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USCIS EXPANDS PREMIUM PROCESSING SERVICE TO E-3 PETITIONS USCIS has expanded its premium processing service, starting February 24, 2021 to petitioners applying for a change or extension of status to E-3. E-3 classification applies only to the Australian Nationals who exclusively comes to United states to perform services in a specialty occupation. An Australian national outside United States may apply for an E3 Nonimmigrant visa directly through Department of State or in inst...ance of the individual being in US, by filing form I-129 with USCIS. To be eligible for E-3 Classification the following conditions must be satisfied: The applicant must be a national of Australia. Should have a legitimate offer of employment in the United States. Possess the necessary academic or other qualifying credentials and Must fill a position that qualifies a specialty occupation. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #USImmigration #uscis #USVisa #immigrationservices #immigration #workvisa #E-3visa #PremiumProcessing #glf #glpo

US SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CHALLENGE AGAINST TRUMP’S PUBLIC CHARGE RULE US Supreme Court has decided to take up a Case challenging Trump Administration’s Public Charge Rule, which limited the access to Green Cards for those deemed likely to accept public assistance. The case stems from an August 2019 rule that was criticized to be a wealth-test for immigrants and blocked those who may qualify for food stamps or other safety nets. Trump Administration justified this rule by sa...ying that it was in the best interests of the United States to ensure immigrants be self-sufficient. This particular case which was brought up by numerous State’s Attorneys Generals and advocacy groups and had been caught up in litigation for several years. The Biden administration has already ordered a review of the public charge rule by the Department of Homeland Security in an early February Executive Order and has expressed their willingness to support other cases challenging Trump-era immigration policies. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #uscis #USImmigration #naturalization #immigration #immigrationservices #glf #glpo

USCIS REVISES EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR NATURALIZATION CIVICS TEST As per the memorandum issued on February 22, 2021, USCIS has decided to restore the administration of the 2008 civic test in lieu of the existing 2020 version. The change was proposed to be made effective from March 1, 2021. Some of the highlights of the revision are:... Applicants who have filed for naturalization before December 1, 2020, or who will file on or after March 1, 2021 and whose initial examination (interview) is scheduled to occur on or after April 19, 2021 will take the 2008 version of the test; Applicants who have filed on or after December 1, 2020, and before March 1, 2021, will be given the option choose between the 2020 and 2008 version; and USCIS will only ask civics test questions until the applicant passes or fails either the 2008 civics test or the 2020 civics test. In 2020 Version, to sufficiently demonstrate knowledge of civics, the applicant must correctly answer 12 out of the 20 mandatory questions. But for the 2008 version one must only get 6 out of 10 questions correct and the test will end once the applicant answers 6 questions correctly. #usimmigration #usvisa #greencards #naturalization #glpo #glf

INITIAL REGISTRATION OF H-1B CAP CASES (FY 2022) STARTS MARCH 9, 2021 USCIS has announced the commencement of initial registration period of H-1B cap petitions for Fiscal Year 2022. Registration begins on March 9, 2021 at 12:00 noon (ET) and extends till 12:00 noon (ET), March 25, 2021. Prospective petitioners as well as their representatives can make use of this period to fill out petitioner as well as beneficiary information and submit their registration. Upon the submissio...n of each registration, a confirmation number will be assigned to track registrations. This confirmation number can be used only to track registrations and it cannot be used to track the case status in Case Status Online. Electronic registrations can be done via my USCIS online account on the payment of the associated $10 H1B registration fee on behalf of each beneficiary. Prospective petitioners or their representatives will be able to submit registrations for multiple beneficiaries in a single online session. They will also be able to prepare, edit, and store draft registrations prior to final payment and submission of each registration. If USCIS receives sufficient registrations by March 25, the selection of beneficiaries will be done through lottery and the selection notifications will be sent to the account holders through their my USCIS online accounts by March 31. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #USCIS #USVisa #H1BVisas #H1B #H1BVisa #immigration

H-1B SELECTIONS BASED ON HIGHER WAGES PUT ON HOLD FOR FY2022 PETITIONS The H-1B Final Rule creating a wage-based selection process has been put on hold until the end of this year. The Rule was set to go into effect on March 9, 2021, but was pushed back to March 21, 2021 and now it has been announced that the Rule will not go into effect until December 31, 2021. With the H-1B online Registration Period expected to be opening in March, DHS has announced that USCIS lacks the tim...e to roll out the new process of wage-based selections. USCIS will begin FY2022 Registration with the current regulations (random selection process). We at GLF are anticipating higher number of H-1B registrations this year given the pent-up demand and in anticipation of a more favorable adjudicatory climate under the new Administration. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. For latest updates on US Immigration please follow us on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gcCnsGQ/ and https://lnkd.in/gEWtSpH/ and Twitter: https://twitter.com/gokarelaw/ and https://twitter.com/gokare_lpo/ #USCIS #H1BVisas #H1B #USVisa #usimmigration

USCIS EXTENDS RFE RESPONSE DEADLINE BY 60 DAYS DUE TO COVID-19 Due to COVID-19, USCIS is further extending the deadline on RFEs that are issued between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, both dates inclusive. Now you get another 60 days to respond (beyond the due date listed on the RFE) for RFEs issued between March 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021. Other than RFEs, the extension of deadline applies to the below requests as well: 1. Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14);... 2. Notices of Intent to Deny; 3. Notices of Intent to Revoke; 4. Notices of Intent to Rescind; 5. Notices of Intent to Terminate regional investment centers; 6. Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant; and 7. Filing date requirements for Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion; and 8. Filing date requirements for Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA). Please note that the response to the USCIS should be submitted within 60 days from the due date as mentioned in the request or notice. #uscis #h1bvisas #visas #usimmigration #rfes #evidence #naturalization #revocation #denials #RFE #DHS #requestsforevidence #deadline #motiontoappeal #notices #extension #motiontoreopen #mtr #proceedings

DOL TO DELAY IMPLEMENTATION (UNTIL MAY 14, 2021) OF FINAL RULE ON PREVAILING WAGES The Prevailing Wage Rule (82 FR 3608) published on January 14, 2021 had an effective date of March 15, 2021. DOL intends to delay this Rule until May 14, 2021. The Rule delaying the effective date will be published in the Federal Register on February 01, 2021. DOL has determined that the extension of 60 days will provide agency officials the opportunity to review any questions of fact, law, or ...policy that the rule may raise. Comments on the proposed extended effective date will be accepted for 15 days from February 1, 2021. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #uscis #dol #dhs #DOL #wagerule #prevailingwage #h1bvisas #h1bvisa #biden #specialtyoccupation #rule #usimmigration #glf #glpo

FEDERAL DISTRICT COURT SETS ASIDE DHS AND DOL WAGE RULES On December 1, 2020, in Chamber of Commerce, et. al., v. DHS, et. al., the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California struck down two different Interim Final Rules, that were issued on October 8, 2020: 1. DHS’s IFR that was set to take effect December 7, 2020 Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrants Visa Classification Program... 2. DOL’s IFR that took effect on October 8 Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens in the United States Both IFRs were published on October 8, by utilizing the APA’s good cause exception, to waive the normal notice and comment period under the guise of the COVID-19 Pandemic purportedly to support unemployed US workers. The Court held that these Agencies did not provide sufficient reasons to bypass the notice and comment requirements of the Administrative Protection Act (APA). Summary Judgment was issued by the Court, and barring any appeals by the DHS and DOL, these changes are effective immediately. This is a great victory for Employers that rely on H-1B program and it removes unnecessary confusion as filing of LCAs.

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain has issued a Memorandum that directs Federal Agencies to Withdraw Rules that were not Published by January 20, 2021 and delay implementation by 60 days, all Rules that were published at the last minute. 1. DHS rule on selection of H-1B Registrations based on highest salary a. 60-day delay until March 21, 2021. GLF believes that this year’s (FY2022) H-1B Registration/Lottery should be unaffected as the last day to start H-1B Cap Selection p...rocess is March 18, 2021 and the Rule is being postponed to March 21, 2021. This Rule will be likely challenged in Courts. 2. DOL Prevailing Wage Rule that drastically increased prevailing wages a. This Rule was republished on January 14, 2021 with changes after the Interim Final Rule of October 8, 2020 was stuck down b. 60-day delay until March 21, 2021. This Rule will likely be challenged in Courts on the merits rather than procedurally and eventually defeated. 3. DHS rule (‘Employer-Employee Relationship Rule) requiring end-clients to file LCA a. Withdrawn as Trump Administration issued the text of the Rule on January 15, 2021 but did NOT publish in the Federal Register. #biden #h1brules #h1bfinalrule #h1bvisa #wagememo #h1bvisas #dhs #uscis #dol #lca #h1bcap #h1bfy2021 #usimmigration

USCIS REVISES NATURALIZATION CIVICS TEST USCIS is revising the Naturalization Civics Test. The revision applies to N-400s filed on or after December 1, 2020. Those who applied before December 1, 2020, will be given the current test. The revised test includes 128 U.S. History, and Civics questions covering a variety of topics. The revised test will not change the passing score of 60%. Now, candidates must answer 12 questions correctly, out of 20, to qualify for Naturalization ...(earlier, it was 6 out of 10). Applicants who are 65 years or older and have been green card holders for 20 years are required to answer 6 out of 10 questions correctly. Previously, the test ended with the first 6 correctly answered questions; now, all applicants must attempt all 20 questions even if they have achieved 12 correct answers. The test items and study guides can be found on the Citizenship Resource Center on the USCIS website. For latest updates on US Immigration please follow us on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gcCnsGQ/ and https://lnkd.in/gEWtSpH/ and Twitter: https://lnkd.in/ghVMuB7 and https://lnkd.in/gT8Akzm #uscis #immigration #immigrationnews #usimmigration #immigrationpolicy #naturalization #usnaturalization #uscitizenship #citizenship #usgreencard #greencard

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WITHDRAWS DHS RULE REQUIRING LCA FILING BY SECONDARY EMPLOYERS On January 20, 2021, Biden Administration’s White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain issued a memorandum directing to withdraw or postpone last minute rules. The directive is as follows: All rules that were sent to the Office of the Federal Register will not be published in the Federal Register (FR) and it should be withdrawn immediately, subject to exceptions;... Rules that were published in the (FR) will not take effect for 60 days from January 20, 2021 and the agencies were asked to consider postponing the effective dates for those rules, subject to exceptions; Exceptions: Exceptions which are allowed by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (the OMB Director) are for emergency situations or other urgent circumstances relating to health, safety, environment, financial or national security. As a result, DHS rule of January 15, 2021, requiring secondary employers to file LCAs will be withdrawn. It is likely that DOL will withdraw its companion bulletins that relied on DHS Rule. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available #thirdpartyplacement #rules #withdrawn #uscis #dhs # #compliance #dol #usimmigration

Do checkout our Monthly Newsletter -Immigration Updates for October 2020. https://lnkd.in/ewHDA-2 #immigration #immigrationnews #immigrationpolicy #uscis #usimmigration #workvisa #dhs #workvisas #glf #visas #h1bvisas #visa #glpo #usconsulates #trumpadministration

DHS PUBLISHES FINAL RULE CHANGING THE DEFINITION OF EMPLOYER IN H-1B CONTEXT On January 15, 2021, DHS published text of a final USCIS rule, narrowly amending its Interim Final Rule published October 8, 2020, to clarify how USCIS will determine whether there is an employer-employee relationship between the Petitioner and Beneficiary for the purposes of qualifying as a "United States Employer." As per the new Final Rule, under third-party placement arrangements, where a pri...mary employer contracts out an H-1B worker to a third-party entity, the third-party entity will now be considered as a secondary employer of the H-1B worker and would as such be required to file an LCA for the H-1B worker. This change targets staffing companies (primary employers) that hire and place H-1B workers at third party work sites (secondary employers). DHS will not finalize other provisions of the Interim Final Rule, which had been struck down by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on December 1, 2020. This Final Rule still needs to be published in the Federal Register and if published, will not take effect for at least 180 days. GLF anticipates that this Rule along with a myriad of other last-minute Rules will not survive when the Biden Administration takes office.

H-1B CAP CASE SELECTIONS TO BE PRIORITIZED FOR HIGHER WAGE POSITIONS Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule wherein the selection process of H-1B Registrations will be prioritized based on higher wage levels. The proposal modifies the current H-1B cap selection process with a wage-level-based selection process, which will necessitate that employers offer higher wages for positions that entail higher skills and highly skilled employees, rather than using... it as a means to fill lower-paid positions. DHS is prioritizing higher wage levels with an aim to offer better protection to native US workers from unfair competition. If the new rule gets implemented, it will affect employers filing H-1B Fiscal Year Petitions, wherein they will be required to hire high-skilled resources and offer higher wages. The proposed rule will be implemented for both H-1B regular cap and the H-1B advanced degree exemption. DHS will open a public comment period after the publication of the said rule in the Federal Register. Interested parties will have 30 days to submit comments related to the new rule. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #DHS #uscis #immigration #usimmigration #workvisa

US CONSULATES TO END B-1 IN LIEU OF H-1B VISA Department of State has proposed a rule to end issuance of B-1 in Lieu of H-1B Visa. This was a special visa that allowed B-1 visitors to work in US. Visa holders performed specialty occupation job roles of not over 6 months when H-1B visas were not available. B-1 in Lieu of H-1B Visa required that: 1. Visitors are NOT paid in the US... 2. Remain employed with the foreign employer 3. Only receive reimbursements in US to cover incidentals such as housing, meals and transportation. In seeking to end this visa, State Department argues: 1. By utilizing B-1 in lieu of H-1B visas for temporary span, US employers were able to rotate employees between US and Foreign country without paying prevailing wages for the position, that are typically payable by the employer on H-1B Visas. 2. The cost for B-1 Visas are significantly less than that of H-1B Visa which affects funds received to support US Workforce through the ACWIA fee. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #immigration #uscis #visas #usimmigration #immigrationnews #immigrationpolicy #h1bvisas #workvisa #workvisas #businessvisa #b1visa #usconsulates #statedepartment #usstatedepartment #dhs

DOS ISSUES GUIDANCE ON FEDERAL COURT’S INJUNCTION LIFTING H-1B VISA BAN In accordance with a Federal District Court’s Injunction in National Association of Manufacturers et al., v. DHS, DOS issued a directive that H-1B, L-1, H-2B and most J-1 temporary visas will no longer be subject to an entry ban. US consulates across the globe have started issuing visas in a phased manner. However, there might be difficulty in scheduling appointments due to the ongoing pandemic. The Presi...dential Proclamation entry restrictions will not be a factor while reviewing the emergency appointment requests. To be eligible for visa issuance, H-1B Petitioner must establish that they are covered under NAM’s court order. H-1B visa applicants are advised to present a letter supporting that the H-1B Petitioner is in good standing in one of the Plaintiff’s associations in the case. Consular officers maintain discretion in issuing visas after thorough verification of evidence. GLF is following this important development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #immigration #uscis #usimmigration #dhs #workvisa #immigrationnews #immigrationpolicy #visas #h1bvisas #glf #glpo #workvisas #consulate #usconsulates #embassy

US DISTRICT COURT HALTS DONALD TRUMP’S ENTRY-BAN FOR H-1Bs In National Association of Manufacturers et al., v. DHS, a Federal Judge from the Northern District of California issued an Interim Injunction against the June 2020 Proclamation that suspended entry of foreign nationals on H-1B, L-1, H-2B and most J-1 temporary visas until December 31, 2020 with discretion to continue the proclamation as necessary. A coalition of groups representing thousands of American businesses, i...ncluding: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, National Retail Federation, Technet and Intrax questioned the authority granted to the President. The Court held that the President had exceeded his powers in halting employment of Non-Immigrant Workers. Further, Interim Injunction remains in effect during the course of the pending trial or until further decision from this Court. DOS announced that the Federal Court’s Order will not be taken into account in making emergency appointments. However, DOS is in the process of updating guidance on individual Embassy and Consulate websites. #uscis #immigration #usimmigration #immigrationnews #dhs #workvisa #workvisas #h1bvisas #proclamation #ban #usconsulates #usaimmigration #nonimmigrantvisa #embassy #usembassy #injunction #glpo #glf

Do check out GLF MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - IMMIGRATION UPDATES FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 https://gem.godaddy.com/s/5ea1611 #immigration #glf #glpo # #usimmigration #uscis #dhs #workvisa #workvisas #immigrationnews #immigrationpolicy #consulate

USCIS ROLLS OUT PUBLIC CHARGE RULE FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 Beginning September 22, 2020, USCIS has started applying the public charge rule (Form I-944 and DS 5540) to all future and pending green card applications / petitions, filed after February 24, 2020. USCIS's decision to apply the public charge rule came after a recent Court decision overturning a Nationwide Injunction imposed on this policy. I-485 applications filed after February 24, 2020, must include Form I-944, Dec...laration of Self Sufficiency. However, until October 13, 2020, USCIS will provide an opportunity in the form of an RFE to submit required evidence if the I-944 is deficient or ask for the Form I-944 itself, if one was not submitted. I-485 applications filed after October 13, 2020 without I-944 will be rejected right away. Please note that USCIS will not reopen any applications or petitions that were approved prior to the issuance of the July 29, 2020 Injunction and until the present September 22, 2020 announcement. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available.

USCIS EXTENDS DEADLINE FOR RFE RESPONSE BY ANOTHER 60 MORE DAYS Due to COVID-19, USCIS is extending the deadline on RFEs with due dates from March 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021, both dates inclusive. Now you get another 60 days (beyond the due date listed) for your response, for RFEs issued from March 1 2020 to January 1, 2021. The extension of the deadline applies to the below requests:... 1. Requests for Evidence; 2. Continuations to Request Evidence (N-14); 3. Notices of Intent to Deny; 4. Notices of Intent to Revoke; 5. Notices of Intent to Rescind and Notices of Intent to Terminate regional investment centers; 6. Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant; 7. Filing date requirements for Form N-336, Request for a Hearing on a Decision in Naturalization Proceedings (Under Section 336 of the INA); or 8. Filing date requirements for Form I-290B, Notice of Appeal or Motion. Please note that the response to the USCIS should be submitted within 60 days from the due date as mentioned in the request or notice. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. For the latest updates on US Immigration please follow us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/gokare-law-firm-official/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/gokare-lpo-private-limited/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gokarelaw/ and https://twitter.com/gokare_lpo/ #USCIS #USImmigration #RFE

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TIGHTENING H-1B VISAS AHEAD OF NOVEMBER ELECTIONS Trump Administration is moving forward with the publication of an Interim Final Rule to further restrict H-1B visas. DHS is also taking the extraordinary step of moving ahead with the Regulation without public notice and comment and as such will likely be challenged in the Courts. It appears that Trump Administration wants this restrictive regulation to be in place prior to the election in November. The Ne...w Regulation will be: 1. A new restrictive definition for specialty occupation 2. Make third-party placements more difficult Under the current regulation, if a degree is normal for the position, then it qualifies as a Specialty Occupation. However, USCIS has been making the argument that a position is not Specialty Occupation if it does not require a Bachelor’s degree in a specific field. Since Courts have struck down USCIS’s position in many lawsuits, it appears that they will now modify the Regulation to make Bachelor’s degree requirement in a specific field a requirement to qualify for H-1B. The New Regulation will also place a restriction on third party placements, which will prevent US companies from contracting with their clients to provide IT services. #uscis #h1b #usimmigration #glf #glpo

USCIS FILING FEES ARE CHANGING FROM OCTOBER 2, 2020 USCIS has published a Final Fee rule in the Federal Register on August 3, 2020, and New Fees will be effective from October 2, 2020. Under the Final Fee Rule, here are the new filing fees for case types common to GLF (from October 2, 2020):... H-1B (I-129H) ******* $555 TN (I-129 TN) ******* $695 L-1 (I-129L) ********* $805 Biometrics ********** $30 I-140 *************** $555 I-130 *************** $560/$550* I-485 *************** $1130 I-765 (EAD) ********* $550 I-539 (H-4, L-2) ****** $400/390* *$10 less for e-filing GLF will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #uscis #usimmigration #visafees #glf #glpo #Biometrics #H1BVisa

DHS SET TO MODERNIZE COLLECTION OF BIOMETRICS DHS announced that it will publish a Proposed Rule that expands and modernizes methods for collecting Biometrics. DHS proposes to expand Biometrics collection beyond background checks to include: 1. Identity verification,... 2. Secure document production, and 3. Records management. The proposed rule aims at improving screening and vetting process and bringing consistency in Identifying Verification and Information Management with Biometrics records. The proposed rule also includes: 1. Biometrics collection for Identity Verification using new techniques: Voice, Eyes and Facial Scans; 2. Allows for DNA collection for verifying family relationships in the instance of not providing sufficient evidence, to verify claimed family relationships and in detecting any misrepresentation. Through DNA tests, DHS hopes to better protect children by detecting Bonafide family relationships. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #uscis #dhs #immigration #usconsulates #consulate #biometrics #biometricdata #identitymanagement #identityverification #recordsmanagement #retinalscan #dnatest #dnatesting #voicerecognition #glf #glpo

SEVP TO SEND NOTICES TO F-1 OPT STUDENTS FOR EMPLOYER INFO Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has started issuing notices to F-1 students on OPT, who have not reported their employer information and who have exceeded 90 days of unemployment. The notice informs students of their lack of employer/employment information and is providing them an opportunity to update their records. F-1 students can update their OPT records either through their Designated School Official ...(DSO) or by logging into SEVP portal. Failure to update the SEVIS record will set the student record as terminated and they will be considered to be out of status for exceeding the period of unemployment. To report employer information students can use SEVP portal Help section and SEVIS Help Hub in SEVP Portal. For more information about the notice or queries, DSO or students may contact SEVP Response Center at [email protected] or (703) 603-3400 or (800) 892-4829. Alternatively, the DSOs may also get in touch with their local SEVP field representative with any questions. GLF is following this development and will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available. #uscis #f1visa #f1students #optstudents #studentvisa #sevp #sevis #students #dso #dhs #workvisa #workvisas

PREMIUM PROCESSING FEE IS PROPOSED TO INCREASE FROM $1440 TO $2500! GLF is pleased to report that USCIS has called off (via its announcement of August 25, 2020) the planned furloughs by instituting deep budget cuts. On August 22, 2020, The House of Representatives passed a Bill (H.R.8089) named The Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act increasing the current premium processing fees for various processes and expanding the premium process services to other programs.... The Bill proposes to increase the premium processing fees for applications from $ 1440 to 2500. Further it proposes to extend the premium processing services to newer visa categories as well. Now the Bill is passed by the House of Representatives it will be placed before the Senate and is expected to be passed by next week. https://gem.godaddy.com/s/c5e5311 #uscis #furlough #premiums #bill #senate #houseofrepresentatives #visaservices

PREMIUM PROCESSING FEES ARE PROPOSED TO GO UP TO AVOID USCIS FURLOUGHS On Aug. 22, 2020, the House of Representatives passed a Bill (H.R. 8089) named The Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act, to temporarily prevent USCIS furloughs by increasing USCIS premium processing fees and adding new premium categories. USCIS had requested additional funding of $ 1.2 billion to avoid furlough of about 13,000 employees starting August 30. Please refer to GLF’s July 31, 2020 Google ...Post for more details. To remedy USCIS budget shortfall and avoid layoffs, H.R. 8089 proposes to increase the premium processing fees for applications from $1,440 to $2,500. Further, it proposes to extend premium processing service to newer visa categories as well, as follows: 1. I-539 COS to F, J or M- $ 1750 and processing time- 30 days; 2. I-539 dependents of E, H, L, O, P and R- $ 1750 and processing time- 30 days; 3. I-765 EAD- $ 1500 and processing time- 30 days; and 4. Certain I-130 categories- $ 2500 and processing time- 45 days. H.R. 8089 will be placed before the Senate and is expected to be passed next week. GLF will provide timely updates on this topic as and when they become available.

US CONSULATES IN INDIA HAVE STARTED ISSUING F-1 VISAS US Embassy in New Delhi and other Consulates in India: Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai began processing F-1 visas and Exchange Visitor Visa applications from August 17, 2020, on a limited basis. Consulates will process emergency student and exchange visitor appointment requests that were received prior to August 12 before taking new public appointments. At present they have very limited appointment availability and... not all requests shall be handled before the start of the Fall 2020 semester. All Prospective Students and Exchange Visitors have been asked to schedule their appointment no more than three weeks prior to the program start date. Given the current backlog, appointment slots are likely to get filled quickly. Students have been asked to constantly monitor appointment availability at https://in.usembassy.gov/visas/. GLF will continue to follow developments in this important matter and provide timely updates as and when they become available. #uscis #studentvisas #usconsulate #dos #visas #f1visa #exchangestudent #glf #glpo For latest updates on US Immigration please follow us on: Twitter: https://lnkd.in/gcCnsGQ/, https://twitter.com/gokarelaw/ and https://twitter.com/gokare_lpo/