December 2022 » ImmigrationUSA

Visa Bulletin

January 2023 Visa Bulletin: EB-1 Retrogression for Indian and Chinese Nationals

The January 2023 Visa Bulletin shows retrogression for EB-1 for India and China. No movement on the family-based visas.

December 24, 2022

Immigration Visa

Permanent Visa Issuance in the U.S. Shows Upward Trend After Pandemic

During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant decline in permanent visa approvals, as processing at U.S. consulates and embassies came to a virtual halt. However, the Department of State has announced that immigrant visa approvals have “returned to pre-pandemic levels,” in the 2022 fiscal year.

December 24, 2022

India Visa Appointments

Updates to U.S. Consulates in India Visa Appointment

Visa appointments continue to be extremely limited for U.S. Consulates in India. The goal is to return to typical, pre-COVID processing capabilities by September 2023. However, some limited availability has been announced for some visa categories.

December 20, 2022

EAGLE Act

EAGLE Act to Eliminate Per Country Cap Stalls

The Equal Access to Green Cards for Legal Employment (EAGLE) Act that proposed ending the per-country cap for green cards is no longer scheduled for a vote in the current session of Congress. It’s future remains to be seen as support has varied from both Democrats and Republicans.

December 20, 2022

Naturalization

Trial of Updated Naturalization Test Trial Announced by USCIS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a trial of an updated version of the naturalization test. The naturalization test is one of the final steps in becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.

December 20, 2022

Asylum

Supreme Court Justice Stops Title 42 Planned Expiration

The Biden administration’s plan to let Title 42 expire on December 21, 2022, has been halted. Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts approved the request of a group of nineteen states to block Title 42 from expiring.

December 20, 2022

Public Charge Rule

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

DHS announced the final public charge rule goes into effect on December 23, 2022. The DHS final rule does not take into consideration noncash payments.

December 19, 2022

Family-Based Visa

USCIS May Extend Interview Waiver Eligibility

USCIS typically grants these waivers in Employment-Eased adjustment of status, but recent news indicates that may soon change, expanding to qualifying Family-Based applicants.

December 19, 2022

H-1B

US Embassy in India Encourages Indian Nationals to Apply for H and L Visas

A twelve-day program from the U.S. Embassy in India is aimed at Indian nationals, promoting interested and qualified individuals to apply for an H-1B and L-1 visa.

December 16, 2022

DACA

Bipartisan Immigration Deal Fails

An effort to pass an immigration deal providing a path to citizenship for DACA holders and limit southern U.S. border crossings has stalled. Based on reports from multiple outlets, the effort has failed.

December 15, 2022