Visa Bulletin Update FY 2024

October 2023 Final action dates across most employment-based visa categories have seen advancement. This is an encouraging indication that a larger number of visa numbers are available for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY-2024). By advancing the final action dates, the Department of State is signaling an intention to keep visa issuance well-distributed throughout the fiscal year, avoiding backlogs or rush...

I-131 Re-Entry Permit Processing Times

Update March 30, 2023 It's still taking more than 15 months to process an I-131 re-entry permit. Posted time frame has also gone up to 18 months. Original Post January 9, 2023 Processing times of I-131 re-entry permits have been slow and have not shown any improvements in the past 2 years. Currently, taking about one year to 16 months.

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

September 21, 2023 We are excited to share another update on the I-765 (Employment Authorization Document) processing times, particularly those filed in conjunction with family-based I-485 applications. Continuing the positive trend we highlighted in July, we are witnessing even more encouraging statistics, showing that processing times have further improved. Sample Processing Times: Application...

I-129F, Fiance(e) or spouse and/or dependent children, processing times

Update June 22, 2023 Some improvements in I-129F, K-1, petition processing time. 13 to 18 months. Update April 6, 2023 Here's sample I-485 which took 20 months to process. Filed in July of 2021!! The good thing is that generally, the interview will be waived. Update February 22, 2023 Took 16 months for USCIS to approve the I-129 K-1 petition. Then another 2 months to transfer to NVC. Now waiting...

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...

Sample EB1A Approvals

April 12, 2023 Some more recent samples. A folk music artist and biomechanics researcher with under 20 publications and about 150 citations. October 20, 2022 Here's a recent sample EB1A approval for a Structural Engineer living in China. Had to overcome a "give-me-everything" RFE in template form. Filed in April 2022 and approved in September 2022.

H-1B Receipt Notice Delays at the Vermont Service Center

Update July 15, 2022 The good news is that we have already received approvals for some of the H-1Bs affected by the receipt delay. Update July 1, 2022 First Vermont, now California is experiencing unusual delay in issuing H-1B receipt notices. Interestingly, Vermont has been transferring workload to California since June to address its own delay and speed up the intaking process. Update June 22,...

USCIS Expands Premium Processing to I-140 EB1 (EB1-C) and I-140 EB-2 (NIW)

Update Post, January 12, 2023 Starting January 30, 2023, premium processing will be available to new and pending: -E13 multinational executive/manager petitions. I-140 (NIW) -E21 NIW petitions no more phased expansion of premium processing. I-140 (EB-1C) Update Post, September 16, 2022 USCIS continues to expand premium processing for certain petitioners who have a pending Form I-140, Immigrant...