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.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has expanded myProgress to include Form I-821 for TPS and Form I-485 for Registering Permanent Residence or Adjusting Status. Initially, myProgress is accessible for family-based or Afghan special immigrant I-485 applicants. This service provides personalized estimates of wait times for major milestones and case actions, available in the applicant’s online account. Additionally, myProgress is open to applicants filing other forms, such as I-765, I-131, N-400, I-90, or I-130, who have a USCIS online account.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has settled with Apple Inc. for $25 million, addressing allegations of discriminatory hiring practices against both U.S. citizens and certain non-U.S. citizens. The DOJ’s investigation revealed a pattern of favoring foreign workers eligible for permanent residency over U.S. citizens. Apple is accused of inadequately advertising positions for foreign workers on its external job website, relying instead on internal recruitment methods that disadvantaged U.S. citizens.

The American Immigration Council, alongside over 100 business organizations nationwide, urges Congress to expedite work permits for asylum seekers by reducing the waiting period from the current 180 days to 30 days. The joint letter also advocates for increased funding for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to enhance the efficiency of work permit processing. With 9.6 million job openings and 6.5 million individuals seeking employment, businesses are grappling with significant worker shortages, particularly in key industries.

USCIS provides additional guidance on its interpretation of changes to the EB-5 program made by the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022 (RIA), specifically the required investment timeframe and how it treats investors who are associated with a terminated regional center.