Current Events, News, Alerts and More

DHS Final Rule Updates H-1B Program, Form I-129   – The Department of Homeland Security announced a final rule, effective January 17, 2025, that will "significantly enhance U.S. companies' ability to fill job vacancies in critical fields, strengthening our economy."

DOS Removes China, India, Others From Countries on Skills List for Exchange Visitors – The Department of State is updating the countries on the Exchange Visitors Skills List. DOS has removed China and India, among others, from the list. DOS is not updating the skills on the list.

FY 2025 H-1B Cap Reached, USCIS Says – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough H-1B petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption (master's cap) for fiscal year 2025.

Certain Applicants Now Must File Medical Exam and Vaccination Record With Adjustment Application – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is now requiring certain applicants filing Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to submit Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, with their Form I-485 or the Form I-485 may be rejected.

USCIS Updates Guidance on Case Assistance or Feedback - On December 18, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it is updating its Policy Manual to reflect available avenues for case assistance or feedback. Specifically, the update:

·       Recommends that stakeholders submit changes of address through the self-service tool available in their USCIS online account as soon as possible following a move or when an update is required;

·       Updates information on USCIS's current case assistance tools and resources to reflect the expansion of online tools and resources;

·       Includes a link to the agency's Contact Us webpage, where stakeholders can find information on how to contact USCIS, including detailed, program-specific assistance information;

·       Updates and clarifies information on providing feedback to USCIS;

·       Changes the language on USCIS's response time goals to service requests from 15 calendar days to 15 business days; and

·       Removes the timeframe on processing priority service requests but retains priority processing of certain service request categories.