Tools Outage
USCIS will conduct system maintenance to the Contact Relationship Interface System (CRIS) on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025 at 11:50 p.m. through Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025 at 2:00 a.m. Eastern.
Policy update
POLICY & ANALYSIS
Policy updates
Follow U.S. immigration policy, filing changes and official announcements.
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FY 2026 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 7
Today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2026 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 7 and run through noon Eastern on March 24, 2025.
Policy update
DHS Terminates the 2023 Designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status
After reviewing country conditions and consulting with the appropriate U.S. government agencies, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has determined that conditions in Venezuela no longer support the 2023 designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Policy update
Update on Form I-134A
Due to the Jan. 20, 2025 Executive Order, Securing Our Borders, USCIS is pausing acceptance of Form I-134A, Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support, until we review all categorical parole processes as required by that order.
Policy update
USCIS Waives COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement for Adjustment of Status Applicants
Effective Jan. 22, 2025, USCIS is waiving any and all requirements that applicants for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident present documentation on their Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that they received the COVID-19 vaccination.
Policy update
Second Preference Eligibility for National Interest Waiver Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address how USCIS evaluates eligibility for second preference classification for national interest waiver petitions, for which the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) does not certify the job offer requirements.
Policy update
H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129 Effective Jan. 17, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security’s H-1B final rule and H-2 final rule take effect on Friday, January 17, 2025, modernizing and improving requirements for the H-1B nonimmigrant and H-2 nonimmigrant visa programs.
Policy update
USCIS Updates Guidance on EB-2 National Interest Waiver Petitions
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating its policy guidance to clarify how we evaluate eligibility for the second preference employment-based (EB-2) classification for immigrant petitions filed with a request for a national interest waiver (NIW).
Policy update
USCIS Updates Filing Procedures for Form I-140
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced a Federal Register notice (FRN) providing updated procedures for submitting a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, accompanied by a permanent labor certification, application for Schedule A designation, or national interest waiver (NIW) request.
Policy update
Job Portability for National Interest Waivers
This technical update to Volume 7 more precisely aligns the guidance with the statutory language at INA 204(j) by clarifying that adjustment applicants whose immigrant petitions are based on a national interest waiver are eligible for portability under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act of 2000 (AC21). However, because their immigrant visas are not tied to a specific job offer, such applicants do not need to file a Confirmation of Valid Job Offer or Request for Job Portability Under INA Section 204(j) ( Form I-485, Supplement J ) if they change jobs.
Policy update
Cap Reached for Additional Returning Worker H-2B Visas for the First Half of FY 2025
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of fiscal year 2025 with start dates on or before March 31, 2025, under the H-2B supplemental cap temporary final rule (FY 2025 TFR).
Policy update
Evidentiary Requirements for O-1 Nonimmigrants
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how USCIS evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for O-1A nonimmigrants of extraordinary ability, including adding examples of evidence for individuals in critical and emerging technologies.
Policy update
