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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.

This guidance provides you with some key requirements you must fulfill to apply for an H-1B Visa. For each requirement, USCIS has included forms of evidence that you may submit to meet the requirement and other tips to help you prepare your petition. 

For more visit this USCIS link: Understanding H-1B Requirements

The new change to the PERM CMS will allow submission of electronic documentation beginning on and after 4/15/17 as announced by DOL.

Please use this User Guide which is designed for employers and attorneys/agents, describes the fundamentals of the Web-based system, including registering, logging in, preparing PERM application, and managing your user account. 

PERM Online System User Guide

WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced multiple measures to further deter and detect H-1B visa fraud and abuse. The H-1B visa program should help U.S. companies recruit highly-skilled foreign nationals when there is a shortage of qualified workers in the country. Yet, too many American workers who are as qualified, willing, and deserving to work in these fields have been ignored or unfairly disadvantaged. Protecting American workers by combating fraud in employment-based immigration programs is a priority for USCIS.