News

USCIS announced updates to their guidance regarding O-1 Nonimmigrant Visa for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement. The update provides several areas of clarification regarding requirements and evidentiary criteria.

USCIS announced efforts to update the U.S. naturalization test have been stopped. Announced in 2022, comments were predominantly negative, stating the updated test created unnecessary hurdle for applicants. The 2008 naturalization test will continue to be used for now.

President-elect Trump promised a mass deportation program during his campaign. Funding and detention space are two roadblocks, as well as the continued high backlog in U.S. immigration cases which will only be made worse with the increase in cases.

President-elect Trump's Border Czar, Tom Homan, stated mass deportation plans are ongoing and will be ready on inauguration day, January 20, 2025. Additional funding from Congress, military members, and ICE officials are needed in order to execute the plan.

The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) issued a formal recommendation addressing areas of improvement for processing Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative to address handing of family-based petition submissions.

The White House is completing the final step for the H-1B modernization program introduced in October 2023. The first half of the program was finalized. In this the second and final half of the proposed program, deferral requirements, the cap-gap, and education requirements are under consideration.

The January 2025 Visa Bulletin shows modest advancement in the EB-2 and EB-3 categories, with minor advancement for select countries in the family-based categories. Take action as soon as eligible to leverage current immigration policy.

DHS announced the permanent extension of validity for timely filed renewals of employment authorization documents. The extension period is moved from up to 180 days to up to 540 days after the expiration date on the EAD.

USCIS announced all Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, submissions must include Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Report. This is in response to the number of Request for Evidence issuance when adjudicating the Adjustment of Status.

DHS posted an update to the Federal Register for Lebanon Temporary Protected Status. Registration for the program runs from November 27, 2024 through May 27, 2026. The program offers 18 months TPS status and offers qualifying students with an F-1 nonimmigrant student visa benefits as well.