TPS Registration Period Extended to 18 Months for Applicants from Venezuela, Syria and Burma

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice (FRN) announcing extensions of the registration periods from 180 days to 18 months for initial (new) applicants for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the designations of Venezuela and Burma, and the redesignation of Syria. This notice also provides certain specific corrections to the FRN regarding Venezuela …

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Immigration Help Available to Those Affected by Natural Disasters and Other Unforeseen Circumstances

USCIS is reminding the public that it offers immigration services that may help people affected by unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters. Examples of unforeseen circumstances include, but are not limited to, the wildfires in the western United States and the recent building collapse in Surfside, Florida. The following measures may be available on a …

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Congressional Democrats Push to Pass Immigration Reforms in Budget Bill

With increasing support for the creation of pathways to citizenship for undocumented people, pressure has been placed on Congress, especially Democrats, to provide a concrete solution. Considering the decision from Judge Hanen ruling the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program unlawful, there is special urgency placed in creating these avenues toward legal status.  Recently, …

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DHS Announces Registration Process for Temporary Protected Status for Haiti

Designation Allows Eligible Haitians Who Resided in the U.S. as of July 29 to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents  WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security today posted for public inspection a Federal Register notice that provides information about how to register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas previously announced this 18-month designation of Haiti for TPS on May 22.  The registration process …

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USCIS Conducts Second Random Selection from Previously Submitted FY 2022 H-1B Cap Registrations

In March 2021, USCIS conducted an initial random selection on properly submitted electronic registrations for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 H-1B cap, including for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption. Per regulation, we use historical data related to approvals, denials, revocations, and other relevant factors to calculate the number of registrations needed to meet the H-1B cap for a …

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Employers May File H-2B Petitions for Returning Workers This Year

USCIS is announcing today that employers may file H-2B petitions for returning workers under the FY 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule. Employers may take this action if they are likely to suffer irreparable harm without these additional workers. A petitioner must file a new Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, together with an approved …

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USCIS Redesignation Allows Additional Eligible Somalis To Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents

The Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice (FRN) extending and redesignating Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from Sept. 18, 2021, through March 17, 2023.  Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas made the decision to extend and redesignate Somalia for TPS after consultation with interagency partners and careful consideration of the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary …

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TPS Applicants from Five Designated Countries Can Now File Initial Applications Online

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants who are eligible nationals of Burma, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela or Yemen, or individuals without nationality who last habitually resided in one of those countries, can now file Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, online, if they are applying for TPS for …

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USCIS Expands Credit Card Payment Pilot Program to Form I-140 When Requesting Premium Processing

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced that it has expanded a previously announced pilot program at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC) for accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for certain applicants applying for premium processing.On July 19, the NSC started accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450 for petitioners filing Form I-140, Immigrant …

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How to Request Expedite Processing of your Immigration Application

Most of the time, the government takes many months if not years to decide the millions of immigration applications filed each year.  Sometimes, an applicant may urgently need a faster decision because of special circumstances.  In that case, a request to expedite an application might be appropriate.  However, most expedited processing requests are rejected because …

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