Latest News

USCIS Processing Time Information for the Immigrant Investor Program Office

Instructions on Using the Chart

Below is a chart that shows the form number, form name and processing times for the following forms that are processed by the Immigrant Investor Program Office (IPO).

Find the particular form number (in the left column) or form name (in the center column) in which you are interested. In the right column you will find a timeframe in months representing the average processing time for that form type. Please note some cases may take longer to process.

Memorandum: Employment Eligibility for Derivatives of Conrad State 30 Program Physicians

USCIS does not believe that a J-2 dependent of a J-1 foreign medical graduate can change to H-1B status, or any other employment-authorized nonimmigrant classification (with the exception of T or U status) until the principal Conrad State 30 waiver recipient has fulfilled his or her three-year employment obligations in a medically underserved area.However, USCIS is open to reviewing current regulations and considereing whether steps should be taken to enable such J-2 dependents to engage in employment while in H-4 status.

Exception to the Two - Year Custody and Two - Year Residency Requirement for Abused Adopted Children

This policy memorandum (PM) provides guidance to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers in adjudicating Form I - 360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er) or Special Immigrant , filed by a self - petitioning adopted child, when the adopted child has been battered or abused.

Please click on the attachment to read more.

Characteristics of Individuals Requesting and Approved for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Existing data currently published by USCIS for DACA provides statistics on program operations (e.g.,number of receipts accepted, rejected and approved, etc.). In contrast, this data table
release disseminates information on the characteristics of DACA requestors in a manner which sufficiently protects their privacy.

Please click on the attachment for more information on statistics and data table.

Newest Prevailing Wage Data - OFLC

On July 1, 2014, OFLC uploaded the newest prevailing wage data from the Occupational Employment Survey as generated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the year from July 2014 - June 2015. The effective date is July 1, 2014. Prevailing wages issued from the National Prevailing Wage Center will reflect the new data.

USCIS Will Naturalize Nearly 9,000 New Citizens During Independence Day Celebrations

Release Date: July 01, 2014

 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Acting Director Lori Scialabba will help USCIS celebrate our nation’s 238th birthday as the agency welcomes approximately 9,000 new U.S. citizens during more than 100 naturalization ceremonies across the country from June 30 to July 4.

DHS Launches Enhanced Website for Schools, International Students

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched an enhanced Study in the States website Monday with four new features. The features enable the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), housed within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), to convey pertinent information to stakeholders about the international student process in a clear and interactive manner.

The new features include:

National Hockey League (NHL) and Vermont Service Center Meeting

The National Hockey League (NHL) requested USCIS to hold a teleconference during its annual conference. During that teleconference, NHL counsel posed several questions to USCIS. The question and answers are provided below (see attachment) for the benefit of interested stakeholders.In order to avoid repetition in the answers, USCIS notes that it stated several times that each petition mustestablish visa eligibility on its own merits. The Vermont Service Center (VSC) does not maintain acentral document depository for O and P nonimmigrant visa petitions.