Are you seeking to adjust your status and become a U.S. permanent resident under a family-sponsored or employment-based preference immigrant visa? If you have not yet had a relative or employer file an immigrant visa petition on your behalf, please learn more about the Adjustment of Status Filing Process.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (Public Law 114-113), signed into law by President Obama on December 18, 2015, increases fees for certain H-1B and L-1 petitioners. These petitioners must submit an additional fee of $4,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $4,500 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after December 18, 2015.

BALCA Appeal Times as of January 08, 2016

Bottomline: BALCA appeals take approximately 3.5 to 4 years from the date the appeal is filed. 

- Appeals from PERM denials with BALCA office are currently taking about 3.5 - 4 years from date of docket

- Dockets are a few months backlogged right now - after BALCA receives the case from DOL, it takes about 5-6 months for them to issue the Docketing Notice

The following chart shows the changes that have been made to the Country Reciprocity Tables.

USCIS posted an update to Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service. The new edition is dated 12/11/15. The 01/29/15 version will also still be accepted.

USCIS is seeking public comments on a proposed rule that would modernize and improve certain aspects of employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa programs. USCIS is also proposing regulatory amendments to better enable U.S. employers to hire and retain certain foreign workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions and are waiting to become lawful permanent residents (LPRs).