ImmigrationHelp News Team

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: December 9, 2022 (archive)

Immigration news this week revealed the precarious nature of being an immigrant — documented or not — in the U.S. First, an ICE information leak earlier this week endangered an estimated 6,000 immigrants seeking protection in U.S. In better new, as SCOTUS began hearing the case 303 Creative v. Elenis, which challenges same-sex marriages, Congress passed a landmark bill to protect such marriages. We talk below about how this impacts same-sex marriage green card applicants. Finally, an increase in the number of processed and approved naturalization applications in 2022 gives some hope that USCIS is making progress addressing a backlog exacerbated by by COVID-19.

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: Nov. 25, 2022 (Archive)

This week we deal with the realities of immigration: backlogs exist, and Democrats have struggled to pass meaningful federal immigration reform. However, there’s good news too. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker — a Republican — publicly supports federal immigration reform. A study shows that accepting international students offers more financial benefits than previously thought. Finally, we look at some tasty immigrant contributions to pop culture, news, and food.

November 2022 Visa Bulletin

The November 2022 Visa Bulletin shows few changes in cut-off dates for family green cards for applicants from most countries. The one exception is a slight decrease in several preference categories for those applying for family green cards from Mexico. There are no changes in cut-off dates for employment-based green cards in any preference category since last month's visa bulletin. Click on your preference category below to see the most current information about your cut-off date and when you can apply for your green card.

SCOTUS Hearing on Same-Sex Marriage Could Impact LGBTQ+ Marriage Green Card Petitions

- There are an estimated 289,000 LGBTQ+ immigrants in the U.S.‍ - 303 Creative v. Elenis challenges same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court’s decision on it will affect immigration benefits to same-sex couples petitioning their spouses for green cards.

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: November 18, 2022 (Archive)

The CATO institute reports that the U.S. is unable to process visas in 67 countries, the Biden administration extends TPS protections for 337,000 immigrants from El Salvador, Nepal, and Honduras, U.S. officials announce that ICE will soon begin deporting undocumented Cuban immigrants by plane. In other great news, Massachusetts voted to allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses and Arizona voters approved a proposition that allows undocumented students to pay in-state tuition and have access to state-based financial aid. Let’s dive in!

SCOTUS To Hear U.S. v. Texas: A Challenge to President Biden on Immigration

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments today in the U.S. v. Texas case, which addresses Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas' decision to limit deportation of undocumented immigrants based on specific criteria.

Biden Administration Set To End Title 42: Challenges and Opportunities

The U.S. government will end the implementation of Title 42 on December 21, 2022. Title 42 was introduced in March 2020 under the Trump administration. It allowed the U.S. border authorities to turn immigrants away under the guise of preventing the spread of COVID-19. More than 20 states are challenging the end of the rule in federal court.‍

USCIS Announces Updates to Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processes for Afghan Nationals

USCIS announced fee exemptions and expedited processes that will apply to Afghan nationals filing for certain immigration benefits. These new procedures will remain in effect until September 30, 2023. 

ICE Data Leak Made 6,000 Immigrants’ Information Public

An ICE leak compromised the data of 6,252 immigrants fleeing from torture and persecution. ICE has said they will conduct an internal investigation as this leak was a breach of their internal policy.

SCOTUS Hearing on Same-Sex Marriage Could Impact LGBTQ+ Marriage Green Card Petitions

- There are an estimated 289,000 LGBTQ+ immigrants in the U.S. - 303 Creative v. Elenis challenges same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court’s decision on it will affect immigration benefits to same-sex couples petitioning their spouses for green cards.

Naturalization Numbers Increased In 2022; 3rd Highest in U.S. History

- USCIS limited its services at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak to comply with government and local lockdowns, which exacerbated an already backlogged immigration system. - In the 2022 fiscal year, USCIS granted citizenship to 900,000 immigrants, or 11.25% more people than in fiscal year 2021.

USCIS Announces Policy Changes for N-400 Applicants

November 2023 Visa Bulletin (Archive)

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

There were no changes in wait times for all family-based and employment- based green card applicants in November, compared to last month (October).

September 2023 Visa Bulletin (Archive)

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

There were only few changes to the Visa Bulletin for the month of September. For family-based green card applicants, there was a one month decrease in wait times for spouses and children of permanent residents (F2A) across all countries. For employment-based green card applicants, there was a 3 month decrease for Mexico, the Philippines, and "all other countries" in the EB-2 category, and a 3 month decrease for China (main land born) for EB-3 green cards (skilled workers & professionals).

How Long Does It Take USCIS To Process Form I-129F for a K-1 Fiancé Visa?

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

The processing time for a K-1 fiancé visa ranges from 12–18 months, and involves U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the National Visa Center, and a U.S. embassy or U.S. consulate in your foreign fiance’s country of residence. Right now it’s taking USCIS 5.5 to 15.5 months to process Form I-129F: Petition for Alien Fiancé, and it’s taking the NVC 16 days to create and review cases.

How Long Does It Take USCIS To Process Asylum and Asylum Work Permit Applications?

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

Currently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) does not release data on the process time for Form I-589, which is the application for asylum status. USCIS does release data about Form I-765, application for a work permit based on asylum. - It's currently taking USCIS 5.5 to 15 months to process work permit applications (Form I-765) for individuals with approved asylum status. - It's taking USCIS an average of 1 months to process Form I-765 for individuals with a pending initial asylum application. - It's taking USCIS 16 months to process Form I-765 for individuals applying to renew or replace their asylum status.

How Long Does It Take USCIS To Process Marriage Green Cards?

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

Five U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) service centers currently process Form I-130. - The processing time for U.S. citizens filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 13-54.5 months. - The processing time for legal permanent residents filing Form I-130 for a spouse beneficiary ranges from 32-67.5 months. - The current average processing time for Form I-485 across 89 field offices is around 20 months.

October 2023 Visa Bulletin (Archive)

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

For family-based green card applicants, there were no changes in wait times compared to last month (September). However, wait times decreased for almost employment-based green card applicants. The exception as the EB-5 category where only India and China (main land born) saw a decrease in wait times while every other country in the category saw no change.

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: October 21, 2022 (Archive)

This has been a busy week in immigration news, and thankfully some of it is positive. The United States government wants to fast-track applications for Afghan asylees who helped U.S. troops, a senior living facility explains why immigration is important to the country’s economy, and the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of four nonprofits who want the right to provide legal counsel to their immigrant detainee clients for free.

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: October 21, 2022 (Archive)

This has been a busy week in immigration news, and thankfully some of it is positive. The United States government wants to fast-track applications for Afghan asylees who helped U.S. troops, a senior living facility explains why immigration is important to the country’s economy, and the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of four nonprofits who want the right to provide legal counsel to their immigrant detainee clients for free.

Immigration Weekly News Roundup: September 30, 2022

The ever-changing immigration landscape can be difficult to navigate. As we enter the final months of 2022, there’s some good news. The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule that will make it easier for people with limited income to get legal permanent residency (green card). The department has also extended Temporary Protected Status for people from Myanmar. Finally, the U.S. will resume visa processing for Cubans who want to visit or migrate legally. Let’s take a closer look at recent announcements.

January 2023 Visa Bulletin (Archive)

The application processing time for priority worker green cards for foreign nationals from mainland China and India has increased by five months and nine days. Application cut-off dates in all other family-based and employment-based green card categories did not change between the December and January Visa Bulletin. You can find current cut-off dates and backlog information in the charts below.

Weekly News Roundup: October 14, 2022 (Archive)

The fourth quarter brings with it an array of immigration news. A few things in this week's bulletin: changes in wait times for Mexican nationals applying for family-sponsored green cards, a legal challenge to visa retrogression laws, a timeline on what to expect from DACA as litigation continues, and why Anna “Delvey” Sorokin’s house arrest matters to immigration advocates.

May 2023 Visa Bulletin (Archive)

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

There is some good news for certain family-based green card applicants this month. Wait times in the first and third preference categories from all countries except Mexico and the Philippines decreased slightly from last month. Wait times are also down by 1 month and 17 days for F4 green card applicants (for siblings of adult U.S. citizens) except for applicants from Mexico, India, and the Philippines. There were both increases and decreases for employment-based green cards compared to last month. This varies by category and country. The most significant change from last month is in the EB-3 category. Applicants in China saw a decrease in wait times of five months. However, applicants for EB-3 green cards from Mexico, the Philippines, and all other countries (except India) saw wait times *increase* by 9 months and 21 days.

February 2023 Visa Bulletin Archive

There were very few changes in wait times between the January 2023 Visa Bulletin and the February 2023 Visa Bulletin released by the U.S. State Department this week. There were no changes in wait times in any preference category for family-based green card applicants. The backlog for employment-based green card applicants in the "Other Workers" preference category grew by two years, seven months, and one week for applicants from El Salvador/Guatemala/Honduras, Mexico, the Philippines, and all other countries. There was no change in wait times for other workers applying from China and India or for workers in any other category.

April 2023 Visa Bulletin

There were quite a few changes in wait times for employment-based green cards in the April 2023 Visa Bulletin released by the U.S. State Department this week. To address increasing demand for EB-2 green cards and keep the number of visas issued within 2023 guidelines, the State Department used final action dates for employment-based green cards in April. This led to increased wait times in almost every EB visa category. Indian nationals hoping to get a employment green card are disproportionately negatively affected by this change, with wait times increasing by up to 10 years in some categories. There were no changes in wait times in any preference category for family-based green card applicants.

March 2023 Visa Bulletin Archive

There were very few changes in wait times between the February 2023 Visa Bulletin and the March 2023 Visa Bulletin released by the U.S. State Department this week. There were no changes in wait times in any preference category for family-based green card applicants. The backlog for employment-based green card applicants in the "Certain Special Immigrants" category increased for every country except El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. There were no changes for the other employment-based green card preference categories.

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: Oct. 7, 2022 (Archive)

This week was momentous for immigrants awaiting good news. A few tidbits include registry date reforms, extensions to already-expired green cards, signature waivers for people who need medical exams for their immigration status adjustments, a new research center in New York state, a call for increased worker protections, and more DACA news.  A full recap of these is below.

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: November 4, 2022

This week brings a lot of good news: Citizenship waivers for disabled immigrants have been restored, and the ACLU and other organizations unite to limit the detention of pregnant migrants. Additionally, attorneys for TPS recipients from El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Nepal will return to a federal court and continue talks to help their clients retain their status. As midterm elections come up, both Latino voters and voters in the agricultural sector bring up their immigration concerns. Let’s read!

December 2022 Visa Bulletin (Archive)

The U.S. Department of State released the December 2022 Visa Bulletin, which is the final bulletin of the year. Family-based green card cut-off times are the same for December as they were in November. This means the USCIS backlog — your wait time to apply for your green card — hasn’t changed either. There was more movement with employment-based green card cut-offs. The wait times for EB-2 and EB-3 applicants from China and India increased slightly. One piece of good news: The wait times for special immigrants, EB-4 applicants, decreased by 4 months and 1 day for all countries except those in Central America.

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: December 2, 2022 (Archive)

Two important events happened this week that could change U.S. immigration policies substantially: the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) started hearing the U.S. v. Texas case, which stems from the state of Texas’ challenges to President Biden’s current immigration priorities. Additionally, the Biden Administration is set to end Title 42, a Trump-era rule that prevented many asylum seekers from entering the United States. Read the top takeaways below as well as our pop culture roundup.

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: Nov. 11, 2022 (Archive)

U.S. midterm elections were this Tuesday, Nov. 8. In a landmark effort to empower voters, two Michigan cities offered Arabic-language election ballots for the first time. This week, we’ll look at the impact election winners and voting access efforts may have on immigrants at a local, state, or federal level.  In other immigration news this week, USCIS made changes to the declaration of financial support form and to the lockbox addresses for SIJS applications. 

Weekly Immigration News Roundup: October 28, 2022 (Archive)

This week DHS announced that Ethiopians will be able to apply for temporary protected status (TPS). Also, USCIS says certain CW-1 petitions will be considered on time and Venezuelans will be able to take advantage of a new process so they can enter the U.S. Finally, Cubans detained in Florida will be released, and a new study reveals that immigrants help alleviate tax burdens in the U.S. Let’s dive in!

How Long Does It Take USCIS To Process Form N-400 for Citizenship Applications?

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

To get U.S. citizenship, you must file Form N-400: Application for Naturalization with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Processing times for Form N-400 have stayed fairly consistent over the past five years with the average wait time being about 11 months. There are 89 field offices that currently process Form N-400. The current average processing time across all offices is 15.5 months. The whole naturalization process (including application processing, the citizenship interview and exam, and oath of allegiance ceremony) takes 18-24 months on average.

August 2023 Visa Bulletin (Archive)

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

There were very quite a few changes to the Visa Bulletin for the month of August. For family-based green card applicants from Mexico, wait times for F1 green cards decreased by 2 years and 3 months and F2B green cards decreased by 2 years and 4 months. Regarding employment-based green cards, there were no changes in wait times for EB-2 green cards and EB-4 green cards for applicants from any country. Wait times for employment-based green card applicants from India continue to increase in several categories. - There was over a 10 year increase in wait times for EB-1 Priority Worker applicants from India. This means Indian applicants are waiting over 11 years and 5 months for a chance to get a green card. - There was almost a 3.6 year increase in wait times for EB-3 Skilled Worker applicants from India. These applicants are waiting over 14 years and 4 months to get a chance to apply for a green card.

June 2023 Visa Bulletin (Archive)

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

There were very few changes to the Visa Bulletin this month! Most data stayed the same from May 2023 to June 2023. For family-based green card applications, there were no changes at all in wait times compared to last month. For employment-based green card applications, there were only a couple of changes in wait times. The wait time for an EB-3 green card (for other workers) stayed the same for all countries, except for Mainland China where the wait time decreased by 4.5 months. The wait time for an EB-5 green cards for (immigrant investors-unreserved) stayed the same for all countries, except for India where the wait time increased by just over 1 year.

Current Visa Bulletin (December 2023)

Written by ImmigrationHelp News Team. Legally reviewed by Jonathan Petts

There were no changes in wait times for any family- or employment-based green card application categories in December compared to last month (November).