Headlines: USCIS Reports Statistics on Employers and Beneficiaries for FY 2025 H-1B Cap Initial Registration – Following up on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) previous announcement that it had received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year 2025 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap), USCIS reported several statistics in an email blast. USCIS Reminds Certain Employment-Based Petitioners to Submit Correct Fees – A new added FAQ asks ..read more

Headlines: DOL Amends Regulations on Certification for Temporary/Seasonal Nonimmigrant Agricultural Workers – Effective June 28, 2024, the Department of Labor is amending its regulations governing certification of temporary employment of nonimmigrant workers in temporary or seasonal agricultural work and enforcement of contractual obligations applicable to their employers. USCIS Agrees to Refund Ukrainians for I-765 Fees – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 24, 2024, that it is refunding all of the I-765 work permit fees collected from eligible Ukrainian paro ..read more

Headlines:  Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for Early Second Half of FY 2024 – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 19,000 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the early second half of fiscal year 2024 with start dates from April 1 to May 14, 2024. DOS Announces New Exchange Visitor Program for Japan – The program authorizes an exception under the Specialist category in the Exchange Visitor Program regulations to permit Japanese language and culture specialists to stay up to 36 mo ..read more

Headlines Expansion of Schedule A, Group II Definition to Support STEM Talent – The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has expanded the “science or art” categories within Schedule A, Group II to include any field of knowledge or skill for which colleges and universities commonly offer courses leading to a degree. New Audit Measures for EB-5 Regional Centers – The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced new audit measures under the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, affecting all designated regional centers. Employment Authorization Granted to Eligible Palestinians U ..read more

Headlines USCIS Has Completed FY2025 H-1B Cap Initial Registration– U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has completed the selection process for fiscal year 2025 H-1B cap registrations, including the master’s cap. Higher Immigration Fees Took Effect April 1 – Despite pending litigation, higher immigration fees took effect on April 1. USCIS Announces Rule to Increase Automatic Extension Period for Work Permits – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a temporary final rule to increase the automatic extension period for certain work permit holders from 180 days to 540 days. US ..read more

Headlines: USCIS Extends FY 2025 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period to March 25 – The initial registration period will now run through noon ET on March 25, 2024. USCIS Clarifies Policy Guidance Clarified on Expedite Requests – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) clarified how the agency considers expedite requests related to government interests and emergencies or urgent humanitarian situations, including travel-related requests. The update also clarifies how to make an expedite request and explains how USCIS processes expedite requests. DHS Extends and Redesignates Burma (Mya ..read more

Headlines: USCIS Implements Streamlined Process to Shorten Wait Times for EADs, SSNs for Refugees – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is implementing a streamlined process to provide Employment Authorization Documents more efficiently to eligible refugees after they are admitted into the United States. USCIS will also electronically provide the Social Security Administration with the information required to assign a Social Security number and mail a Social Security card to the refugee. USCIS Issues Guidance Clarifying Anti-Discrimination Policy for USCIS Employees and Contractors Inte ..read more

  Headlines: USCIS Reaches H-2B Cap for Second Half of FY 2024, Announces Filing Dates for Supplemental Visas – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received enough petitions to meet the H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2024. USCIS also announced the filing dates for supplemental H-2B visas for the remainder of FY 2024. Visa Final Action Dates Advance in April, Non-Minister Religious Workers Category Set to Expire – The Department of State’s Visa Bulletin for April 2024 notes that little to no additional forward movement in final action dates for visa cat ..read more

Headlines: FY 2025 H-1B Cap Registration Period Opens Soon; USCIS Issues Reminders for Employers About Online Filing, Other New Requirements for Cap and Non-Cap Petitions – The initial registration period for the FY 2025 H-1B cap season will open at noon ET on March 6, 2024, and run through noon ET on March 22, 2024. A USCIS online account is required to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated $10 registration fee. Certain Updated Forms Take Effect April 1 With No Grace Period – Under the new fee final rule effective April 1, 2024, the new 04 ..read more

Headlines: E-Verify to Pilot ‘Next Generation’ Service in Spring 2024 – E-Verify+ will include streamlining of Form I-9 and the employment eligibility verification process. DOS Signs MOU With Germany on Exchange Visitor Program – The Department of State has signed a memorandum of understanding with Germany to allow certain German principals to come to the United States as J-1 exchange visitors. Reminder: Premium Processing Fees Will Increase February 26 – Fees for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, will increase on February 26, 2024. The increase varies by type of petition. Details ..read more