Following up on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) previous announcement that it had received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B numerical allocations...
Topic: Immigration Updates
DOL Amends Regulations on Certification for Temporary/Seasonal Nonimmigrant Agricultural Workers
Effective June 28, 2024, the Department of Labor (DOL) is amending its regulations governing certification of temporary employment of nonimmigrant workers in temporary or seasonal agricultural work and enforcement of contractual obligations applicable to their...
USCIS to Open International Field Offices in Qatar and Turkey
On April 23, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the opening of international field offices in May in Doha, Qatar, and Ankara, Turkey, available by appointment, "to increase capacity for refugee processing, strengthen strategic...
DOS Issues Final Rule on Exchange Visitor Program Provisions
The Department of State (DOS) issued a final rule, effective May 23, 2024, on J-1 exchange visitor program regulations that apply to sponsors that DOS designates to conduct international educational and cultural exchange programs. The final rule includes a requirement...
USCIS Agrees to Refund Ukrainians for I-765 Fees
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on April 24, 2024, that it is refunding all of the I-765 employment authorization document (EAD) fees collected from eligible Ukrainian parolees who entered as parolees after February 24, 2022. The action is...
DOS Seeks Comments on Attestation for Employers Seeking H-2B Nonimmigrant Workers
The Department of State seeks comments on an Employment and Training Administration information collection request that supports a temporary final rule, Exercise of Time-Limited Authority to Increase the Numerical Limitation for Fiscal Year 2024 for H-2B Temporary...
Non-Minister Special Immigrant Religious Workers Category Extended
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for May 2024 notes that H.R. 2882, signed into law on March 23, 2024, extended the Employment Fourth Preference Certain Religious Workers (SR) category until September 30, 2024. The bulletin states that no SR visas may be...
DOJ Secures Agreement to Resolve Claims of Immigration-Related Discrimination at Washington University School of Medicine
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on April 17, 2024, that it secured a settlement agreement with Washington University, a private university headquartered in St. Louis. The agreement resolves DOJ's determination that the university's medical school, known as...
DOS Suspends Visa Services in Haiti
The Department of State has suspended visa services in Haiti. The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has suspended routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments until further notice. Immigrant visa applicants who can travel to another U.S. embassy or consulate...
DHS Provides Work Authorization for Certain Ethiopian and Palestinian Students in F-1 Nonimmigrant Status
The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency issued notices providing work authorization for certain Ethiopian and Palestinian students in lawful F-1 nonimmigrant status. Covered students may request employment authorization,...
