DHS extended TPS designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. Re-registration periods for each country now align with the full length of their TPS extension, offering beneficiaries more time to renew their TPS and Employment Authorization Document (EAD). However, eligibility requirements remain unchanged.

USCIS is revising guidance on family-based conditional permanent residence in its Policy Manual. The update streamlines and enhances guidance on eligibility, filing, and adjudication for Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. It specifically addresses changes in the basis of filing for waivers related to battery or extreme cruelty. Additionally, it clarifies that individuals facing termination of conditional permanent resident status due to late Form I-751 filing may still be eligible to adjust their permanent resident status on a new basis, even if USCIS issues a notice before filing Form I-485.

As of December 1, 2023, specific fees levied by the District Court have undergone an adjustment. Notably, the filing fee for a civil suit, specifically a writ of mandamus petition, has been revised to $405, up from the previous $402.

Three influential Congressmen, including Indian-Americans Raja Krishnamoorthi and Pramila Jayapal, have introduced bipartisan legislation in the US House of Representatives to reduce green card backlog and end country-based discrimination for employment-based visas. Both the moves, if passed and signed into law, would help thousands of Indian-Americans who are currently in decades-long wait for green cards or permanent residency.

On November 28, 2023, DOS shared a press release discussing the agency’s visa operations achievements during FY 2023. The release demonstrates the impressive numbers achieved by the agency during this fiscal year and a roadmap for continued success.  The notable milestones are: 8 million business and tourist visas 600,000 student visas 442,000 temporary/seasonal worker visas 365,000 airline and shipping crew member visas 590,000 high-skilled and executive worker visas

USCIS provided FAQs addressing FY2024 employment-based adjustment of status questions. DOS estimates that the FY2024 employment-based annual limit will be approximately 161,000. FAQs also address interfiling, retrogression, CSPA, medicals, and more.

The State Department will start a pilot program in January 2024 allowing 20,000 H-1B visa holders to renew their visas within the US, eliminating the need to travel abroad. Initially limited to principal H-1B holders, dependents (H-4 visa holders) are excluded from this initiative.

Starting in January, a new pilot program from the State Department will allow a limited number of H-1B specialty occupation workers to renew their visas in the U.S. Initially, this option will be available to 20,000 temporary visa holders. The program is part of a broader effort by the State Department to reduce wait times for travel to the U.S.

The U.S. is issuing an additional 64,716 H-2B work visas to address labor shortages. The DHS and the DOL aim to assist American and foreign workers in finding employment opportunities. Notably, 20,000 visas are earmarked for individuals from Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Honduras, aligning with a strategy to address migration challenges and boost job prospects in these countries. Additionally, 44,716 visas are reserved for experienced workers who have previously been in the U.S., promoting workforce continuity for businesses.

The United States Embassy and its consulates in India marked a historic milestone by issuing 140,000 student visas between October 2022 and September 2023. “The United States Embassy and consulates in India have granted an unprecedented number of over 140,000 student visas, establishing a new all-time record,” stated the US State Department on Tuesday.

The USA is pioneering “paperless visas” globally, a groundbreaking move by the Biden administration following the successful completion of a pilot project in Dublin. This innovative initiative aims to simplify the visa process, moving away from traditional stamped or pasted visas on passport pages. Julie Stufft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services, shared these developments during a media roundtable, emphasizing that while the paperless visa preserves the existing application process, it eliminates the need for physical visa stamps, potentially transforming visa status verification.

USCIS has announced changes to the filing location of Form I-140 and has updated the relevant page with clarifications of the ancillary request for Premium Processing or Adjustment of Status.