Blog - The Anwari Law Firm, PC

H-1B Final Rule, H-2 Final Rule, and Revised Form I-129 Effective Jan. 17, 2025

posted on: January 17, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security’s H-1B final rule and H-2 final rule take effect on Friday, January 17, 2025, modernizing and improving requirements for the H-1B nonimmigrant and H-2 nonimmigrant visa programs. USCIS will also publish a revised Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (edition date 01/17/25) on Jan. 17, reflecting combined changes associated with the two final rules. As previously […]

USCIS Updates Guidance on EB-2 National Interest Waiver Petitions

posted on: January 15, 2025

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating its policy guidance to clarify how we evaluate eligibility for the second preference employment-based (EB-2) classification for immigrant petitions filed with a request for a national interest waiver (NIW). In general, an employer files an EB-2 petition using Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, after obtaining a labor certification from the Department of […]

USCIS Updates Guidance on Flexibilities Available During and After Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances

posted on: January 6, 2025

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating our Policy Manual to clarify flexibilities that may be available to benefit requestors during and after an emergency or unforeseen circumstance. The update explains that during certain emergencies or unforeseen circumstances that may present unanticipated challenges to immigration benefit requestors, we may use our discretion to implement certain flexibilities relating […]

DHS Announces H-1B Modernization Final Rule to Improve Program Integrity and Efficiency

posted on: December 17, 2024

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced a final rule that modernizes the H-1B program by streamlining the approval process, increasing its flexibility to better allow employers to retain talented workers, and improving the integrity and oversight of the program. What You Need to Know The H-1B nonimmigrant visa program allows U.S. employers to temporarily employ […]

Designation of Lebanon for TPS

posted on: November 26, 2024

On Nov. 26, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a Federal Register notice designating Lebanon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from Nov. 27, 2024, through May 27, 2026. This designation allows eligible Lebanese nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Lebanon) to obtain TPS if they have resided continuously […]

USCIS Updates Guidance on Determining Custody for Children Acquiring U.S. Citizenship

posted on: November 19, 2024

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration and Services is issuing guidance regarding the legal and physical custody requirements for purposes of acquisition of U.S. citizenship under section 320 and naturalization under section 322 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). We are also expanding guidance on derivation of citizenship before the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, under […]

Immigration Medical Examination Documentation Will Be Valid Indefinitely for Certain Afghan Nationals

posted on: November 13, 2024

We are updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 8, Part B, Chapter 3, to reflect that immigration medical examination documentation for certain Afghan nationals who arrived in the United States during Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) is valid indefinitely. This means that Afghan nationals who arrived in the United States during OAW and meet certain […]

USCIS Updates Guidance on the International Entrepreneur Rule

posted on: October 18, 2024

We have updated guidance on the International Entrepreneur Rule in our Policy Manual to clarify the required triennial increase in investment, revenue, and other thresholds, and to clarify how we arrange biometrics appointments for certain applicants. The updated guidance reflects the International Entrepreneur Program: Fiscal Year 2025 Automatic Increase of Investment and Revenue Amount Requirements Final Rule published in […]

USCIS Issues New Guidance on EB-1 Eligibility Criteria for Individuals with Extraordinary Ability

posted on: October 3, 2024

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is issuing policy guidance in our Policy Manual to further clarify the types of evidence that we may evaluate to determine eligibility for extraordinary ability (E11) EB-1 immigrant visa classifications. This policy guidance: Confirms that we consider a person’s receipt of team awards under the criterion for lesser nationally or […]

USCIS Extends Certain Fee Exemptions and Expedited Processing for Afghan Nationals

posted on: September 27, 2024

Today, in continued support of Enduring Welcome, and by congressional directive, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it is extending and expanding some previously announced filing fee exemptions and expedited application processing for certain Afghan nationals. This will help Afghan nationals continue to resettle and, in many cases, reunite with family in the United States. It will enable USCIS to more quickly process requests for long-term status, status for immediate relatives, and […]