Monthly Archives: August 2018

USCIS planning to increase premium fees from $1225 to $1410 as from October 1 2018

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is increasing the premium processing fee charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). DHS is increasing the fee by 14.92 percent, the percentage change in inflation since the fee was last adjusted in 2010 according to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The adjustment increases the fee from $1,225 to $1,410. DATES: This rule is effective on [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. Applications postmarked on or after that date must include the new fee." Here is…Read More Breaking News

USCIS Extends and Expands Suspension of Premium Processing for H-1B Petitions to Reduce Delays

Announcement from USCIS: USCIS is extending the previously announced temporary suspension of premium processing for cap-subject H-1B petitions and, beginning Sept. 11, 2018, will be expanding this temporary suspension to include certain additional H-1B petitions. We expect these suspensions will last until Feb. 19, 2019, and will notify the public via uscis.gov before resuming premium processing for these petitions. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, we will reject any Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service filed with an affected Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker. If a petitioner submits one combined…Read More Breaking News

The Government confirms that they are in the process of removing H4 EAD

Again another twist in the H4 EAD situation. In an answer to the lawsuit brought by Save Jobs USA against H4 EAD or H4 Work permit, the government confirms that it is actually working on the 'reversal' of the H4 EAD rules passed by the Obama Administration in 2015. The answer reads in part "...Final clearance review of the proposed rule is ongoing, and senior levels of the department are actively considering the terms of the NPRM for approval...." and also they mention that their position remains unchanged which basically means they want…Read More Breaking News

STEM OPT Third party placement allowed again subject to conditions

This suddenly appeared on the USCIS website on Friday August 17 2018 Clarification of STEM OPT Extension Reporting Responsibilities and Training Obligations USCIS is updating the Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students (STEM OPT) page of our website to clarify the reporting responsibilities for participating in the STEM OPT program. Students and employers must report material changes to the Designated School Official (DSO) at the earliest opportunity by submitting a modified Form I-983. Employers must report the STEM OPT student’s termination of employment or departure to the DSO within five business days.…Read More Breaking News

A group of Organizations wrote to Congress about the present Memos coming from the USCIS.

Aug. 14, 2018 letter to Senators Grassley, Feinstein - "We the undersigned representing higher and international education, business, immigration, and human rights organizations are alarmed by what appears to be a comprehensive plan of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to target legal immigrants through reinterpretation of long-standing immigration law and policy. USCIS has released a series of guidance memos that will have the effect of shifting legal immigrants into unlawful status and put them on the path to removal from the United States, and in some cases, bar them from reentry to…Read More Breaking News

USCIS Issues Revised Final Guidance on Unlawful Presence for Students and Exchange Visitors

Guidance Updated After Public Comment Period WASHINGTON— U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published a revised final policy memorandum (PDF, 129 KB) related to unlawful presence after considering feedback received during a 30-day public comment period that ended June 11, 2018. Under the revised final policy memorandum, effective Aug. 9, 2018, F and M nonimmigrants who fall out of status and timely file for reinstatement of that status will have their accrual of unlawful presence suspended while their application is pending. On May 10, 2018, USCIS posted a policy memorandum changing the way…Read More Breaking News

Visa Bulletin September 2018 – India EB2 retrogresses to Jan 1 2007 and EB3 Jan 1 2003

Following another bad news for Visa Bulletin September 2018 for India retrogressing to Jan 1 2007 EB2 and EB Jan 1 2003. This means we are now 11 years behind for EB2 India and 15 years behind on EB3. The waiting time seems to be endless. But remember the dates might come back to a reasonable date anytime soon. A.  FINAL ACTION DATES FOR EMPLOYMENT-BASED PREFERENCE CASES On the chart below, the listing of a date for any class indicates that the class is oversubscribed (see paragraph 1); "C" means current, i.e., numbers are authorized…Read More Breaking News

USCIS putting a hold on NTAs until new guidance issued

Updated Guidance on the Implementation of Notice to Appear Policy Memorandum Policy Memorandum 602-0050.1, Updated Guidance for the Referral of Cases and Issuances of Notices to Appear (NTAs) in Cases Involving Inadmissible and Deportable Aliens, was issued on June 28, 2018 and instructed USCIS components to create or update operational guidance on NTAs and Referrals to ICE (RTIs), to be issued within 30 days of the Policy Memorandum. Issuance of the operational guidance is pending; therefore the implementation of PM 602-0050.1 is postponed until the operational guidance is issued. >>Read MoreRead More Breaking News