Processing Times for Family-based petitions and applications, including I-130 and I-485
April 9, 2024 As part of our ongoing effort to provide updates on the processing times for family-based immigration applications, we have compiled a list of sample cases that our clients have experienced. This update covers a range of applications including I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), and more. Our goal is to offer a...
I-485 EB Processing Time (Filed in FY 2023)
Update August 4, 2023 In this update, we have a sample I-485 EB approval for an EB3 skilled worker application. This case was filed on December 19, 2022, and it was approved on July 26, 2023. It took a total of 7 months in processing time, which is significantly shorter than posted timeframes on USCIS's website. It's important to note that the USCIS is currently making concerted efforts to...
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...
Is the New Estimated Case Processing Time Better than Before?
On May 5, 2022, USCIS announced changes to simplify and improve how the agency communicates case processing time data to the public. Users can now immediately find the processing time information for their particular type of case, rather than seeing an aggregate of all related case types. Additional changes include: Adding drop-down options for form categories will help narrow results to only...
USCIS Temporarily Increases Automatic EAD extension up to 540 days
Update July 7, 2022 USCIS has informed the public that some applicants may have received incorrect receipt notices showing the outdated 180-day automatic extension instead of the current 540-day automatic extension. The incorrect receipt notices were issued between May 4, 2022 and June 2, 2022. Affected applicants should be receiving the correct notices by the third week of July. Sample...
USCIS posts alert about “Transfer the Underlying Basis” and creates inflated expectations over EB I-485 applications
Update 06/28/2022 We are now seeing the results of the requests to transfer the underlying basis ("relink"). We started filing the requests in February. Below is a sample. In addition to sending out the written request to relink, our advice is to follow up on that request by calling USCIS and initiating a service inquiry. Client has both I-140 EB2 and I-140 EB3. I-140 485 EB3 Concurrent Filing...
Prevailing Wage Determinations Have Slowed Down; FIFO No Longer a Certainty
Update January 30, 2023 Just received a batch of prevailing wage determinations (PWD). It seems DOL is issuing determinations of wage requests filed in July 2022. We also got back PWDs of our earliest requests that have been pending since April 2022. No pending wage requests filed before July 2022. Update January 10, 2023 We are receiving PWDs that were filed in June 2022. However, we have some...
Settlement Reached: H-4 EAD Renewals Now Also Qualifies For Automatic 180-Day extension and L-2s Get Work Authorization Without EAD.
Update May 12, 2022 On Nov. 12, 2021, USCIS issued a policy announcement to clarify that it will consider E and L spouses to be employment authorized based on their valid E or L nonimmigrant status. Since the November 2021 announcement, the Department of Homeland Security added new Class of Admission (COA) codes to distinguish between E and L spouses and children. As of Jan. 30, 2022, USCIS and...