Starting Feb. 24, 2021, petitioners filing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting a change or extension of status to E-3 classification will have the option to request premium processing service for their petition. The E-3 classification applies only to nationals of Australia who are coming to the United States solely to perform...

USCIS announced today it is reverting to the 2008 version of the naturalization civics test beginning March 1, 2021.

Policy Highlights

Provides that USCIS will administer the 2008 civics test to applicants who filed for naturalization before December 1, 2020, or who will file on or after March 1, 2021.Provides that USCIS will give applicants...

USCIS continues to experience delays at certain lockboxes in issuing receipt notices for Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, based on eligibility categories described in 8 C.F.R. 274a.12(c)(3), relating to optional practical training (OPT) for F-1 students. While USCIS have made progress in addressing the delays, USCIS would like to provide additional clarifications and...

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is a time-limited status given to eligible nationals of designated countries who are present in the United States when circumstances in their home country make it unsafe to return. The status is afforded to nationals from countries affected by armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary and temporary conditions, and...

Part of the application process for work permits, citizenship, permanent resident status (Green Card), or a green card renewal is a biometrics appointment. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires applicants to seek benefits associated with U.S. immigration. The phrase “biometrics appointment” sounds cold, sterile, and a bit scary. The truth of the...

Canada has some of the strictest travel and border measures in the world, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine for everyone returning to the country. With new COVID-19 variant detections increasing in the country, the Government of Canada is announcing today further testing and quarantine requirements for international travelers arriving to Canada’s air and land...

On February 13, 2021, The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration announced Invitation to Apply (“ITA”) for Permanent Residence under the Express Entry system to 27,332 applicants with the lowest score of 75. This has been an unprecedent announcement with the lowest score ever.

The draw only included candidates who will adjust their Canadian Experience...

USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions needed to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap, for fiscal year (FY) 2021.

USCIS have completed sending non-selection notifications to registrants’ online accounts. The status for registrations properly submitted for...