U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin implementing the June 28 Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens Policy Memorandum (PM) (PDF, 140 KB) on Oct. 1, 2018. USCIS will take an incremental approach to implement this memo.
Updates for October 1, 2018: USCIS transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center:
For more information, see USCIS Workload Transfer Updates page.
USCIS updated the following USCIS form:
Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service; New Edition Dated 10/01/18
For more information, please visit Forms Updates page
On Sept. 27, the Public Engagement Division (PED) held a stakeholder teleconference to discuss the USCIS Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuance of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens policy memorandum (PM) that was issued on June 28. USCIS representatives provided an overview of the memorandum and addressed many questions submitted in advance. Below is the link to the summary of the PM and the questions and answers from the teleconference.
USCIS has published a policy memorandum (PDF, 108 KB) providing guidance on the implementation of section 1045 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (the FY 2019 NDAA), which allows certain H-2B workers on Guam and in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Island
On Oct. 1, USCIS began using digital tablets to administer the English reading and writing tests during naturalization interviews as part of the agency’s ongoing business modernization efforts. Although USCIS applicants already use digital tablets to sign or verify parts of their applications, this new approach expands tablet usage, allowing the device to be used for a greater portion of the application process. USCIS will be able to continue using the paper process on a case-by-case basis.
Application for T Nonimmigrant Status; Application for Immediate Family Member of T-1 Recipient; and Declaration of Law Enforcement Officer for Victim of Trafficking in Persons, Form I-914 and Supplements A and B10/03/2018 12:00 AM EDTAgency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Application for T Nonimmigrant Status; Application for Immediate Family Member of T-1 Recipient; and Declaration of Law Enforcement Officer for V
I came to the US from Canada on a J1 Visa and wanted a California ID for personal reasons. I followed some of the advice in this forum (thank god I found it) and got my ID within 2 weeks of finding this forum. Total wait time has been 1 month and 2 weeks (way better than others). Just like the earlier posts, CPDCCSSM@dmv.ca.gov wouldn't help me either and told me to call in. What I DID learn from the forum is that you have to call the legal presence department several times to get through to a wait list.
PERM Processing Times (as of 09/30/2018)
USCIS transferred some of the following cases from the Vermont Service Center to the Texas Service Center:
For more information, see Workload Transfer Updates page.
Visa Bulletin For November 2018
Number 23
Volume X
Washington, D.C
A. STATUTORY NUMBERS
Topics of Discussion: Oct 11, 2018
Transfer of H1-B without filing an I-140 immediately || Does changing employer automatically cancel/revoke previous H1B petition || Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) about I-140 || CAP EXEMPT H1-B || Can I use my EB3 to file Change of status application by using successor in interest document as my EB3 was done by my old company which was acquired by company XXX || Job portability under the AC21 || Can an employer retain the original I-797 and give only a copy if the I-797 to the employee
USCIS is revising policy guidance for the validity period of Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.
On Oct. 16, 2018, USCIS began issuing new receipt notices for certain Forms I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, to replace previously issued receipt notices containing inaccurate information.
MONROE, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that three Nigerian nationals living in Grambling and Texas have pleaded guilty Monday to roles in a scheme aimed at obtaining permanent residency illegally.
USCIS has completed receipting and data entry for all filings of Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, received between May 1 and Sept. 9, 2018. Petitioners should receive receipt notices by Oct. 22, 2018.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, October 25, 2018:
FAQ: Travel during N-400 naturalization process || Impact of extending B-1 B-2 stay || Filing H-1B without an end client letter (supplied later)||NTA in employment based visa
Other: Marry a LPR holder || Changing jobs on the AC21 using supplement J || F-1 STEM OPT || Port back from EB3 TO EB2
USCIS recently updated the following form(s):
Update to Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion; New Edition Dated 05/17/201810/29/2018 12:00 AM EDTFor more information, please visit our Forms Updates page.
USCIS transferred some of the following cases from the California Service Center to the Nebraska Service Center:
For more information, see Workload Transfer Updates page.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will expand its Information Services Modernization Program to key field offices, beginning with the Detroit Field Office and the five offices in the Los Angeles District on Nov. 13. Field offices in the Newark, Great Lakes, and San Francisco districts will implement the program during the first quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2019. USCIS anticipates expanding the program to all remaining field offices by the end of FY 2019.
| Form Type | Case Type | Completed 0-180 Days | Quarterly Completions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumulative of all completions | 99.21% | 1383 | |
| I-129CW | CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker | 100% | 4 |
| I-129E | Treaty Trader or Investor | 100% | 2 |
| I-129F |
Can USCIS Discontinue H-1B Extensions Beyond 6 Years? In my opinion, the answer is: no. Can they try? Yes, but they will need to change the law through the Congress. Drastic changes through executive action are legally unavailable. This discussion has become necessary because there are reports circulating that the Trump administration is trying to devise ways and methods to take away the benefit of extension beyond six years for H-1B holders.