USCIS, however, still has much work to do to resolve longstanding systemic issues that compromise efficiency, quality of adjudications, and customer service. As a former Immigration and Naturalization Service counsel, seasoned immigration practitioner, and now as the Ombudsman, I have seen the detrimental impacts of inadequate customer service, delays in processing times, inconsistent adjudications, and ineffective policymaking. These are meaningful problems and should be treated as such. - Report
"You wrote that Arizona adopted “anti-immigration legislation in 2010. 'Of course, you surely meant to say “anti-illegal immigration.' As a writer and former newspaper editor myself, I’m sensitive to the precision and nuance of language. Just thought I’d bring that to your attention. No charge." - LA Times
Today, USCIS launched a refresh of InfoPass, our online system that lets you schedule an appointment at one of our offices. New features include a mapping function that makes it easier to find a local office here in the United States and an improved visual style that matches the rest of uscis.gov as well as a new web address: my.uscis.gov/appointment.
Donald Trump cast Britain’s decision to leave the European Union as a revolt against unfettered immigration into the West, as Thursday's vote emboldened both the billionaire’s anti-establishment bid for president and other break-away efforts across Europe. - Fox
The Supreme Court dealt a likely fatal blow Thursday to President Obama's effort to protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation and allow them to seek work permits, deadlocking 4-4 over a plan that had divided the nation as well as the justices. - USA Today
Barbara, a 40-year-old homemaker from this suburban town 30 miles west of London, doesn't hesitate when asked how she'll vote in next Thursday's referendum on whether Britain should continue its membership in the European Union: "Out," she says, firmly. Asked why, she quickly responds: "Because our NHS (National Health Service) is struggling. It doesn't have enough funding, and you have new people coming in every day using it and not paying in." - U.S. News
The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for July 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.
| Chargeability | Preference | Cut-off Date (Y-M-D) | Movement (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Second (EB2) | 2010-01-01 | 0 |
| India | Second (EB2) | 2004-11-01 | 31 |
| ROW | Third (EB3) | 2016-03-01 | 15 |
| China | Third (EB3) | 2010-01-01 | 0 |
| India | Third (EB3) | 2004-10-22 | 30 |
| Mexico | Third (EB3) | 2016-03-01 | 15 |
| Philippines | Third (EB3) | 2009-02-15 | 106 |
The Department of State also published their predictions on future cutoff date movement for August and September, 2016
USCIS today published the pending I-485 inventory with data as of April 2016. We have now updated the green card tracker with the latest information. The I-485 tracker includes data from USCIS' pending I-485 inventory as well as DOS' pending consular processing cases.
"San Francisco officials plan to take another run at clarifying sanctuary protections for people who are in the country illegally, a policy that landed the city in national hot water last year when a Mexican man shot and killed a woman walking along a waterfront pier.
The measure calls for law officers to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement only if a defendant is charged with a violent crime and has been convicted of a violent crime within the last seven years. That would be the only time city workers, including police officers, could disclose immigration status." - Fox
"Although the E.U. itself ranks near the bottom of surveys measuring the issues that matter to Britons, immigration — levels of which have been at historic highs — often tops the list. Advocates for a British exit have hammered the point, arguing that getting out of the E.U. is the only way for the country to control its borders, because the 28-member club guarantees its citizens freedom of movement." - WaPo
Both employment-based and fimily-sponsored I-485 filing dates must follow the Final Action chart for June 2016.
On April 21, 2016, USCIS began allowing petitioners who filed Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, requesting an extension of status or change of employer to submit an inquiry after their petition has been pending for 210 days or more. This inquiry may be based on the petition being outside of normal processing times. - USCIS
The Department of State has released the Visa Bulletin for June 2016. The table below shows "Final Action (Approval)" cut-off dates and movement from the previous month, for all major employment-based categories. To see filing cut-off dates or family-sponsored categories please go to the Visa Bulletin page linked above. For historical data, predictions and more information please refer to our Visa Bulletin Toolbox.
| Chargeability | Preference | Cut-off Date (Y-M-D) | Movement (Days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | Second (EB2) | 2010-01-01 | -974 |
| India | Second (EB2) | 2004-10-01 | -1513 |
| ROW | Third (EB3) | 2016-02-15 | 0 |
| China | Third (EB3) | 2010-01-01 | -1322 |
| India | Third (EB3) | 2004-09-22 | 21 |
| Mexico | Third (EB3) | 2016-02-15 | 0 |
| Philippines | Third (EB3) | 2008-11-01 | 85 |
INDIA EB2: During the past two months, there have been extremely high levels of Employment-based demand for adjustment of status cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This has necessitated retrogression of the Second preference final action date for the month of June in an effort to hold number use within the FY-2016 annual limit. This date is expected to advance slowly during the last three months of the fiscal year, at a pace consistent with that of the India Employment-based Third preference date.
CHINA EB2 and EB3: During the past two months, there have been extremely high levels of Employment-based demand for adjustment of status cases filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. This has necessitated retrogression of both the Second and Third preference final action dates for the month of June in an effort to hold number use within those FY-2016 annual limits. Neither of these dates is expected to advance prior to the end of the fiscal year.
Item D of the May Visa Bulletin advised readers that such corrective action might be necessary to control future number use during the coming months. Every effort will be made to return the retrogressed dates to those listed in the May 2016 Visa Bulletin as quickly as possible, once the FY-2017 annual limits take effect October 1, 2016. Speculation on how quickly, or when, a full recovery might occur might not be possible until late summer.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to adjust certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees charged by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS conducted a comprehensive fee review, after refining its cost accounting process, and determined that current fees do not recover the full costs of the services it provides. Adjustment to the fee schedule is necessary to fully recover costs for USCIS services and to maintain adequate service. DHS proposes to increase USCIS fees by a weighted average of 21 percent and add one new fee. In addition, DHS proposes to clarify that persons filing a benefit request may be required to appear for biometrics services or an interview and pay the biometrics services fee, and make a number of other changes. - USCIS
USCIS Proposed Fees by Immigration Benefit:
| Immigration Benefit Request | Current Fee | Proposed Fee | Delta ($) | Percent Change |
| G-1041 | $20 | $65 | $45 | 225% |
| G-1041A | $20 | $65 | $45 | 225% |
| G-1041A | $35 | $65 | $30 | 86% |
| I-90 | $365 | $455 | $90 | 25% |
| I-102 | $330 | $445 | $115 | 35% |
| I-129 | $325 | $460 | $135 | 42% |
| I-129F | $340 | $535 | $195 | 57% |
| I-130 | $420 | $535 | $115 | 27% |
| I-131/I-131A | $360 | $575 | $215 | 60% |
| I-140 | $580 | $700 | $120 | 21% |
| I-290B | $630 | $675 | $45 | 7% |
| I-360 | $405 | $435 | $30 | 7% |
| I-485 | $985 | $1,140 | $155 | 16% |
| I-526 | $1,500 | $3,675 | $2,175 | 145% |
| I-539 | $290 | $370 | $80 | 28% |
| I-600/600A/ 800/800A | $720 | $775 | $55 | 8% |
| I-601A | $585 | $630 | $45 | 8% |
| I-687 | $1,130 | $1,130 | $0 | 0% |
| I-690 | $200 | $715 | $515 | 258% |
| I-694 | $755 | $890 | $135 | 18% |
| I-698 | $1,020 | $1,670 | $650 | 64% |
| I-751 | $505 | $595 | $90 | 18% |
| I-765 | $380 | $410 | $30 | 8% |
| I-800A Supp. 3 | $360 | $385 | $25 | 7% |
| I-817 | $435 | $600 | $165 | 38% |
| I-824 | $405 | $465 | $60 | 15% |
| I-829 | $3,750 | $3,750 | $0 | 0% |
| I-910 | $615 | $785 | $170 | 28% |
| I-924 | $6,230 | $17,795 | $11,56 5 | 186% |
| I-924A | $0 | $3,035 | $3,035 | N/A |
| I-929 | $215 | $230 | $15 | 7% |
| N-300 | $250 | $270 | $20 | 8% |
| N-336 | $650 | $700 | $50 | 8% |
| N-400 | $595 | $640 | $45 | 8% |
| N-470 | $330 | $355 | $25 | 8% |
| N-565 | $345 | $555 | $210 | 61% |
| N-600/ N-600K | $600 | $1,170 | $570 | 95% |
| I-191, I-192,I-193, I-212,I-601, I-602,I-612 | $585 | $930 | $345 | 59% |
| USCIS Immigrant Fee | $165 | $220 | $55 | 33% |
| Biometric Services | $85 | $85 | $0 | 0% |
"The Visa Office implemented the requirement for consular officers to prudentially revoke nonimmigrant visas for DUI arrests subsequent to visa issuance because driving under the influence is indicative of a possible INA 212(a)(1)(A)(iii) ineligibility for a possible physical or mental disorder with associated harmful behavior. Consular officers have been required to refer any nonimmigrant visa applicant with one alcohol related arrest in the last five years or two or more in the last 10 years to the panel physician for a medical examination prior to visa issuance to rule out a medical ineligibility." - DOS
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