On November 8, 2021 the regional COVID-19 travel bans will be lifted and a vaccination requirement for nonimmigrant visa holders entering the U.S. via airplane will take their place. Nonimmigrant visa holders will need to show proof of full vaccination upon boarding a U.S.-bound airplane abroad in addition to showing a negative COVID test […]
As is widely known, employment-based immigration cases have come under increased scrutiny in recent times. For example, in March of 2017 the USCIS issued a policy memorandum indicating that the position of “computer programmer” is no longer considered a “specialty occupation” for H-1B visa eligibility. This runs contrary to decades of prior rulings otherwise. As […]
The following priority dates determine whether an employment-based applicant may file an I-485 adjustment application in the United States or a DS-230 application at a consulate abroad for permanent residency.
Category
World
China
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Mexico
Philippines
EB-1
6/1/18
10/1/17
6/1/18
10/1/17
6/1/18
6/1/18
EB-2
C
6/15/15
C
5/22/09
C
C
EB-3
C
8/8/15
C
10/1/09
C
7/1/17
EB-3 Other
C
6/1/08
C
10/1/09
C
7/1/17
“C” indicates that the category is current, meaning that the application can be filed. If a date is shown, then your priority date […]
The following priority dates determine whether an employment-based applicant may file an I-485 adjustment application in the United States or a DS-230 application at a consulate abroad for permanent residency.
Category
World
China
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Mexico
Philippines
Vietnam
EB-1
5/1/16
1/1/12
5/1/16
1/1/12
5/1/16
5/1/16
5/1/16
EB-2
C
3/1/15
C
3/15/09
C
C
C
EB-3
C
1/1/14
C
1/1/09
C
1/1/17
C
EB-3 Other
C
5/1/07
C
1/1/09
C
1/1/17
C
“C” indicates that the category is current, meaning that the application can be filed. If a date is shown, then the priority date […]
Summer is in full swing, which can often mean longer processing times at federal government agencies due to the workforce being on summer vacation. Employment-based green card applicants may experience longer processing time for their I-485 applications and, as a result, may consider “porting” job offers under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century […]
The following priority dates determine whether an employment-based applicant may file an I-485 adjustment application in the United States or a DS-230 application at a consulate abroad for permanent residency.
Category
World
China
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
India
Mexico
Philippines
Vietnam
EB-1
C
1/1/12
C
1/1/12
C
C
C
EB-2
C
1/1/15
C
3/15/09
C
C
C
EB-3
C
1/1/13
C
11/1/08
C
1/1/17
C
EB-3 Other
C
5/1/07
C
11/1/08
C
1/1/17
C
“C” indicates that the category is current, meaning that the application can be filed. If a date is shown, then the priority date […]
When considering whether to sponsor a foreign national for a green card, U.S. companies should know who is responsible for paying which portions of the costs associated with the green card. This knowledge is especially vital for companies using green card repayment agreements, which indicate how much money is recoverable by the U.S. company […]
The following priority dates determine whether an applicant may file for permanent residency during the month of April 2018.
Category
Country of Chargeability
Priority Date
Comment
EB-1
Worldwide
Current
Unchanged
EB-1
China
January 1, 2012
Retrogressed 74 months
EB-1
India
January 1, 2012
Retrogressed 74 months
EB-1
Mexico
Current
Unchanged
EB-1
Philippines
Current
Unchanged
EB-2
Worldwide
Current
Unchanged
EB-2
China
August 1, 2014
Advanced 31 weeks
EB-2
India
December 22, 2008
Advanced 1 week
EB-2
Mexico
Current
Unchanged
EB-2
Philippines
Current
Unchanged
EB-3
Worldwide
Current
Unchanged
EB-3
China
June 1, 2015
Advanced 26 weeks
EB-3
India
February 1, 2008
Advanced 56 weeks
EB-3
Mexico
Current
Unchanged
EB-3
Philippines
January 1, 2017
Advanced 32 weeks
Dan White leads the law […]
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) recently changed its mission statement to remove the section describing the U.S. as “a nation of immigrants.” Before the recent change, the USCIS’s mission statement read:
“USCIS secures America’s promise as a nation of immigrants by providing accurate and useful information to our customers, granting immigration and […]
The following priority dates determine whether an applicant may file for permanent residency during the month of March 2018.
Category
Country of Chargeability
Priority Date
Comment
EB-1
Worldwide
Current
Unchanged
EB-1
China
Current
Unchanged
EB-1
India
Current
Unchanged
EB-1
Mexico
Current
Unchanged
EB-1
Philippines
Current
Unchanged
EB-2
Worldwide
Current
Unchanged
EB-2
China
December 8, 2013
Advanced 9 weeks
EB-2
India
December 15, 2008
Advanced 1 week
EB-2
Mexico
Current
Unchanged
EB-2
Philippines
Current
Unchanged
EB-3
Worldwide
Current
Unchanged
EB-3
China
November 15, 2014
Advanced 8 weeks
EB-3
India
January 1, 2007
Advanced 4 weeks
EB-3
Mexico
Current
Unchanged
EB-3
Philippines
May 1, 2016
Advanced 8 weeks
Dan White leads the law practice at The Immigration Group, focusing exclusively on […]