Updates

On each of the four RFE templates, the first page of the template includes the following language related to the Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE) tool: We check all petitions and applications filed for this classification in our Validation … Continued

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced a final rule published in the Federal Register today adjusting the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees will be effective Dec. 23. USCIS is almost entirely funded by the … Continued

There have been intermittent iCERT outages and slowness, as well as delays at DOL in processing Labor Condition Application (LCA) FEIN verifications.  Also, some applicants have received an FEIN verification by the time the LCA is adjudicated, even where the … Continued

As of February 3, 2016, the lengthy processing times of H-1B extensions at the California Service Center and Vermont Service Center continues to be extraordinarily slow and the backlog has been causing significant hardships for affected individuals. Also, this delay … Continued

As many as five million undocumented individuals living in the US could be shielded from deportation later this year, now that the Supreme Court has decided to hear a case on President Barack Obama’s proposed immigration action. Obama unveiled the … Continued

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has published an update to Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. The new edition is dated 11/23/15. Beginning on February 29, 2016, USCIS will accept only the 11/23/15 edition. The edition date … Continued

Local immigration field offices can ask for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) from applicants at the conclusion of successful adjustment of status interviews. Once the application has been approved, the foreign national is no longer an applicant for adjustment of status, … Continued

On 12/18/15, the President signed into law the omnibus appropriations bill for 2016. The Senate adopted the Omnibus Appropriations Act by a vote of 65-33; the House did so by a 316-113 tally. Several immigration-related issues were highly debated in the run-up … Continued

The Immigration (USCIS) has recently updated paper version of Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative and Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. Immigration practitioners should note that USCIS only accepts the revised form G-28 but … Continued

Congress just extended the Regional Center part of the EB-5 immigrant investor program until September 30, 2016 without any changes. On December 15, 2015, Congress just passed nine-month extension of the validity of the Regional Center program.