Category: Immigration

2019 Diversity Visa Lottery Restarts October 18, 2017 https://www.dvlottery.state.gov/ Due to a technical issue, the DV-2019 entry period that began on October 3 has been closed. Entries submitted during October 3-10 are not valid and have been excluded from the system; they will not count as a duplicate entry. The technical issue has been resolved and a new full entry

New USCIS Form Streamlines Process to Obtain a Work Authorization Document and Social Security Number Simultaneously On October 2, 2017 based on a new information-sharing partnership between U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA), foreign nationals in certain categories or classifications can now apply for work authorization and a social security number using a single

Court Ordered State Department to Reserve Unused Diversity Visa Numbers for Travel Ban Countries September 29, 2017, the court in P.K. v. Tillerson (D.D.C.), filed on August 3, challenging the State Department’s policy of denying immigrant visas to winners of the diversity lottery-where those winners are nationals of countries affected by the travel ban. Granted alternative relief the plaintiffs sought:

During a call with AILA’s USCIS Service Center Operations (SCOPS) Liaison Committee on September 27, 2017, USCIS Service Center Operations indicated that it is on track to resume premium processing for all H-1B petitions on or before October 3, 2017. AILA is currently awaiting official announcement and further details from USCIS on this issue.

Who Can File Adjustment of Status Application for Family-Sponsored or Employment-Based Preference Visas: October 2017 USCIS has determined that for October 2017, the Filing Date Chart in the DOS Visa Bulletin is to be used for family-sponsored filings and the Final Action Dates chart in the DOS Visa Bulletin must be used for employment-based preference filings. Are you seeking to

Today, September 18, 2017, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed premium processing for all H-1B visa petitions subject to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 cap. The FY 2018 cap has been set at 65,000 visas. Premium processing has also resumed for the annual 20,000 additional petitions that are set aside to hire workers with a U.S. master’s degree

ICE Operation Mega, September 17, 2017, Except in field office areas impacted by hurricanes. On the evening of Thursday, September 8th, NBC News reported that Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) had plans to conduct a mass nationwide immigration enforcement operation from mid- to late- September known internally as “Operation Mega.” NBC reported that the series of sweeps – “the largest

https://www.facebook.com/barackobama/posts/10155227588436749 On 9/5/17, President Barack Obama released a statement criticizing the repeal of DACA, stating that “This is about whether we are a people who kick hopeful young strivers out of America, or whether we treat them the way we’d want our own kids to be treated. It’s about who we are as a people – and who we want

https://www.uscis.gov/news/uscis-approves-10000-u-visas-7th-straight-fiscal-year For the 8th straight year, USCIS has approved the congressionally mandated annual limit of 10,000 petitions for U nonimmigrant status for victims of certain crimes who assist law enforcement authorities. USCIS will continue to review pending petitions for eligibility for potential visa issuance when more visas become available. October 1, 2016 marked the first day of fiscal year 2017,

https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2017-09-05/pdf/2017-18653.pdf Department of State posted a Federal Register 60-day notice and request for comments on a new eMedical system into which panel physicians will input visa applicants’ medical exam information. DOS anticipates a full rollout by the end of 2018. Comments are due 11/6/17. (82 FR 42010, 9/5/17) “Approved panel physicians will be granted access to an eMedical system by