USCIS Announces Increase in EAD Validity Period to 5 Years

In a significant announcement on September 27, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) shared a notable update on the Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). The agency is extending the maximum validity period for initial and renewal EADs to five years for certain categories of noncitizens, including those admitted as refugees, granted asylum, and more. Key Takeaways:...

Visa Bulletin Update FY 2024

February 2024 USCIS determined that for November 2023, applicants in all family-sponsored preference categories and all employment-based preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart. The most notable change is in the F2A category, where the final action dates for most countries moved forward from November 2019 to February 2020. Categories in the employment-based preferences remained...

Importance of Verifying Your Green Card Issuance: USCIS May Incorrectly Approve your GC Too Early

Navigating the labyrinth of immigration procedures is not an easy task, and even when everything is done correctly, errors can still happen. This can sometimes be due to oversights on the part of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This article will focus on one such case, where we represented a client whose Green Card was rescinded due to an error by USCIS. The...

Case Study: Navigating the I-360 VAWA Self-Petition Process for Battered Spouses

Abuse, particularly within a family structure, can create a cycle of dependency and fear. For non-U.S. citizens married to abusive U.S. citizens or permanent residents, the fear of losing immigration status often compounds their predicament. In this case study, we explore how the I-360 VAWA self-petition provided a pathway to safety and independence for a client, whom we'll refer to as "Jane."...

USCIS Policy Updates Simplified: The Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility

We are summarizing the recent policy updates from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regarding the "public charge ground of inadmissibility." What is the Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility? The public charge ground of inadmissibility is a legal term used in immigration law. It refers to a rule that can deny visas, admission, or adjustment of status to people who are...

DHS Announces Family Reunification Parole Processes for Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on July 7, 2023, the implementation of new family reunification parole (FRP) processes for Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. These measures aim to reduce irregular migration and promote family unity by offering a lawful pathway for nationals of these countries whose family members are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent...

Processing Times for Family-based petitions and applications, including I-130 and I-485

November 21, 2023 Here's another update on the processing times for family-based immigration applications, including the I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), and the I-765 (Employment Authorization Document) and I-131 (advance parole). Marriage-Based Green Card (I-130 and I-485): Filing Date: October 06, 2022 Approval Date:...

Visa Bulletin Update FY 2023

September 2023 September 2023 Visa Bulletin Highlights Family-Sponsored Second Preference (F2A) Retrogression: A significant update has been made regarding the F2A category. A cutoff date of 09/01/2023 has been assigned to the dates of filing chart. This indicates that I-485 based on F2A should be filed within this month, August 2023. Steady Employment-Based Number Use: Employment-based number...

Changing Consulate Interview Venue for LGBT Applicants

Oftentimes, LGBT beneficiaries of family-based (I-130) and fiance(e) visa petitions (I-129F) may want to change the visa interview location where the safety of the LGBT applicant may be at issue. The Department of State understands these concerns and has provided the following procedure for changing venue. File I-130 or I-129F petition and designate the consular post in the beneficiary's home...