Number 73
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during January for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.
Release Date
12/19/2022
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is providing information for nonimmigrant workers whose employment has terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily. These workers may have several options for remaining in the United States in a period of authorized stay based on existing rules and regulations.
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | March 2022 |
| Audit Review | January 2022 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | May 2022 |
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
12/23/2022 11:45 PM EST
Edition Date: 12/23/22. If you file Form I-485 Supplement J on or after Dec. 23, 2022, you must use the 12/23/22 edition or USCIS will reject your filing. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
USCIS recently updated the following form:
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
11/02/2022 12:05 PM EDT
Edition Date: 11/02/22. Starting Feb. 27, 2023, USCIS will only accept the 11/02/22 edition. Until then, you can also use the 05/31/22 and 03/10/21 editions. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
For more information, please visit the Forms Updates page.
Release Date
12/09/2022
Effective Dec. 12, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to allow USCIS to automatically extend the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (commonly called Green Cards) for lawful permanent residents who have applied for naturalization.
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If you file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, on or after Dec. 23, 2022, you must use the 12/23/22 edition of Form I-485 or USCIS will reject your filing. If you file Form I-485 before Dec. 23, 2022, you must use the 07/15/22 edition of Form I-485 or USCIS will reject your filing. |
Release Date
12/14/2022
Federal Register Notice Published Today Announces Nationwide Trial
On Sept. 26, 2022, USCIS automatically extended the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) to 24 months for lawful permanent residents who file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (Green Card).
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card
11/02/2022 04:03 PM EDT
Edition Date: 11/02/22. USCIS will also accept the 08/31/21 edition. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
For more information, please visit the Forms Updates page.
FAQ: Explaining PERM Prevailing Wage Determination (PWD) and its elements || Recapturing H-1B unused time (Remainder Option); Changing H-1B field; USCIS’s stand on combining degree and work experience || H-4 EAD visa holders opening an LLC in the U.S. and employing their H-1B holding spouse on concurrent H-1B || Gap in status, for instance, H-1B and H-4 status issues || Eligibility for EB-1A (Extraordinary Ability)
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
Number 92
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS FOR PREFERENCE IMMIGRANT VISAS
This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during August for: “Final Action Dates” and “Dates for Filing Applications,” indicating when immigrant visa applicants should be notified to assemble and submit required documentation to the National Visa Center.
| Processing Queue | Priority Date |
|---|---|
| Analyst Review | June 2023 |
| Audit Review | December 2022 |
| Reconsideration Request to the CO | September 2023 |
USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form:
07/10/2024 09:23 AM EDT
Edition Date: 07/10/24. You can find the edition date at the bottom of Form G-1055, Fee Schedule page.
For more information, please visit the Forms Updates page.
FAQs: Eligibility for 1-year H-1B extension under 365-day rule based on PERM filed on November 1, 2023 || Assessing eligibility and strengthening profile for EB2-NIW application without a research background
Release Date
07/16/2024
USCIS is issuing policy guidance on new provisions in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) that cover consequences for noncompliance with the EB-5 Regional Center program.
My PERM was filed on November 1, 2023, and my current visa expires on October 10, 2024. Am I eligible to apply for a one-year extension based on the 356-day rule? If so, is July a good month to apply for a one-year extension?
OR do I need to travel back to my Country and apply for an extension after 1st November 2024?
H-1B extensions beyond 6 years are possible through an approved I-140 or a PERM labor certification pending for 1 year. For PERM-based extensions, you can apply before the 1-year mark, but the extension only becomes effective after a full year. For example, if your PERM was filed on November 1, 2023, and your current H-1B expires in October 2024, you could apply for an extension in July 2024. However, the extension would only be effective from November 1, 2024. You may need to leave the country temporarily if there's a gap between your current H-1B expiration and the extension's effective date.
I'm from Bangladesh and am pursuing a non-thesis Master’s degree in Civil Engineering at Texas A&M University. My area of specialization is Geotechnical Engineering. I’ll graduate with my degree in May 2025 after completing a co-op with one of the top Engineering and construction companies in the United States. The company also offered me a full-time position after my graduation so that I could continue my work with them. Many PhD candidates from my country with a master's degree are applying for EB2-NIW using their citations and research experience.
1. Since I lack a prominent research background (basically, I have no experience at all in terms of publication/citation), do I have a chance of getting approval for EB2-NIW?
2. Is citation/research compulsory for EB2-NIW to get approved?
3. If I want to apply in the future, how should I prepare my profile to increase my chances? I’m more interested in working in the industry than in research and academia.
4. I want to mention that, from my experience, there is a huge demand for geotechnical engineers in the civil engineering industry, but not many people, especially Americans, are pursuing this major. Can I use this fact to show national interest?
The key is to emphasize activities and achievements that demonstrate your potential to contribute significantly at a national scale. Your profile should highlight projects or initiatives that have a broad, national-level impact, as this aligns closely with the NIW criteria.
Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:
The programme provides only temporary parole for up to five years, not a path to permanent residency, said Rajiv Khanna, managing attorney at Immigration.com.