On October 11, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an update to its guidance on expedite requests, effective immediately. The update in the USCIS Policy Manual clarifies how the agency considers expedite requests related to government...
USCIS Updates Guidance on Expedite Requests
On October 11, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced an update to its guidance on expedite requests, effective immediately. The update in the USCIS Policy Manual clarifies how the agency considers expedite requests related to government...
OFLC Releases FAQs on Employer Needs and Communications During Recent Major Disasters
The Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) released frequently asked questions (FAQs) on issues related to employer needs and communications in areas affected by hurricanes, severe storms, flooding, landslides, and mudslides, specifically...
Steve Yale-Loehr Weighs In on Immigration Status of Haitians Under Temporary Protected Status in PolitiFact Article
Steve shared his thoughts in a recent article, Immigration Experts Say JD Vance is Wrong. Haitians Under Temporary Programs Are in the U.S. Legally. Steve noted that if temporary protected status was revoked, deportation would not be immediate. "They would all have a...
USCIS Seeks Comments on H-2 Petitioners’ Employment- and Fee-Related Notifications
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services seeks comments on H-2 petitioners' employment- and fee-related notifications (Form I-129N). The notice was published in 89 Fed. Reg. 80589 (Oct. 3, 2024). Comments are due by December 2, 2024. USCIS is inviting comments on the...
Special Immigrant Religious Worker Program Extended
On September 26, 2024, President Biden signed a law extending the EB-4 non-minister special immigrant religious worker program through December 20, 2024. It was previously set to expire on September 30, 2024. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) explained...
DOS Announces Reduced Passport Processing Times
The Department of State's (DOS) Bureau of Consular Affairs announced on October 3, 2024, that it is reducing processing times for passports to 4 to 6 weeks, down from 6 to 8 weeks. "This announcement comes after months of issuing passports well under the 6-8 week...
Exchange Program Connects African Universities with HBCUs
On October 4, 2024, the Department of State (DOS) announced that it is strengthening educational partnerships between African universities and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States through an International Visitor Leadership Program...
USCIS Issues New Guidance on EB-1 ‘Extraordinary Ability’ Eligibility Criteria
On October 2, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued policy guidance, effective immediately, to further clarify the types of evidence that the agency may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) EB-1 immigrant visa...
FY 2026 Diversity Visa Program Application Period Is Underway
The Department of State (DOS) announced that the online registration period for the Diversity Visa (DV)-2026 program began on October 2, 2024, at noon ET and will conclude on November 5, 2024, at noon ET. Submission of more than one entry for a person during the...
