USCIS is opening a temporary location for the San Francisco Asylum Office in Oakland, CA, effective May 15, 2024. This expansion aims to increase capacity and efficiency for affirmative asylum interviews. Applicants under the San Francisco jurisdiction may now be scheduled for interviews at either the San Francisco or Oakland location. The San Francisco office’s operations will continue unaffected. Check interview notices carefully for details.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a new rule allowing asylum officers to consider mandatory bars to asylum and statutory withholding of removal during credible and reasonable fear screenings. This rule aims to enhance operational flexibility and expedite the removal of noncitizens who are barred from asylum and statutory withholding of removal due to issues like persecution, terrorism, or serious criminal activities. Public comments on the proposed rule are accepted until June 12, 2024.

To ensure your filing is not rejected for incorrect fees, always check that the submitted payment matches the required fees listed on the Filing Fees page. For forms such as I-129, I-129CW, and I-140, the fees vary based on your status as a nonprofit or small employer. Specific questions in the forms determine the applicable fee category. Submitting incorrect fees, even by overpayment, will lead to rejection. For nonprofits and small employers, ensure your submission aligns with the employee count and status indicated on your form. Failure to accurately demonstrate your status through proper documentation can also lead to rejection.

The Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services have published a final rule to enhance the T visa program, which assists victims of human trafficking. This rule aims to improve the application process’s integrity and effectiveness, ensuring protections for victims and facilitating their access to benefits. Key updates include clearer definitions of terms like “serious harm” and streamlined evidentiary requirements to reduce the need for additional evidence. This final rule, building on an interim rule from 2016 and public feedback, strengthens law enforcement’s ability to address trafficking while maintaining robust fraud prevention measures.

Over 100,000 young immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program will soon be eligible for federal health care coverage for the first time. The Biden administration has recently announced a rule that will allow DACA recipients to enroll in health plans through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Despite contributing significantly to federal taxes, these recipients have historically been excluded from federally funded health insurance. The new rule, effective November 1, does not extend to Medicaid but aims to reduce the high uninsured rate among DACA recipients.

The surge in migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border has become a political issue for President Biden as he faces reelection against Donald Trump, who prioritizes strict immigration policies. Despite criticism from Trump’s campaign that migrant workers take jobs from Americans, local communities like Columbus have benefited from the labor of migrants and refugees, particularly in sectors experiencing shortages. The Biden administration has urged Congress for immigration reform and has taken steps to expedite work permits and create new legal pathways for migrants. This influx has contributed to economic growth and workforce expansion in the U.S., countering potential labor deficits as the baby boomer generation retires.

The USCIS announced the application period for the Citizenship and Integration Grant Program, which provides funding for citizenship preparation programs in communities across the country. The 16-year-old program, specifically Citizenship Instruction and Naturalization Application Services, will provide up to $10 million in grants to prepare legal immigrants for naturalization and promote civic integration through increased knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics.

The USCIS announced the upcoming opening of international field offices in Doha, Qatar, and Ankara, Turkey, to increase capacity for refugee processing, strengthen strategic partnerships, and facilitate interagency cooperation. The Biden-Harris administration set the refugee admissions ceiling for fiscal year 2024 at 125,000 refugees. Establishing USCIS field offices in Qatar and Turkey will support the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program’s infrastructure in the region. It also will directly support long-established and increasing USCIS refugee processing circuit rides.

USCIS released its 2007 reasonable fear procedures manual due to FOIA litigation. USCIS uses this manual to determine whether immigrants in fast-tracked removal proceedings who express a fear of persecution or torture will have the opportunity to pursue protection in the United States.

The DOS issued a final rule on the Exchange Visitor Program regulations that apply to sponsors designated to conduct international educational and cultural exchange programs and allow for digital signature and electronic transmission for Form DS-2019. The rule is effective May 23, 2024.

In 2023, Mexican nationals received over 2.3 million visas, constituting 22.3% of all visas issued that year. According to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, a total of 10.4 million visas were issued in 2023, with most going to North American nationals, while 2.3 million went to South Americans, as per VisaGuide.World. This marked a 53.1% increase from 2022, when 6.8 million visa applications were approved.

The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince has suspended routine immigrant visa appointments until further notice. Immigrant visa applicants who can travel to another U.S. embassy or consulate that processes immigrant visas and remain in that country for the duration of their visa processing should consider requesting the transfer of their case from the U.S. Embassy Port-au Prince.