Knowledge.
Opinion.
Events.

Annual Limits Reached: EB-1 and EB-4

This is a follow-up to our article Annual Limits Reached: EB-3, EW and EB-5, published on August 22^nd.

Temporarily Halted: Keeping Families Together

This is a follow-up to our article Keeping Families Together: USCIS Begins Accepting Applications, originally published on August 21^st.

On Aug. 26, 2024, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, in Texas v. Department of Homeland Security, issued an administrative stay, preventing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from granting parole in place under “Keeping Families Together” for 14 days. 

Annual Limits Reached in the EB-3, EW, and EB-5 Unreserved Categories

Since all available EB-3, EW, and EB-5 unreserved visas for FY 2024 have been used, embassies and consulates may not issue visas in these categories for the remainder of the fiscal year, which ends on September 30, 2024. The annual limits will reset with the start of the new fiscal year (FY 2025) on October 1, 2024. At that point, embassies and consulates may resume issuing immigrant visas in these categories to qualified applicants.

Keeping Families Together: USCIS Begins Accepting Applications

Starting on August 19, 2024, USCIS began accepting applications from eligible individuals for this process. Applicants must file Form I-131F, Application for Parole in Place for Certain Noncitizen Spouses and Stepchildren of U.S. Citizens, online after creating a myUSCIS account. The filing fee is $580, and fee waiver requests for Form I-131F will not be accepted.

USCIS Confirms Completion of FY 2025 H-1B Cap Selections After a Second-Round Selection

USCIS confirmed today that it has selected enough H1B cap registrations to reach the FY 2025 limit of 65,000 regular cap selections and 20,000 advanced degree cap selections, after it completed a second-round random selection process.

USCIS Filing Fees Increase

USCIS has announced its first major fee increase since 2016.  The increased fees will take effect for all cases postmarked on or after April 1, 2024.   

Reminder: H-1B Cap Registration Period Begins Soon

The window for H-1B cap registration (AKA H-1B lottery) will begin next Wednesday, March 6^th at 9:00 AM (Pacific Standard Time).

USCIS Announces Fee Increases Effective April 1st, 2024

In its first comprehensive increase since 2016, USCIS announced publication of its final rule to adjust certain immigration and naturalization fees on January 30^th. USCIS states these increases are necessary to “recover a greater share of its operating costs and support more timely processing of new applications”[i] and also support expansion of humanitarian programs. Additional stated benefits include:

Important H-1B Rule Changes

The Department of Homeland Security is implementing two important changes that alters the H1B random selection (AKA “lottery”) process, and increases USCIS filing fees.