On November 12, 2021, in settling a federal lawsuit pending since March, US Citizenship & Immigration Services agreed to two significant changes that will have a major impact on the lives of nonimmigrant workers and their families in the US.
Continue Reading USCIS Settles Major Federal Lawsuit: Good News for E, H and L Spouses
The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process, or if already pending, when the final step can be adjudicated.
Below is a summary of the December Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month:
China: EB-1 remains current; EB-2 moves forward seven weeks to January 1, 2019; and EB-3 remains stalled at March 22, 2018.
India: EB-1 remains current; EB-2 jumps ahead five months to May 1, 2012; and EB-3 remains January 15, 2012.
All Other Countries: EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 remain current
NOTE: USCIS has not yet announced if it will accept I-485 applications in December based on the Department of State’s more favorable Dates for Filing chart.
As we previously reported, President Biden is rescinding the international travel restrictions that have drastically hindered US business and tourist travel for almost 2 years. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, November 8, 2021, travelers will no longer need a valid National Interest Exception if they have been in China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, or India within the past 14 days. Instead, they – and all air travelers to the US, with some very limited exceptions – will have to prove they are “fully vaccinated” before boarding a US-bound flight.
On October 15, the White House and State Department announced that, beginning November 8, foreign travelers may board US-bound flights or cross US land borders without first obtaining National Interest Exceptions, as long as they can prove they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Continue Reading US To Admit Fully Vaccinated Travelers Without NIEs Starting November 8
News sources are reporting that, on September 20, Jeff Zients, White House Covid Response Coordinator, announced easing of restrictions on direct entry into the US by fully vaccinated international travelers. Few details are available as of this writing.
The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process, or if already pending, when the final step can be adjudicated.
Below is a summary of the October Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month. All dates remain the same as September.
China: EB-1 remains current; EB-2 stalls at July 1, 2018; and EB-3 remains January 8, 2019.
India: EB-1 remains current; EB-2 freezes at September 1, 2011; and EB-3 remains January 1, 2014.
All Other Countries: EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 remain current
NOTE 1: USCIS announced that it will accept I-485 applications in October based on the Department of State’s (slightly) more favorable Dates for Filing chart. This means that AOS cases can be filed if the priority date is before the cutoff date listed in the Dates for Filing chart. However, the case cannot be adjudicated until the priority is current based on the Final Action Dates chart.
NOTE 2: The October Visa Bulletin includes important notes on potential monthly movement over the course of the new fiscal year. Most importantly, the Visa Bulletin warns of a possible retrogression in the EB-3 category for all countries (including India, China and the rest of the world) beginning as soon as November.
The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process, or if already pending, when the final step can be adjudicated.
Below is a summary of the September Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month.
China: EB-1 remains current; EB-2 advances three months to July 1, 2018; and EB-3 freezes at January 8, 2019.
India: EB-1 remains current; EB-2 moves forward three months to September 1, 2011; and EB-3 advances six months to January 1, 2014.
All Other Countries: EB-1, EB-2 and EB-3 remain current
NOTE: USCIS announced that it will NOT accept I-485 applications in September based on the Department of State’s more favorable Dates for Filing chart. Only cases that are current based on the Final Action Dates chart can be submitted in September.
The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process, or if already pending, when the final step can be adjudicated.
Below is a summary of the August Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month. Continue Reading August 2021 Visa Bulletin – The Slow Down Begins
The Visa Bulletin is released monthly by the Department of State and is used to determine when a sponsored foreign national can submit the final step of the green card process, or if already pending, when the final step can be adjudicated.
Below is a summary of the July Visa Bulletin, including Final Action Dates and changes from the previous month.
Continue Reading July 2021 Visa Bulletin – EB-3 India Continues to Rapidly Advance
We are pleased to announce that the Labor and Employment team at Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP has been recognized as practice leaders in Immigration and Labor and Employment Disputes (Including Collective Actions): Defense by The Legal 500. Fourteen individual lawyers on HuntonAK’s Labor and Employment and Immigration Team also were acknowledged.