The Immigration Channel

DOL's New FLAG System Replaces iCERT10/01/2019Today, the Department of Labor's ("DOL") new Foreign Labor Application Gateway ("FLAG") system went live, replacing the existing iCERT system. DOL began accepting Labor Condition Applications ("LCAs") through FLAG at 12:00 pm EST today. Previously-filed ... More

DHS Proposes H-1B Cap Registration Fee09/04/2019Today the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") published a Notice of Proposed Rule-making in the Federal Register that would require H-1B cap-subject petitioners to pay a $10 electronic registration fee for each entry into the ... More

USCIS Finishes Returning Unselected H-1B Cap Petitions08/15/2019Today USCIS announced it has returned all Fiscal Year 2020 H-1B cap petitions that were not selected in the H-1B cap lottery. In its announcement to stakeholders, USCIS confirmed all petitioners who filed FY2020 ... More

DHS Expands Expedited Removal07/23/2019Today the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") published a notice in the Federal Register that designates new groups of foreign nationals subject to expedited removal. Effective today, the notice designates two new groups as subject to expedited ... More

DHS and DOJ Adopt Interim Asylum Rule07/16/2019Today the Department of Homeland Security ("DHS") and Department of Justice ("DOJ") jointly published an Interim Rule in the Federal Register that imposes a new requirement on asylum applicants attempting to enter the U.S. ... More

CIS Ombudsman Releases Annual Report 07/15/2019 On Friday, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services ("CIS") Ombudsman released its 2019 Annual Report to Congress. In its announcement to stakeholders, the Department of Homeland Security noted the following: The Ombudsman's Office, created by ... More

August Visa Bulletin Released 07/12/2019The Department of State has released the preliminary August 2019 Visa Bulletin. Though unlikely, this information is subject to change from now until August 1, 2019. Below is a breakdown of the projected final action dates ... More

USCIS Changes Information About Concurrently-Filed I-539s 07/02/2019In an unannounced change, USCIS recently updated its premium processing information webpage to specify it no longer adjudicates I-539s at the same time as I-129s even if the I-539 is concurrently-filed with an I-129 ... More

CIS Ombudsman Announces Teleconference on H-1B Enforcement Issues06/27/2019Yesterday, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman announced it will hold a teleconference on H-1B enforcement issues with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department ... More

USCIS Expands Online FOIA Request System 06/25/2019Today USCIS announced it is expanding the Freedom of Information Act Immigration Records System ("FIRST"). USCIS is implementing the system in phases. When it originally announced the system in May 2018, USCIS limited the ... More