Increased NonImmigrant Visa Fees Effective June 17, 2023

The Department of State has announced fee increases, effective June 17, 2023, for certain nonimmigrant visa application (NIV) processing fees and the Border Crossing Card (BCC) for Mexican citizens age 15 and over, based on recent cost analysis by the Cost of Service Model (CoSM) and public feedback. The B1/B2 and BCC visitor visas and …

Copies (Instead of Original Signatures) Permanently Permitted by USCIS

by Jennifer Grady, Esq. On July 25, 2022, USCIS announced that it will continue accepting copies of original signatures on all forms and documents as a permanent policy. This makes permanent the temporary signature policy that USCIS announced in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This means that petitioners and beneficiaries can submit …

Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Cards (EAD) Increased to 540 Days for Certain Visa Categories

by Jennifer Grady, Esq. In light of continued processing delays at USCIS, a temporary final rule has been announced to automatically increase Employment Authorization Card extensions from 180 days, to 540 days. The extension will begin from the expiration date of the employment authorization and/or EAD, and is available for applicants with pending Form I-765 …

USCIS Adds Premium Processing Service for Forms I-765, I-539, and I-140

by Jennifer Grady, Esq. Major news for those seeking faster processing times to obtain their Employment Authorization Document (EAD), Green Card petition based on employment, and application to change or extend status! USCIS will roll out new phases of premium processing expansion throughout FY 2022 as part of a collective effort to reduce backlogs and …

USCIS Policy Updates Streamline Immigration Policies for EAD Renewals, Expedite Requests, and RFEs/Denials

On June 9, 2021, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released new updates to its USCIS Policy Manual, the agency’s guide for immigration policies. The amendments come in light of the Biden-Harris administration’s February 2 Executive Order on “Restoring Faith in Our Legal Immigration Systems and Strengthening Integration and Inclusion Efforts for New Americans”. …