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.

CCLT applies to individuals seeking extensions of stay or changes of status to H-4, L-2, E-1, E-2, or E-3 nonimmigrant categories.

The Department of Labor announced $98 million in funding for pre-apprenticeship programs. The program is designed to help disadvantaged young people ages 16 to 24 enter the workforce. The funding will provide educational guidance, occupational skills training, and employment services. The program aligns with the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America agenda to create good jobs.

The American Immigration Council, a non-profit supporting immigrants in the U.S., recently released an interactive map highlighting immigrants’ contributions. The 2023 Map covers all 50 states, showcasing immigrant impact in various industries. It includes stories and videos from local leaders emphasizing the significance of immigration. Some key findings from the Council’s report include: 1 in 8 U.S. residents is an immigrant. Immigrants paid over $500 billion in taxes in 2021. 22% of all U.S. entrepreneurs are immigrants.

The H-2B program for FY 2024 outlines specific visa allocations and employment start date ranges for different periods within the fiscal year. The program aims to address labor needs by allowing temporary hiring of noncitizens for non-agricultural work in the U.S. Various provisions are in place to protect both U.S. and H-2B workers, and petitions for supplemental allocations must be filed at the USCIS Texas Service Center to be considered valid.