DHS and DOL Announce Availability of Additional H-2B Visas for Fiscal Year 2023

 WASHINGTON— The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) are issuing a temporary final rule that makes available 64,716 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2023. These supplemental H-2B visas are for U.S. employers seeking to petition for additional workers at certain periods of the fiscal year before Sept. 15, 2023.

“The Department is making supplemental H-2B visas available earlier than ever, ensuring that American businesses can plan for their peak season labor needs,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “At a time of record job growth, these visas will also provide a safe and lawful pathway to the United States for noncitizens prepared to take jobs that are not filled by American workers.” Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-and-dol-announce-availability-of-additional-h-2b-visas-for-fiscal-year-2023

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

DHS’s Public Charge Final Rule Goes into Effect on Dec. 23

 On Dec. 23, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule will go into effect. This final rule, which was previously announced, provides clarity and consistency for noncitizens on how DHS will administer the public charge ground of inadmissibility. This final rule restores the historical understanding of a “public charge” that had been in place for decades before the previous administration began to consider supplemental public health benefits such as Medicaid and nutritional assistance as part of the public charge inadmissibility determination. Read more at:https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/dhss-public-charge-final-rule-goes-into-effect-on-dec-23

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

Options for Nonimmigrant Workers Following Termination of Employment

 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is providing information for nonimmigrant workers whose employment has terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily. These workers may have several options for remaining in the United States in a period of authorized stay based on existing rules and regulations.

Below is a compilation of options that may be available to nonimmigrant workers seeking to remain in the United States in a period of authorized stay following termination. Please note that not all options below provide employment authorization. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/options-for-nonimmigrant-workers-following-termination-of-employment

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Announces Trial for Updates to the Naturalization Test

 WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today published a notice in the Federal Register announcing that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) plans to conduct a trial for updates to the current naturalization test. The naturalization test has four components: reading, writing, civics, and ability to speak English. The reading and writing portions of the naturalization test are standard. The purposes of the trial are to test a civics component with updated format and content and a newly developed English-speaking component that could become standard. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-announces-trial-for-updates-to-the-naturalization-test

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

DHS Announces Registration Process for Temporary Protected Status for Ethiopia

 WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security today posted a Federal Register notice on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia. This notice provides information about how to register for TPS under Ethiopia’s designation. In October, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced the 18-month designation of Ethiopia for TPS.

The registration process begins on Dec. 12, 2022. All individuals who want to request TPS under the designation of Ethiopia must file an application.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-announces-registration-process-for-temporary-protected-status-for-ethiopia

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

USCIS Releases New Data on Effective Reduction of Backlogs, Support for Humanitarian Missions, and Fiscal Responsibility

 WASHINGTON – Today, USCIS released its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 progress report (PDF, 1.08 MB) with new information demonstrating how it reduced backlogs in certain programs and supported humanitarian missions. The report summarizes numerous steps USCIS has taken, which include strengthening its fiscal stability, and implementing adjudicatory efficiencies, policy measures and agency-wide backlog reduction efforts. At the same time, USCIS has continued to meet the extraordinary demands on its humanitarian programs, upholding America’s promise as a nation of welcome and possibility. Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-releases-new-data-on-effective-reduction-of-backlogs-support-for-humanitarian-missions-and

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

Secretary Mayorkas Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for Haiti for 18 Months

 WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti for an additional 18 months, from February 4, 2023, through August 3, 2024, due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Haiti. He also redesignated Haiti for TPS, allowing Haitian nationals residing in the United States as of November 6, 2022, to apply for TPS through August 3, 2024, so long as they meet all eligibility requirements. It is important to note that Haitians entering the United States after November 6, 2022, are not eligible for TPS and, like other individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States, will be subject to removal. To repeat: Haitians entering the United States after November 6, 2022, including those who might be considering entering now, are not eligible for TPS.

Read more at: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/secretary-mayorkas-extends-and-redesignates-temporary-protected-status-for-haiti-for-18-months

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

The US visa will have a new image printed on its foil. It won’t be Lincoln anymore

 It’s the U.S. visa issued at all U.S. consulates and embassies across the world — and it is about to debut a new look.

As part of a standard secure document revision process, U.S. consulates and embassies will begin to issue a new visa foil in 2023.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection notification from its Carrier Liaison Program, posted on the website of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, announced the replacement of the Lincoln visa foil for the Bridge visa foil. Read more at: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-us-visa-will-have-a-new-image-printed-on-its-foil-it-won-t-be-lincoln-anymore/ar-AA14SeYF

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.

US extends visa renewal waiver to 48 months

 The U.S. Mission has announced that it is expanding the eligibility period for nonimmigrant visa renewals from 24 months to 48 months.

Applicants whose previous U.S. visa expired within the last 48 months or will expire in the next three months now qualify to renew their visa without an interview.

The U.S. Mission says it is also opening thousands of visa renewal appointments to assist applicants who wish to renew their visas

A statement by the U.S. Mission on Friday, explained that applicants may be eligible for a visa renewal without an interview if their application is for a B1/B2, F, M, J (academic only), H, L or C1/D (combined only) visa. Read more at: https://businessday.ng/news/article/us-extends-visa-renewal-waiver-to-48-months/

Contact Darren Heyman, immigration attorney, for more information.