USCIS

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (used to be BCIS, INS)

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance Clarifying Expedite Requests

USCIS is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how USCIS considers expedite requests related to government interests and requests related to emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations, including travel-related requests. This update also clarifies how to make an expedite request and explains how USCIS processes expedite requests.

Government Interests

USCIS Issues New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in the Policy Manual to further clarify the types of evidence that USCIS may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) EB-1 immigrant visa classifications.

This policy guidance:

Guidance on Paying Fees and Completing Information for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers

Release Date 

Be sure to provide the correct payment and complete information when filing Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers. Since publishing both a new edition of this form and a new fee rule in April 2024, USCIS has had to reject an unusually high number of Form I-140 petitions at intake because of incorrect fees and missing information. 

USCIS Extends Green Card Validity Extension to 36 Months for Green Card Renewals

Release Date 

Effective Sept. 10, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services automatically extended the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) to 36 months for lawful permanent residents who file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.  

USCIS to Open International Field Office in Quito, Ecuador

Release Date 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced the opening of an international field office in Quito, Ecuador on Sept. 10. The Quito Field Office will focus on increasing refugee processing capacity, consistent with USCIS commitments under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and helping reunite individuals with their family members already in the United States.