The State Department has announced that all EB-5 unreserved visas for fiscal year 2024 have been issued. These visas, which support investors creating U.S. jobs, have now reached their annual cap. Visa issuance in this category will resume on October 1, 2024, with the start of the new fiscal year.

U.S. authorities have warned foreign residents in Canada about an increase in visa scams. Scammers claim to secure quick U.S. visa appointments, leading to financial loss and account control issues for victims. The U.S. State Department advises caution and stresses that these scams often start on social media with fake endorsements.

In the September 2024 visa bulletin, no advancements are seen in any Family-Based categories, while EB-3 and other workers’ Employment-Based categories see major retrogression. As anticipated in the July and August 2024 Visa Bulletins, EB-3 and EW final action dates for Rest of World, Mexico, and the Philippines have retrogressed due to nearing the FY-2024 annual limits. Final action dates may advance in October 2024, depending on global demand and the FY-2025 visa category limit.

The Biden administration has temporarily paused the “humanitarian parole” program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela due to concerns about fraud among financial sponsors. The program, launched in 2022, which allows up to 30,000 migrants monthly to enter the U.S., is under review by the Department of Homeland Security, which has suspended new travel authorizations until safeguards are implemented.

The USCIS California Service Center is moving to a new address on August 12, 2024, to streamline operations. The new location is at 2642 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780. Service centers do not offer in-person services or interviews, so refer to uscis.gov for specific form filing addresses.

Starting October 1, 2024, USCIS will increase investment and revenue thresholds for the International Entrepreneur Rule. Entrepreneurs must now show at least $311,071 in qualified investments or $124,429 in government grants to qualify. For a second stay, $622,142 in funding or revenue, or creating five jobs is required. Application fees remain unchanged.

USCIS has updated its Policy Manual on children’s acquisition of citizenship, effective immediately. Key changes include clarifying parental physical presence requirements, handling out-of-wedlock births, and confirming valid proof of citizenship. The updates also address cases where citizenship status is determined through parents or grandparents. Applicants previously denied can file a motion to reopen their cases if policy changes make them eligible. The update also includes various changes to nationality charts in the Policy Manual.

On June 18, DHS announced a new process to keep families together, allowing certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have lived in the U.S. for at least 10 years to apply for parole in place. This policy, starting August 19, 2024, permits eligible spouses to seek lawful permanent residence without leaving the country. Interested individuals should begin gathering necessary documentation but cannot apply until the process is officially implemented. Full details will be published in the Federal Register.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended and redesignated Yemen for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from September 4, 2024, to March 3, 2026. Current beneficiaries must re-register between July 10 and September 9, 2024. New applicants must have resided in the U.S. since or before July 2, 2024 to be eligible.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is suspending certain rules for F-1 students from Yemen facing severe economic hardship due to the crisis. From September 4, 2024, to March 3, 2026, eligible students can request work authorization, increase work hours during school, and reduce their course load while maintaining F-1 status.

On July 12, 2024, the Department of State published new regulations for U.S. adoption service providers to simplify intercountry adoptions by relatives. Effective January 8, 2025, the changes streamline adoption processes, especially for relatives, and enhance transparency and legal compliance. Information sessions will be held for adoption service providers in the coming weeks.