Category: US Immigration

  • USCIS Announces End of COVID-Related Flexibilities

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that certain flexibilities it first announced in March 2020, to address the COVID-19 pandemic will end on March 23, 2023. USCIS previously notified the public in its Jan. 24, 2023, announcement that barring any changes presented by the pandemic, the extension of these flexibilities announced on Jan. 24…

  • USCIS Form and Policy Updates for Applying for Naturalization Based on Military Service

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify and conform with the revision of Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service. The updated policy guidance provides that only applicants filing for naturalization based on military service (INA 328 or 329) who are currently…

  • Update to Filing Location for U Nonimmigrant-Based Form I-485

    U nonimmigrants applying to become lawful permanent residents must now file Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, only at the Nebraska Service Center and not at the Vermont Service Center. USCIS Nebraska Service Center U.S. Postal Service (USPS): USCIS P.O. Box 87426 Lincoln, NE 68501-7526 FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries: USCIS…

  • USCIS Relocates Lockbox From Phoenix To Tempe, Arizona for Courier Delivery Services

    On March 31, applicants and petitioners filing at the Phoenix lockbox will see a new filing location for courier delivery services such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL. We will move our Phoenix lockbox to Tempe, AZ, for courier delivery services. When using the U.S. Postal Service, the filing location will remain the same. We will…

  • USCIS Announces Additional Mail Delivery Process for Receiving ADIT Stamp

    Lawful permanent residents may receive temporary evidence of their lawful permanent resident status by mail rather than physically visiting a field office to receive an Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp (also known as an I-551 stamp). Lawful permanent residents are entitled to evidence of status and may require temporary evidence of their status…

  • USCIS Removes Biometrics Requirement for Form I-526E Petitioners

    Beginning March 15, we are removing the biometrics submission requirement and $85 fee requirement for petitioners filing Form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor. Petitioners no longer need to submit the fee for biometrics services with their Form I-526E. We determined that universal biometrics collection is not necessary under INA 203(b)(5)(H)(iii) in connection with…

  • USCIS Extends Rule Providing Interpreters at Affirmative Asylum Interviews

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today a fourth extension to a temporary final rule (TFR) requiring use of a USCIS interpreter at certain affirmative asylum interviews. This TFR extends the requirement through Sept. 12, 2023. After that date, affirmative asylum applicants who cannot proceed with the interview in English must provide their own interpreters.…

  • USCIS Issues Guidance on Analyzing Employers’ Ability to Pay Wages

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today issued policy guidance (PDF, 313.21 KB) on how we analyze an employer’s ability to pay the proffered wage for immigrant petitions in certain first, second, and third preference employment-based immigrant visa classifications.  Employers seeking to classify prospective or current employees under the first, second, and third preference employment-based immigrant visa…

  • USCIS Processing Times for Orphan and Hague Adoption Cases

    On Nov. 2, 2022 USCIS announced a change in our method for calculating orphan and Hague adoption case processing times. In response to this announcement, we received several questions from stakeholders that we address in this FAQ posted on our USCIS Electronic Reading Room (PDF, 136.04 KB). We know that behind every adoption case is…

  • DHS Publishes Federal Register Notice Extending and Redesignating Somalia for Temporary Protected Status

    Redesignation Allows Additional Eligible Somali Nationals to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice extending and redesignating Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from March 18, 2023, through September 17, 2024. The notice provides information about how to register for TPS…