Self Petition News – 2024-02-25
Welcome to the weekly news summary related to green card self-petition. This news page tries to capture immigration news that is relevant to self-petition applicants. It tries to gather broad immigration topics that may be of interest to self-petition EB1A, and EB2-NIW applicants. Hope you enjoy the news. All news sources are acknowledged. If you need additional details follow the source link.
News Articles
- How long does the EB1A application process take?
- How long does the NIW application process typically take?
- Murthy Law Firm Proposes Amendment to Increase Immigrant Visa Allocation in the U.S.
- Updated Guidelines for Indian Students Applying for Emergency US Student Visas
- USCIS Announces Increased Fees for Premium Processing Services Effective February 26, 2024
- DHS Warns of ICE Budget Shortfall Amid Predicted Surge in Border Crossings and Rising Citizenship Costs
- USCIS Announces H-1B Lottery Process for Fiscal Year 2025 with New Selection Process
- USCIS Increases Filing Fees for Visa Categories and Immigration Forms Effective April 1, 2024
How long does the EB1A application process take?
The processing time for an EB1A application varies based on several factors such as the service center processing the petition, the applicant’s country of residence, and the completeness and complexity of the application. On average, the I-140 petition processing can take anywhere from 3 to 12 months. You can find the latest processing times from the USCIS website. If approved, the subsequent steps for obtaining an immigrant visa or adjusting status can take additional time. Application related to these subsequent steps are governed by the priority dates for your nationality. So, it is also important to note that processing times may vary based on your nationality.
Date: 2024/02/25
How long does the NIW application process typically take?
The NIW (National Interest Waiver) application process under the EB2-NIW category typically takes about 6 to 9 months for the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) to process. However, this timeline can vary based on the workload of the USCIS at the time of application. After approval, the time to actually receive the green card can vary greatly, from a few months to several years, depending on the applicant’s country of birth. This is due to the per-country green card quotas set by U.S. immigration law. For those with an advanced degree, the EB2-NIW category can be a faster route to a green card as it bypasses the labor certification process, which can be time-consuming and requires a job offer from a U.S. employer.
Date: 2024/02/25
Murthy Law Firm Proposes Amendment to Increase Immigrant Visa Allocation in the U.S.
The Murthy Law Firm has submitted a petition to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) proposing an amendment to the DOS regulation governing immigrant visa number allocation. The proposed amendment, if implemented, would significantly increase the number of immigrant visas and green cards issued each fiscal year, reducing backlogs in oversubscribed preference categories. The current policy allocates a separate visa number to each person issued a green card, which exacerbates long waits for immigrant visa numbers, particularly for individuals born in oversubscribed countries. The Murthy Law Firm’s proposal suggests that only the immigrant visa issued to the principal applicant should be counted, thereby enabling more immigrants to realize their American dream.
Date: 2024/02/22
Updated Guidelines for Indian Students Applying for Emergency US Student Visas
The U.S. Visa Information Service website has updated its guidelines for Indian students applying for emergency student visas, due to a shortage of regular visa appointments. A majority of F-1 visa appointments occur in June and July, with a smaller window in November and December. This creates difficulties for students starting programs outside these periods. The new guidance advises students unable to schedule an appointment before their start date to consider deferred enrollment. For emergency appointment requests, students must provide either form I-20 or DS-2019, showing a program start date within 60 days, and must not have had a visa refusal in the past year. These emergency appointments are only for exceptional circumstances.
Date: 2024/02/19
USCIS Announces Increased Fees for Premium Processing Services Effective February 26, 2024
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) offers premium processing services for expedited processing of common form types. This program promises action within specified timeframes or a refund of the premium processing fees. The increased fees, effective from February 26, 2024, will fund the premium services, improve existing processes, reduce backlogs, and boost funding for other adjudication and naturalization services. Applications postmarked on or after February 26, 2024, with incorrect filing fees will be rejected. The complete list of updated premium processing fees was announced in a press release. The Ogletree Deakins’ Immigration Practice Group will continue to monitor developments and provide updates.
Date: 2024/02/25
DHS Warns of ICE Budget Shortfall Amid Predicted Surge in Border Crossings and Rising Citizenship Costs
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warns that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could face a budget shortfall of $500 million without additional funding from Congress. This comes as federal authorities predict a surge in border crossings in the coming months. Meanwhile, the cost of U.S. citizenship is set to rise by up to 19%, potentially deterring permanent residents from naturalizing. This is part of a wider fee restructure by USCIS, the first since 2016. Furthermore, December 2023 saw a record high of migrant encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border. Despite this, USCIS has managed to reduce its case backlog for the first time in a decade, handling over 10.9 million case filings and completing over 10 million in 2023.
Date: 2024/02/24
USCIS Announces H-1B Lottery Process for Fiscal Year 2025 with New Selection Process
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced the H-1B lottery process for Fiscal Year 2025. The registration system will be open from March 6, 2024, to March 22, 2024, with an application fee of $10 per case. The USCIS will implement a new “Beneficiary Centric Selection” process to ensure equal chance of selection for all beneficiaries. The H-1B filing season is the only time USCIS accepts H-1B specialty worker petitions for the next fiscal year. The job offered must be a specialty occupation requiring a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. The demand for the annual allotment of 85,000 new H-1Bs is high, with 780,884 registrations received last year. Employers must take action during the filing season or wait a full year for another opportunity. USCIS will use the same electronic registration system as previous years.
Date: 2024/02/23
USCIS Increases Filing Fees for Visa Categories and Immigration Forms Effective April 1, 2024
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is increasing the filing fees for nearly every visa category and immigration form, including Form I-765 and Form I-131, from April 1, 2024. Form I-765, the Application for Employment Authorization, allows green card applicants to work legally in the U.S. while their application is pending. Form I-131, the Application for Travel Document, allows applicants to travel outside the U.S. and return while their application is pending. These forms have long been free to include in a family-based green card application, but will now cost $260 and $630 respectively. It’s optional to include these forms in the green card application, but without them, applicants cannot work or travel freely while their application is pending.
Date: 2024/02/22
Disclaimer: The summarized content on this webpage is provided for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and may not be applicable to specific situations or circumstances. Always consult the original source links for comprehensive information. This website assumes no liability for any errors.