On March 14, 2024, Angola acceded to the Hague Adoption Convention, which will take effect on July 1, 2024. As the 106th nation to join, Angola commits to protecting the best interests of children in intercountry adoptions. The U.S. Department is assessing whether U.S. adoptions from Angola can proceed under this convention.

Ahead of Joint Task Force Alpha’s third anniversary, the Justice Department announced expanded measures to dismantle human smuggling operations and enhance immigration prosecutions. Since 2021, JTFA has significantly increased smuggling prosecutions and arrests. New initiatives include financial rewards for information, increased penalties, and resource realignment to target high-priority smuggling networks across Central America and the U.S. border.

Effective May 22, 2024, USCIS has updated guidance on family-based immigrant visa petitions, including Forms I-130 and I-360. The updates clarify procedures for correcting approval notice errors, requests for consular processing or adjustment of status, and routing of approved petitions. Petitioners must accurately provide the beneficiary’s address and processing preference to avoid delays.

The Justice Department sued Oklahoma over a new immigration law that fines and jails undocumented migrants, arguing it violates the Constitution. The law, effective July 1, allows arrest and imprisonment of noncitizens without U.S. permission. The suit follows similar actions against Texas and Iowa. Critics, including the ACLU, argue it promotes racial profiling and criminalizes immigrants.

The Biden administration announced a new program to expedite immigration court cases for single adults caught illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Dockets will operate in five cities, aiming for resolution within 180 days to reduce backlogs. The process aims to swiftly impose consequences on those without legal claims and grant relief to those with valid claims. This effort is part of a broader strategy to address illegal immigration before the November elections. The Justice Department also submitted a final rule for efficient case management.

The 2023 SEVIS by the Numbers report revealed a significant rise in international student enrollment in the U.S., with 1,503,649 active F-1 and M-1 students. Key trends include a rise in students from India and China, a 36.9% increase in OPT students, and California hosting the largest number of international students.

The Department of State issued a record 5.2 million nonimmigrant visas in the first half of FY 2024, including 205,000 H-2A & H-2B visas, and about 25,000 employment-based immigrant visas, marking a 75% increase from 2019. Family based immigrant visas also increased, with 152,000 green cards issued to immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, a record highest for this period. Additionally, nearly 134,000 J-1, 115,000 F-1 visas, and 4.1 million B-1/B-2 visas and border crossing cards were issued.

The U.S. Department of State has announced the 2025 Diversity Visa Lottery winners, selecting 55,000 applicants from millions of entries. Winners can check their status on the State Department’s DV Entrant Status Check portal. Selection does not guarantee a green card; winners must file Form DS-260, attend a visa interview, and pay required fees. All visas must be issued by September 30, 2025.

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.