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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS has launched a new Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) self-service tool to allow customers with pending applications, petitions, or requests to update their address with USCIS more easily. E-COA will significantly improve the speed and efficiency of the process for USCIS customers to update their address with USCIS. To use the E-COA tool, individuals need a USCIS online account and must ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
A possible U.S. government shutdown on Oct. 1st will affect some immigration services. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to process applications and petitions that are funded by filing fees, such as naturalization, green cards, and work permits. However, some of their offices may be closed or have reduced staff, which could cause delays and disruptions. The ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
On July 27, 2023, USCIS announced that it will conduct a second random selection from previously submitted electronic registrations for the fiscal year (FY) 2024 H-1B cap, including beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exception. Only those petitioners with selected registrations for FY 2024 are eligible to file H-1B cap-subject petitions. The initial filing period for those with ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
On June 28, USCIS launched a new self-service tool allowing benefit requestors, and their attorneys and accredited representatives, to reschedule most biometric services appointments before the date of the appointment. Previously, benefit requestors and accredited representatives could only request to reschedule a biometric services appointment by calling the USCIS Contact Center. With this new ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS announced the expansion of premium processing for certain applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting a change of status to F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, or J-2 nonimmigrant status. These applicants will be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service, online or via paper form. The premium processing expansion for these categories ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
As previously announced, USCIS received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year 2024 H-1B cap, including the advanced degree exemption also known as the master’s cap. FY 2024 H-1B Registration Overview During the registration period for the FY 2024 H-1B cap, USCIS saw a significant increase in the number of registrations submitted compared to ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS has extended the temporary suspension of the biometrics submission requirement for certain applicants filing Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, requesting an extension of stay in or change of status to H-4, L-2, or E nonimmigrant status. The previously announced suspension, which was initially in place until May 17, 2023, has been extended through September 30, ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS has announced the expansion of premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) OPT extensions who have a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and wish to request a premium processing upgrade. Online filing of Form I-907, Request for Premium ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS has issued guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to update when an immigrant visa number “becomes available” for the purpose of calculating a noncitizen’s age in certain situations under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). For a child to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United States based on their parent’s approved petition for a family-sponsored or employment-based visa, ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS announced today new designs to improve security of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). USCIS will begin issuing the redesigned cards on January 30, 2023. The new Green Card and EAD designs contain state-of-the-art technology that continue to safeguard national security and improve service for our customers. Changes include ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2024 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 1 and run through noon Eastern on March 17, 2023. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations using our online H-1B registration system. Prospective H-1B ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS is extending the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) for petitioners who properly file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, or Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status for 48 months beyond the card’s expiration date. This change started on January 11, 2023, for Form I-829 and will start on January 25, ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Major settlement requires USCIS to adjudicate H-4, H-4 EAD, and L-2 together with Form I-129. This historic settlement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Edakunni v. Mayorkas, provides structural changes for nonimmigrant H-4 and L-2 spouses suffering from long-delayed processing times which often lead to delayed employment authorization. These delays started due to the institution ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing the final phase of the premium processing expansion for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications. Unlike previous phases of the expansion, this phase applies to new (initial) petitions, in addition to all previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational executive and ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
Individuals in the process of transitioning from a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Status to obtaining their U.S. Citizenship are required to take a naturalization test. This test has four (4) components: reading, writing, civics, and the ability to speak English. USCIS plans to conduct a five (5) month trial in 2023 to see whether updates to the current naturalization test are needed. ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
If you are a healthcare worker or a childcare worker who has a valid immigration status and has an initial Application for Employment Authorization ( Form I-765 ), that has been pending for over 90 days, you can request expedited processing. USCIS had previously announced this flexibility for qualifying healthcare and childcare workers with a pending employment authorization document (EAD) renewal ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is implementing the next phase of the premium processing expansion for certain petitioners who have a pending Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications. Similar to the first phase and second phase of the expansion, this phase only applies to certain previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an E13 ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS announced that they have received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2023. USCIS states that they have completed sending non-selection notifications to registrants’ online accounts. The status for registrations ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is implementing the second phase of the premium processing expansion for certain petitioners who have a pending Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, under the EB-1 and EB-2 classifications. Similar to the first phase of the expansion, this phase only applies to certain previously filed Form I-140 petitions under an E13 multinational ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS temporary final rule providing that the automatic extension period applicable to expiring EADs for certain renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765 will be increased from up to 180 days to up to 540 days from the expiration date stated on their EADs. This increase will be available to eligible renewal applicants with pending Forms I-765 as of 5/4/22, including those applicants whose ...
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Akula & Associates P.C.
On Nov. 12, 2021, USCIS issued a policy announcement confirming that E and L spouses are employment authorized based on their valid E or L nonimmigrant status. Since the November 2021 announcement, the Department of Homeland Security added new Class of Admission (COA) codes to distinguish between E and L spouses and children. As of Jan. 30, 2022, USCIS and CBP began issuing Forms I-94 with the ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2022. They have completed sending non-selection notifications to registrants’ online accounts. The status for registrations properly submitted for the FY 2022 H-1B ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
Over the last several days, we have received numerous reports from clients that they are receiving approved employment authorization documents (EADs) that do not include advance parole (AP) travel authorization, even though the applicant had requested both benefits. When an applicant requested both an EAD and advance parole, USCIS had previously been issuing “combination cards” that included both ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
USCIS today published an updated policy guidance that is effective immediately to change the maximum validity period that may be granted for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to certain applicants, as well as to provide general guidance on adjudicating Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. USCIS will generally grant new and renewed EADs that are valid for two years ...
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Posted By
Akula & Associates P.C.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon EST on March 1 st, 2022, and run through noon EST on March 18 th, 2022. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations using USCIS’ online H-1B registration system. Prospective ...
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