USCIS Forms Update Notice
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
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State Department Announces that Ink Signature No Longer Required on Affidavits of Support
As part of our ongoing efforts to be responsive to customer needs in immigrant visa processing, the Department of State is pleased to announce that original or “wet ink” signatures are no longer required on submitted Forms I-864, Affidavit of Support. This also applies to the I-864A, I-864W, and I-864EZ.
Guestbook Entry for Ramesh Doraiswamy , United States
Name
Ramesh Doraiswamy
Country
United States
State
CA
Recording of Free Community Conference Call (Every Other Thursday), 1 December 2016
Immigration Law
Green Card
Substantial transcription for video
Discussion Topics, Thursday, 1 December 2016:
FAQ: New I-140 EAD regulations -- Extending H-1 after I-140 revocation, retaining priority dates under new regulations, per country limits, EAD under the new regulations; effective date of new regulations; Visa cancelled CWOP, 214(b) denial; FAQ: Implications of joining an end client where H-1B employer objects, H-1B employer not paying salary - DOL Wage and Hour Division Complaint WH-4; AC21 green card portability, "same or similar" job under old/new regulations, working on 1099 as contractor; Frequency of visits and duration of stay on tourist/visitors/B-1/B-2 visa; Foreign Medical Graduates, Physicians, H-1B for part time jobs, concurrent cap and cap exempt H-1B employment.
Other: Consular processing green card through future employer; Can one start H-1B job before the requested start date? Court orders for migration of child by divorced parent; H-2B extension, denial, 240-day rule; Volunteering on F-1 OPT; Aging out; Name errors on green card; Humanitarian parole, H-1B change of status, etc.
AAO Processing Times as of December 1, 2016
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Agency
Immigration Law
Visa Bulletin - January 2017
Agency
Green Card
USCIS Announces Citizenship Resource Center Improved for Mobile Devices
Beginning December 12, the free citizenship preparation and study materials in USCIS’ Citizenship Resource Center will be easier to use from a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. Among the improvements, the new design puts key navigational links inside a single “hamburger” icon like that found on many other mobile sites. This redesign follows the launch of mobile friendly design on other parts of uscis.gov and uscis.gov/es earlier this year.
USCIS Announces Extension of Parole for Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens
To allow immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and certain “stateless” individuals to maintain legal status in the CNMI, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the parole program for these relatives, effective immediately, until December 31, 2018.
To apply for extension of this parole, you must:
What is new regulations for H-1 grace period, revocation of I-140 ?
Question details
My I 140 is approved in 2013 and H1-B 5 year and 3 months are completed.
I have important question , after 17 Jan 2016 , my any chance I loose my job and my employer revoke my H1-B and I 140.
1. Will I get some time to find new job and new employee to transfer my H1-B ?
2. after my employer revoke my H1-B what is time line I can still transfer my H1-B visa with new employer?
Government will sympathetically consider unexpected layoffs and should give you consideration up to 60 days each H-1 period. So one 60 day period let say you have taken and then changed your employer another 60 day period kind of like that and there is little more to it but each time there is new validity to H-1 . You will be able to get 60 more days.
FAQ Transcript
Note: This is a verbatim transcript of the referenced audio/video media delivered as oral communication, and, therefore, may not conform to written grammatical or syntactical form.
USCIS Publishes Interim Rule on T Nonimmigrant Status
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations governing the requirements and procedures for victims of human trafficking who seek T nonimmigrant status. DHS is also streamlining procedures, responding to public comments, and providing guidance on the statutory requirements for T nonimmigrants in order to ensure that the T nonimmigrant status (T visa) regulations are up to date and reflect USCIS’ adjudicative experience.
H-2B Returning Worker Program Expired
The H-2B returning worker provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-113) expired on Sept.
USCIS Fee Changes Take Effect Dec. 23
USCIS reminds applicants and petitioners to pay new fees with forms postmarked or filed on or after Dec. 23, 2016, or USCIS will not be able to accept the filings. USCIS will only accept previous fees if they are postmarked Dec. 22 or earlier.
Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Process: FAQ's Updated
Over the past three years, this Administration has undertaken an unprecedented effort to transform the immigration enforcement system into one that focuses on public safety, border security and the integrity of the immigration system.
AAO Processing Times as of December 1, 2016
This link below shows the average amount of time it takes to receive a decision in a particular type of case after the case file is received by the AAO. Processing times are directly related to the volume of cases received.
http://www.immigration.com/processing-times-status-checks/aao-processin…
Please sign PETITION FOR REISSUANCE within the usa of H-1, F-1, and other NONIMMIGRANT VISAS
I encourage you to sign a petition I have drafted at the request of our community urging the Obama Administration to reinstate reissuance of nonimmigrant visas (including work visas like H-1, student visas like F-1, and family visas) within the USA, a practice that was discontinued in 2004. If the petition receives 100,000 on-line signatures by February 23, the Administration will review it, send it to the appropriate policy experts in the administration, and issue an official response. Signing the petition takes only a few minutes.
Timely Filing of H-1B Extension
Question details
My H-1B status will expire the last week of January 2013. I cannot file my petition for an extension until after January 1, 2013. Will that be too late to file an extension?
A petition is considered to be timely filed as long as it reaches USCIS prior to the expiration of your current H-1B status.
Multiple I-140 Approvals and Linking to I-485
Question details
When there are multiple I-140 approvals, how do you link the appropriate approval to the pending I-485 petition?
If an I-485 is already pending, a newly approved I-140 can be linked to it by sending a written request to the USCIS. Include all information and relevant copies to clearly explain the transfer of the I- 485 petition to a different I-140 approval.
I-140 Successor-in-Interest
Question details
Is any action required when an I-140 sponsoring employer undergoes acquisition, merger, or restructuring?
If the I-140 petition is still pending, then USCIS needs to be notified in writing of the change. If the I-140 is already approved, then an amendment needs to be filed by the successor-in-interest petitioner. Note that the successor-in-interest petitioner must take over the rights and liabilities of the earlier petitioner, including the immigration matters.
Qualifying Degrees for EB-2
Question details
What degrees qualify for EB-2?
In June 2007, the USCIS clarified what is considered to be equivalent to a U.S. Master’s Degree for Employment-Based Category 2. Each petition and its supporting documentation are examined on a case-by-case basis and degree equivalencies are based on the evidence presented with the individual case. However, the below is provided as a general outline:
1. U.S. Master’s Degree – As long as it is in the field required, no additional document is required.
Secretary Napolitano Announces Final Rule to Support Family Unity During Waiver Process
Released: Jan. 2, 2013
Contact: DHS Press Office, (202) 282-8010
USCIS Unable to Approve I-800 or I-800A Petitions to Adopt Children from Cambodia
The Cambodian government has indicated that it intends to begin accepting intercountry adoption petitions on Jan. 1, 2013. Cambodia joined the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the Hague Adoption Convention) on Aug. 1, 2007.
DHS Announces Final Rule to Support Family Unity During Waiver Process
On January 2nd, 2013, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that certain immediate relatives of U.S. citizens present in the United States without a visa, who are in the process of seeking immigrant visas to become lawful U.S. permanent residents, may apply and be approved for provisional unlawful presence waivers before departing the United States to attend their immigrant visa interviews. USCIS will begin accepting provisional unlawful presence waivers on March 4th, 2013.
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