that it will continue to follow the Dates for Filing for Family-Sponsored Adjustment of Status Applications for the December 2021 Visa Bulletin.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-71

Law IMM Analysis: USCIS has announced that it has conducted a third round of random selection of the Fiscal Year 2022 H-1B quota registrations on November 19, 2021. USCIS has set the petition filing period based on registrations selected on November 19, 2021 to begin on November 22, 2021 and close on February 23, 2022. USCIS has also updated the relevant myUSCIS accounts to show the inclusion of a selection notice, which includes details about when and where to file these latest H-1B quota petitions.

Link: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/25/a-proclamation-on-advancing-the-safe-resumption-of-global-travel-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/

Law IMM Analysis: Via Presidential Proclamation and beginning on and after November 8, 2021, foreign nationals who possess valid visas, along with proof of COVID-19 vaccination can finally fly to the United States. They must also follow the pre-requisite three (3) day COVID testing requirement. The updated policy signals the gradual resumption of international air travel for foreign visitors to the U.S. who have been restricted from coming to the U.S. ever since the various travel restrictions were first imposed shortly after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020. This new policy still leaves in place the land border crossing restrictions that are currently in place between the U.S. and Canada, and between the U.S. and Mexico, which is still restricted to essential travel only. The expectation is that announcements for land border crossing policy changes will be unveiled soon as well.

Link: https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/visa-availability-priority-dates/when-to-file-your-adjustment-of-status-application-for-family-sponsored-or-employment-based-70

Law IMM Analysis: Following the U.S. Department of State’s publication of the November 2021 Visa Bulletin, the USCIS has once again confirmed that it will continue to follow the Dates for Filing for Family-Sponsored Adjustment of Status Applications for the November 2021 Visa Bulletin.