POLICY & ANALYSIS
Follow U.S. immigration policy, filing changes and official announcements.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding certain eligibility requirements, including filing, petitions for classification, and change of status relating to the “TN” nonimmigrant visa classification under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The Department of Homeland Security posted a Federal Register notice on the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Cameroon. After reviewing country conditions and consulting with the appropriate interagency partners, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem determined that conditions in Cameroon no longer meet the statutory requirements for Temporary Protected Status.
This technical update to Volume 8, Admissibility, removes the COVID-19 vaccination requirement to align with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Technical Instructions and makes other minor technical changes.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 19,000 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the early second half of fiscal year (FY) 2025 with start dates from April 1 to May 14, 2025, under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (FY 2025 TFR).
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today posted a Federal Register notice for public inspection establishing procedures for certain Hong Kong residents covered by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that will be valid through Feb. 5, 2027.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that USCIS recognizes the two biological sexes, male or female, for purposes of reviewing benefit requests and USCIS-issued documents.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough electronic registrations for unique beneficiaries during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2026 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap).
USCIS received enough petitions to meet the H-2B statutory cap for the second half of fiscal year 2025. The filing dates for supplemental H-2B visas for the remainder of FY 2025 are now available.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a Temporary Restraining Order in Maryland, et al v. United States Dep’t of Agriculture, et al, No. 25-cv-00748, Docket No. 43 (D. Md.) on March 13, 2025.
This technical update makes minor changes to the Policy Manual to remove an obsolete alert box and to conform with changes to the USCIS website.
This technical update replaces all instances of the term “noncitizen” with “alien” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”], and makes other technical and conforming changes.
On Feb. 20, 2025, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem partially vacated the July 1, 2024, notice that extended and redesignated Haiti for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
