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This bulletin summarizes the availability of immigrant numbers during November 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.

Visa Bulletin - November 2019

On Oct. 1, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) implemented its new Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system for the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program. Starting Oct. 1, employers who file an H-2A application for a temporary labor certification in FLAG will only receive the certification electronically.

USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form(s):

Published by : The Times of India, Mumbai - Article by: Lubna Kably - Date: October 14, 2019

Quotes and Excerpts from Rajiv in the article:

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services clarified requirements regarding the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification. 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released preliminary fiscal year 2019 agency statistics, accomplishments and efforts to implement President Trump’s agenda. These preliminary statistics highlight important immigration trends and illustrate the work accomplished by USCIS in FY 2019. The agency will publish final, verified FY 2019 statistics later next month.

USCIS recently updated the following form(s):

USCIS is updating the Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) to provide a sample notice of filing an Application for Permanent Employment Certification (ETA Form 9089) that complies with all regulatory requirements. The Policy Alert is available here: 

To prevent secure document tampering, counterfeiting, and fraud, USCIS will begin producing on Oct. 24 a new security-enhanced U.S. travel document, which is a booklet that looks similar to a U.S. passport and serves dual purposes. The travel document can serve in place of:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has revised Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver, by removing the means-tested benefit criteria that was previously used as a factor in determining whether an applicant was exempt from paying for filing fees or biometric services. Individuals may still request a fee waiver if their documented annual household income is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or they demonstrate financial hardship.

USCIS recently updated the following USCIS form(s):

Release Date: Oct. 30, 2019

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that petitioners can now complete and file Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, online. Online filing allows aliens to submit forms electronically, check the status of their case, and receive notices from USCIS.

Fee Increase Consistent with the Consumer Price Index

Release Date: Oct. 30, 2019

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced beginning on Dec. 2, it is adjusting the fee to request premium processing for certain employment-based petitions.

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.

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.