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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS has received enough petitions for returning workers to reach the additional 22,000 H-2B visas made available under the FY 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule . They will reject and return any cap-subject petitions for H-2B returning workers received after Aug. 13, along with any accompanying fees. USCIS began accepting additional H-2B petitions for returning workers on July 23 ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
The consular section at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul is closed. Nonimmigrant visa appointments remain unavailable and all immigrant visa appointments, including Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), at the Embassy have been cancelled. The Department of State’s foremost priority for evacuation is U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) of the United States, along with eligible family members. ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Starting October 1, 2021, USCIS and the U.S. Department of State will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all applicants applying for refugee or lawful permanent residence, with some exceptions . Specifically, all applicants who receive their medical examination from a Civil Surgeon or Panel Physician on or after October 1, 2021 , must complete the COVID-19 vaccine series and provide documentation ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS issued a 60-day notice and request for comments on proposed new Forms I-129E&TN, I-129L, I-129MISC, and I-129O. USCIS is separating Form I-129 into several individual forms. Form I-129E & TN will collect information for the E and the TN programs. Form I-129L will collect information for the L nonimmigrant program. Form I-129MISC will collect information for H-3, P, Q, or R classifications. ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
The Department of State has posted the September 2021 Visa Bulletin. All family-based categories must use the Final Action Dates chart, which is showing current, meaning visas are readily available for this category. Applicants in all employment-based preference categories must also use the Final Action Date chart for filings in the month of September. The EB-2 category priority date has moved up ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Beginning Aug. 12, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is temporarily extending the validity period for Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record , from two years to now four years due to COVID-19-related delays in processing. USCIS may consider a completed Form I-693 as valid if: The civil surgeon’s signature is dated no more than 60 days before the applicant filed ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS announced today applicants filing for lawful permanent resident status are now able to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) or replacement card as part of the adjustment of status application process. Previously, these individuals had to apply for a Social Security number through a corresponding I-765 Employment Authorization application or at a Social Security office. USCIS is revising ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced updated policy guidance affecting children born outside of the United States and the determination of whether children born through assisted reproductive technology (ART) are considered to have been born “in wedlock.” This policy update will allow a non-genetic, non-gestational legal parent of a child to transmit U.S. citizenship to the child if ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Canadians and Mexican citizens can come to the United States to work in certain specialty occupations with a TN visa . If you are from Canada or Mexico and you want to work in the United States by obtaining a TN visa, here are some things you should know before applying. #1: The Job You Work For Must Fall Under the NAFTA Professional List Not any worker qualifies for a TN visa. Employees must fall ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
On July 16, 2021, a federal judge in Texas ruled that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a program that allows certain immigrants to temporarily avoid deportation and receive renewable work permits, is illegal and ordered the Biden administration to stop granting new applications. The order does not affect current DACA recipients who have the two-year renewable work permits. However, based on ...
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