Monday, August 28, 2023

AUTOMATIC 540-DAY EXTENSION OF CERTAIN EAD RENEWALS TO EXPIRE ON OCTOBER 26TH

The Temporary Final Rule (TFR) which USCIS issued on May 4, 2022 allowing for certain EAD renewals to qualify for an automatic extension of employment authorization of up to 540 days is set to expire on October 26, 2023.

Under current USCIS regulations, individuals who file a renewal application for their EAD qualify for an automatic extension of employment authorization of 180-days past their EAD expiration if the following requirements are met:

  • A Form I-765 was properly filed to renew the current EAD prior to the expiration of the EAD;
  • The renewal application is for a category eligible for automatic extension. For a list of all eligible EAD categories please refer to USCIS’s website.
  • The category of the EAD matches the status indicated on the Receipt Notice of the pending I-765 renewal application.
  • The Form I-765 has not been denied. Denial of the renewal application terminates the employment authorization provided by the automatic extension.

The TFR has provided a temporary benefit to individuals who meet the above requirements, expanding the automatic extension period for qualifying applicants whose Form I-765 is received on or before October 26, 2023.

Under the TFR, any qualifying renewal application filed on or before October 26, 2023, will gain the full benefit of the 540-day extension. Even applications received on October 26, 2023, will be provided with an additional 540-days of employment authorization beyond their EAD expiration.

From October 27, 2023, onward, any qualifying EAD renewals received by USCIS will be granted the typical 180-day extension.

Thursday, August 24, 2023

USCIS LAUNCHES ONLINE APPOINTMENT REQUEST FORM

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a new online appointment request form, which allows individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request an in-person appointment at a field office for ADIT stamps, Emergency Advance Parole, Immigration Judge Grants without having to call the USCIS Contact Center.

The newly launched online form is not a self-scheduling tool. Individuals may request a specific date and time for an in-person appointment, but the USCIS cannot guarantee that the requested appointment date will be scheduled.  The USCIS Contact Center will review submissions and the availability of in-person appointments at a specific field office. The USCIS will then confirm and schedule the individual for an available in-person appointment.

According to the USCIS, the online appointment request form aims to enhance the customer experience by collecting required information upfront and potentially scheduling the requested appointment without any further engagement with the USCIS Contact Center. However, the USCIS does state that the Contact Center may contact an individual either by phone or email depending on the appointment reason and urgency, using the information provided on the submitted request.

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Webinar - H1Bs for Registered Nurses

MU Law will be hosting a FREE webinar for our clients and friends on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 from 2:00-3:00 pm Eastern (1:00-2:00 pm Central).


Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about:

  • H1Bs for Registered Nurses – Schedule A vs. H1B Timeline
  • Registered Nurse Beneficiary Requirements
  • Registered Nurse Position Requirements (BS in Nursing)
  • H1Bs for Registered Nurses at Cap Exempt Institutions
  • Staffing Companies vs. Direct Placement

PLEASE JOIN US!

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Webinar - H1Bs for Registered Nurses

MU Law will be hosting a FREE webinar for our clients and friends on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 from 2:00-3:00 pm Eastern (1:00-2:00 pm Central).

 

Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about:

  • H1Bs for Registered Nurses – Schedule A vs. H1B Timeline
  • Registered Nurse Beneficiary Requirements
  • Registered Nurse Position Requirements (BS in Nursing)
  • H1Bs for Registered Nurses at Cap Exempt Institutions
  • Staffing Companies vs. Direct Placement

 

PLEASE JOIN US!

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

SEPTEMBER 2023 VISA BULLETIN

The Department of State has just issued the September 2023 Visa Bulletin.  This is the final Visa Bulletin of Fiscal Year 2023. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these dates may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment.

EB

Worldwide

CHINA

INDIA

PHILIPPINES

1st

01AUG23

01FEB22

01JAN12

01AUG23

2nd

01JUL22

08JUL19

01JAN11

01JUL22

3rd

01MAY20

01SEP19

01JAN09

01MAY20

Other workers

01MAY20

01SEP15

01JAN09

01MAY20

Table B: Dates of Filing

The USCIS is expected to use the Table B Dates of Filing chart for I-485 employment-based filings. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis

As is often the case toward the end of the fiscal year, there was not much movement as the USCIS and DOS seek to use the remaining visas in the fiscal year.

EB-3 Other Workers, which is the category for occupations for most occupations, remains retrogressed to 01May2020.  This date, along with all categories, will not advance until October 1, 2023, with the start of the new fiscal year.  Our sense is that when the October 2023 visa bulletin is published, it will show an EB-3 (non-India and non-China) with a mid-2022 priority date.  However, because the Department of State is not forthcoming with their demand and usage data, please assume large error bars around our projection.

EB-2 advanced for all countries, except India and China, which may be good news for EB-2 in the next fiscal year.

Sometime during September, the DOS may announce that all immigrant visas have been used for FY 2023.  Rest assured that this is expected and will not have any bearing on the FY 2024 Visa Bulletin dates.

Monday, August 7, 2023

DOS PROPOSES RULE ON THIRD-PARTY ATTENDANCE AT CERTAIN APPOINTMENTS OVERSEAS

On July 26, 2023, the Department of State published in the Federal Register new rulemaking that would allow U.S. citizens abroad to be accompanied by an attorney, interpreter, and/or other third party when attending certain appointments at an Embassy or Consulate overseas, such as an appointment for a US passport, to Report of Birth Abroad, to request assistance in locating or assisting U.S. citizens, to request emergency medical assistance, crime victim assistance, amongst other selected services. 

The new rule makes it clear that individuals will bear any costs associated with the attendance of an attorney, interpreter, and that the representation or assistance by a third party or attorney does not excuse the applicant’s in-person appearance. 

The proposed rule affects 20 CFR parts 50, 51, and 71.  Public comments should be submitted by September 24, 2023.

Thursday, August 3, 2023

Webinar - H1Bs for Registered Nurses

MU Law will be hosting a FREE webinar for our clients and friends on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 from 2:00-3:00 pm Eastern (1:00-2:00 pm Central).

 

Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about:

  • H1Bs for Registered Nurses – Schedule A vs. H1B Timeline
  • Registered Nurse Beneficiary Requirements
  • Registered Nurse Position Requirements (BS in Nursing)
  • H1Bs for Registered Nurses at Cap Exempt Institutions
  • Staffing Companies vs. Direct Placement

 

PLEASE JOIN US!