As of February 24, 2020, all applications for Adjustment of Status will be subject to the enhanced Public Charge Rule after a rule by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 27, 2020. This rule, originally scheduled to take effect on October 15, 2019, was enjoined due to multiple federal court injunctions, which have now been
New Version of Form I-9 Now Available
Today, Jan. 31, 2020, USCIS published the long awaited new version of the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification for immediate use. The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published a notice today in the Federal Register announcing the official release of the new version of the form, as approved by Office of Management and Budget on
Immigrant Visa Processing Changes – EB3 India/China move ahead slightly, while EB-2 India and China inch forward; EB-3 & EB-2 WW expected to backlog soon; Visa Office on Priority Dates, Demand, and Predictions
In our continuing series of reports, Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State, shares his most recent analysis of current trends and future projections for the various immigrant preference categories with AILA (the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association).
Below are highlights from the most recent “check-in with Charlie”
H-1B Electronic Registration Process for Next Fiscal Year Cap Season will open 03/01/20
From the Public Engagement Division of USCIS: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on 12/6/19 the requirement for employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, to first electronically register and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee before filing a petition for the fiscal year 2021 H-1B
USCIS Proposed Increase to Immigration Filing Fees
On November 14, 2019, the Department of Homeland Security published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register to adjust the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Immigration Examinations Fee Account (IEFA) fee schedule. The public comment period is open until December 16, 2019.
Unlike most government agencies, USCIS is fee-funded. According to the
Immigrant Visa Processing Changes – EB3 and EB1 unavailable through end of FY; EB-2 WW moves ahead, while EB-2 India inches forward and EB-2 China remains unchanged; Visa Office on Priority Dates, Demand, and Predictions
In our continuing series of reports, Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State, shares his most recent analysis of current trends and future projections for the various immigrant preference categories with AILA (the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association).
Below are highlights from the most recent “check-in with Charlie”
Yes, Employers should continue to use the expired version of the Form I-9
As you (should) know, the current edition of the Form I-9 expired on August 31, 2019. USCIS has decreed that, until further notice, employers should continue using this 2017 edition of the Form I-9 (annotated with “Form I-9 07/17/17 N” in the lower left corner and “Expires 08/31/2019” in the upper right corner) until further
Immigrant Visa Processing Changes –EB1 demand remains high; EB-3 India remains ahead of EB-2 India; EB-2 China remains ahead of EB-3 China; Visa Office on Priority Dates, Demand, and Predictions
In our continuing series of reports, Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State, shares his most recent analysis of current trends and future projections for the various immigrant preference categories with AILA (the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association).
Below are highlights from the most recent “check-in with Charlie”
Immigrant Visa Processing Changes – modest forward movement continues in EB1/EB2/EB3 and Family Based Categories; Visa Office on Priority Dates, Demand, and Predictions
In our continuing series of reports, Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State, shares his most recent analysis of current trends and future projections for the various immigrant preference categories with AILA (the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association).
Below are highlights from the most recent “check-in with Charlie”
Immigrant Visa Processing Changes – modest forward movement continues in EB1/EB2/EB3 and Family Based Categories; Visa Office on Priority Dates, Demand, and Predictions
In our continuing series of reports, Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State, shares his most recent analysis of current trends and future projections for the various immigrant preference categories with AILA (the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association).
Below are highlights from the most recent “check-in with Charlie”