USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Earlier known as INS. USCIS is responsible for providing immigration benefits to applicants. Homepage http://wwww.uscis.gov

USCIS Updates Guidelines on Maximum Validity Periods for New Employment Authorization Documents for Certain Applicants

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today published updated policy guidance to change the maximum validity period that may be granted for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to certain applicants, as well as to provide general guidance on adjudicating Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

Starting today, USCIS will generally grant new and renewed EADs that are valid for two years to applicants in the following categories:

FY 2023 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 1

Release Date 

01/28/2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 1 and run through noon Eastern on March 18, 2022. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations using the online H-1B registration system.

AAO Processing Times (October - December 2021)

Timeliness of Fiscal Year 2022 First Quarter Completions (October - December 2021)
Form Type Case Type Completed 0-180 Days Quarterly Completions
Cumulative total of all completions   28.92% 830
I-129CW Petition for CNMI Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker 100% 5
I-129E2 CNMI Treaty Investor 100% 2
I-129F Petition for Fiancée

Agency

Immigration Law

USCIS Reverts to Previous Criteria for Interviewing Petitioners Requesting Derivative Refugee and Asylee Status for Family Members

Release Date

12/10/2021

USCIS is rescinding a November 2020 policy memorandum requiring interviews of all petitioners filing Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition. Effective immediately, USCIS will return to its prior long-standing practice of making case-by-case determinations on whether to interview Form I-730 petitioners. 

AAO Processing Times (July - September 2021)

Timeliness of Fiscal Year 2021 Fourth Quarter Completions (July - September 2021)
Form Type Case Type Completed 0-180 Days Quarterly Completions
Cumulative total of all completions   47.50% 1,061
I-129CW Petition for CNMI Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker 100% 3
I-129E2 CNMI Treaty Investor 100% 5
I-129F Petition for Fiancée

Agency

Immigration Law

COVID-19 Vaccination Required for Immigration Medical Examinations

Release Date 

09/14/2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that, effective Oct. 1, 2021, applicants subject to the immigration medical examination must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the civil surgeon can complete an immigration medical examination and sign Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.

Successful response to a Form I-485 RFE related to events that occurred over a decade ago

We responded to a Form I-485 Request for Evidence to prove that approximately a decade ago the permanent residency applicant had, in fact, attended two U.S. universities as he had claimed in previously approved petitions. Both universities had been certified by ICE under its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) during the applicant’s attendance.

Nonimmigrant Visas

Agency

Green Card