Due to the ongoing armed conflict and grave political instability in Ethiopia, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the extension and expansion of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) until December 12, 2025. Ethiopian nationals in the United States who currently benefit from TPS can extend their status for an additional 18 months, from June 13, 2024, to December 12, 2025.
Read MoreEffective April 15, 2024, certain Palestinians in the United States may obtain an employment authorization document (EAD), which will be valid through August 13, 2025. This work authorization is further to President Biden’s memorandum dated February 14, 2024, which allows eligible Palestinians to remain in the United States until August 13, 2025 due to the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Territories. The Presidential policy is called Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its May 2024 Visa Bulletin. In May, there will only be forward movement in the family-based immigrant visa categories. All the employment-based categories will stay the same. Fortunately, none of the categories will retrogress.
Read MoreIn a significant step towards promoting inclusivity, USCIS has added a third gender option, “X,” defined as “Another Gender Identity” on their naturalization application (Form N-400), which grants US citizenship to lawful permanent residents. This is the first USCIS form to include a third gender option.
Read MoreDue to the ongoing instability in Burma following the military coup, the Department of Homeland Security has announced the extension and redesignation of Burma for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) until November 25, 2025. Burmese nationals in the United States who currently benefit from TPS will be able to extend their status for an additional 18 months, from May 26, 2024, through November 25, 2025.
Read MoreUSCIS announced today that it completed selection of the registrations submitted in this year’s H-1B visa lottery. The agency did not release the number of registrations it received, but based on our firm’s experience, chances of selection seemed higher with the new beneficiary-centric selection process. USCIS normally releases this data later in the year, and we will update you with these numbers once they are available.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its April 2024 Visa Bulletin. Like the March Visa bulletin, April’s Visa Bulletin also has forward movement in several family and employment-based immigrant visa categories, and none of the categories will retrogress.
Read MorePresident Biden has issued a memorandum authorizing Deferred Enforced Departure (“DED”) for Palestinians effective February 14, 2024. Palestinians may remain in the U.S without fear of deportation if they are unable to maintain their status for the next 18 months. With DED, they may also obtain work authorization. Palestinians who are here as international students in F-1 status will also benefit from relief.
Read MoreThe Department of State (DOS) has issued its March 2024 Visa Bulletin. After very little movement in February, there will be forward movement in several family and employment-based immigrant visa categories. None of the categories will retrogress.
Read MoreAs a follow up to our earlier message regarding the increase in USCIS filing fees effective April 1, 2024, USCIS also will start imposing a fee on employers filing petitions using Forms I-129, I-129CW and I-140 to fund the agency’s Asylum Program. The fee for each petition is an additional $600 for large employers (defined as 26 or more full-time employees), $300 for small employers (defined as 25 or fewer full-time employees), and $0 for non-profit employers. The new Asylum Program fee will help subsidize the costs associated with processing asylum applications for which there is no government filing fee.
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