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USCIS Announces New Fee Schedule, Including Increases for Employment-Based Petitions
In a move aimed at modernizing operations and enhancing service efficiency, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a final rule adjusting various immigration and naturalization benefit request fees. Notably, these adjustments include increases for certain employment-based petitions, reflecting the following changes: Fee Adjustments for Employment-Based Petitions: The final rule implements increases […]
USCIS Announces Premium Processing Fee Adjustments Effective February 26, 2024
Photo by rupixen.com on Unsplash On December 27, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a final rule to adjust the premium processing fees for certain immigration forms due to inflation. This adjustment will take effect on Monday, February 26, 2024. The premium processing fees for eligible forms and categories will increase to […]
USCIS Policy Update: Sole Proprietorships and L-1 Petitions
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy update through its Policy Manual, reinforcing the legal distinctions between business entities in the context of immigration petitions. Specifically, the guidance makes it clear that a sole proprietorship, by virtue of not being a distinct legal entity separate […]
Rescheduling Biometric Services Appointments with USCIS
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash You can now reschedule a biometric service appointment through a new self-service tool with an online USCIS account. The rescheduling tool eliminates the need to call the USCIS Contact Center, which has been known to be a tedious procedure with long wait times. This comes as a result from […]
When a USCIS Deadline Falls on a Weekend
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash USCIS has updated the USCIS Policy Manual to address how to approach the “last day” to file a benefit request or response when the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday. Luckily, USCIS will consider paper filings timely if submitted by the end of the next business […]
AILA: Automatic Employment Authorization Announced for L-2, E, and H-4 Dependent Spouses
In 2021, USCIS announced that L-2, E, and certain H-4 dependent spouses are authorized to work by virtue of holding valid status. A spouse can still apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), but it is not required to work. This flyer from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) further explains this new change that […]
USCIS Enhances Security on Redesign of Green Cards and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs)
Since January 30th, 2023, USCIS has been issuing a new design to Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). This change brings many improvements to the security of these two immigration identification cards. Please see the graphic below, sourced from USCIS. It should be noted that the new cards […]
AILA Flyer: Changes to USCIS Filing Fees
The USCIS final rule on a new fee schedule has a lot of new information to take in. In fact, the published final rule was 207 pages of the Federal Register, where the newest government agency updates are posted. View the PDF below from the American Immigration Lawyers Association that outlines some of the key […]