The Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has published the Assignment Groups for 2,157 H-2B applications covering 40,947 worker positions with a work start date of October 1, 2023. OFLC said it completed the randomization process on July...
Topic: Immigration Updates
August Visa Bulletin Announces Retrogressions in Several Categories
The Department of State's Visa Bulletin for August includes the following information: Establishment of Worldwide employment-based first preference (EB-1) final action date. An EB-1 final action date will be established for Rest of World countries, Mexico, and...
DHS Adds Eight Qualifying Fields to STEM Designated Degree Program List
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has amended the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List by adding eight qualifying fields of study and a corresponding Department of Education Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code for each. No CIP codes from the...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Interviewed re Recent Immigration Cases
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was interviewed on the podcast "This Week in Immigration" about recent immigration cases. He discussed the Supreme Court's latest decision to uphold the Biden administration's deportation priorities in U.S. v. Texas...
DHS Updates ESTA Guidance re Cuba-Related VWP Travel Restrictions
The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Carrier Liaison Program has updated the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application and mobile app to incorporate changes related to the designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism on January 12,...
DHS Announces New Parole Processes for Colombians, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Hondurans
On July 7, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the implementation of new family reunification parole processes for eligible nationals of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. DHS said the new processes are for "nationals from those...
USCIS Launches Online Rescheduling of Biometric Appointments, Releases Guidance on ‘Good Cause’
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has 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. USCIS also...
State Dept. Clarifies India EB-3 Retrogression in July
The Department of State (DOS) recently clarified the Final Action Date retrogression applicable to employment-based third preference (EB-3) visa applicants chargeable to India, effective with the July 2023 Visa Bulletin, and explained the reason for prorating India...
Miller Mayer’s Steve Yale-Loehr Quoted re Family Separations
Miller Mayer immigration attorney Steve Yale-Loehr was quoted by USA Today in "Biden Promised to End Family Separations. So Why is DOJ Fighting Relief Claims in Court?" He said, "It's ironic that while candidate Biden said that family separation was abhorrent, as a...
CIS Ombudsman Releases Annual Report for 2023
The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) Ombudsman's Annual Report for 2023 examines the effects of backlogs and additional challenges facing the agency. It recommends actions USCIS can take to address the human consequences and detrimental effects...
