Immigration News

New CIS Policy On Name Checks In Adjustment Cases

February 4, 2008

On February 4, 2008, USCIS Associate Director, Domestic Operations, Michael Aytes issued a memorandum revising existing guidance regarding background and security checks on applicants, petitions and beneficiaries seeking certain immigration benefits. The practice has been that USCIS waits for a definitive FBI fingerprint check and the IBIS check before the I-485 will be approved. This practice has caused much delay in the approvals of I-485 petitions. This memorandum revises USCIS practice to mandate the adjudicator to approve the I-485 and proceed with card issuance where the application is otherwise approvable and the FBI name check request has been pending for more than 180 days. If derogatory or adverse information is received from the FBI after the application is approved, USCIS will determine if rescission or removal proceedings are appropriate and warranted.

(4/29/2008)
Update on OPT Extension

(4/28/2008)
Update on H-1B "Cap-Gap"

(4/14/2008)
USCIS Runs Random Selection Process for H-1B Petitions

(4/10/2008)
USCIS Releases Preliminary Number of FY 2009 H-1B Cap Filings

(4/08/2008)
USCIS Reaches FY 2009 H-1B Cap

(4/04/2008)
17-Month Extension of Optional Practical Training for Certain Highly Skilled Foreign Students

(4/02/2008)
USCIS and FBI Announces Joint Plan to Eliminate the Backlog of Name Checks Pending with the FBI

(3/20/2008)
Naturalization Interviews to be Conducted on Saturdays, Sundays and After Normal Business Hours on Weekdays

(3/19/2008)
USCIS issues Interim Final Rule on H-1Bs

(3/19/2008)
Three High-Skilled Visa Bills Introduced into the House

(3/17/2008)
Regulation on H-1B Duplicate Filings Cleared for Publication

(3/05/2008)
USCIS Biometric Changes for Re-entry Permits and Refugee Travel Documents

(2/27/2008)
DOS Announces Visa Section Closed at U.S. Embassy in Belgrade

(2/22/2008)
Higher Civil Fines Against Employers for Immigration Violations

(2/20/2008)
More on Processing of Adjustment Applications

(2/15/2008)
USCIS Consolidates Biometrics Appointment Letters for Adjustment of Status Applicants

(2/14/2008)
USCIS Update on EAD Extension Applications

(2/13/2008)
DHS Collects 10 Fingerprints at SFO

(2/07/2008)
US ICE Issues An Advisory For Employers To Increase Awareness Of Employment Authorization Fraud

(2/04/2008)
New CIS Policy On Name Checks In Adjustment Cases