U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on September 12, 2023, that it is updating the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the types of evidence the agency will evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability and outstanding professor or...
Topic: Immigration Updates
October 2023 Visa Bulletin is Published
On September 15, 2023, the Department of State released the October 2023 Visa Bulletin, indicating which green card applicants are eligible to move forward based on their initial filing date. For employment-based filings, USCIS has directed the public to use “Chart...
Bipartisan Congressional Letter Requests Relief for Skilled Visa Holders
Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN) recently sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas requesting executive action to provide relief to highly skilled workers,...
Department of Labor Updates O*NET Database
The Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration released the O*NET 28.0 Database and updated its site on September 5, 2023, making updates to 90 occupation codes. Among these updates were revisions to occupation descriptions (including tasks, skills,...
COVID-Era Visa Application Fee Receipts to Expire on September 30
Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) fees paid to the Department of State (DOS) in connection with a visa application submitted to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad are normally valid for up to 12 months from the date of payment. Due to consulate closures and other processing...
USCIS Ends Biometrics Fee Suspension for I-539 Applicants
The temporary suspension of biometrics submission for I-539 applicants changing to or extending their H-4, L-2, E-1, E-2, E-2C, E-3, or E-3S, and E-3Y nonimmigrant status will expire on September 30, 2023. Notably, in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS)...
USCIS Provides I-9 and E-Verify Guidance for People Impacted by the 2023 Hawaii Wildfire
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued guidance on September 5, 2023, regarding I-9 and E-Verify compliance requirements in light of the 2023 Hawaii wildfires, regarding the potential loss or destruction of affected employees’ documentation. All...
State Department Jettisons 2019 Public Charge Restrictions
On September 5, 2023, the Department of State issued a final rule to discard the regulatory amendments included in a 2019 rule regarding ineligibility for immigration benefits based on an applicant’s likelihood to become a public charge. Before 2019, only public cash...
HHS Creates Data-matching Program with DHS
The Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published notice of a data-matching program with the Department of Homeland Security to share data related to applicants’ citizenship and immigration status for HHS eligibility...
State Dept. Conducting Proof of Concept Testing for Digital Visa Authorization
On September 8, 2023, the U.S. Department of State’s (DOS) Bureau of Consular Affairs announced it is developing and testing a digital visa authorization (DVA) capability instead of the traditional process of printed visas placed in applicants’ passports. The U.S....
