Starting September 10, 2024, USCIS will extend the validity of Green Cards for lawful permanent residents who file Form I-90 to 36 months, up from 24. Applicants can use Form I-90 receipts with expired Green Cards as proof of status and work authorization. For those without a Green Card, ADIT stamps can be obtained at USCIS Field Offices to confirm lawful status during renewal delays.

As of September 18, 2024, USCIS has reached the H-2B visa cap for temporary nonagricultural workers for the first half of fiscal year 2025. New cap-subject petitions requesting employment before April 1, 2025, will be rejected. However, petitions exempt from the cap, such as those for H-2B extensions or certain specific roles, will still be accepted. Congress limits the H-2B program to 66,000 visas annually.

The U.S. Department of Labor awarded $203 million through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) to help low-income older adults gain employment in 14 states.. Of this, $194 million goes to 19 national nonprofits, with $9 million supporting organizations serving Native American and Asian-American/Pacific Islander communities. SCSEP promotes job placement and community service for individuals 55 and older. Funded by the Older Americans Act, the grants will last through Program Year 2024, with potential annual funding of up to $313 million for three more years, subject to appropriations.

USCIS has released a comprehensive fact sheet on family-based conditional permanent resident status, focusing on the joint filing of Form I-751. The document explains how to determine if conditions apply to your residency, distinguishes between joint petitions and waivers (used when joint filing isn’t possible), and highlights critical filing deadlines to prevent loss of status.

The Fifth Circuit Court froze lower court proceedings pending an appeal hearing on October 10. While USCIS can still accept and process applications for the Keeping Families Together program, it is temporarily barred from approving them. On September 4, 2024, District Judge J. Campbell Barker extended the stay preventing USCIS from granting parole through September 23, with a hearing set for September 18. Previously, on August 26, Judge Barker issued a stay halting parole grants for 14 days. Sixteen Republican-led states filed a lawsuit on August 23 to block the program. USCIS remains unable to approve applications amid the ongoing legal challenge.

The USCIS California Service Center has relocated to 2642 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780 for commercial deliveries (UPS, FedEx, DHL). New P.O. boxes for USPS mail are available on USCIS.gov. The previous address (Laguna Niguel) will accept mail until September 30, 2024, with a grace period until October 15. After that, mail to the old address will be returned. Responses to USCIS correspondence before August 12, 2024, should be sent to P.O. Box 30113, Tustin, CA 92781. Form I-865 filings are now handled by the Texas Service Center, and new addresses for Form I-751 waivers are in place. The 60-day grace period for filings to old centers ends on November 1, 2024.

The U.S. Department of State announced that all EB-2 visas for fiscal year 2024 have been issued, reaching the annual cap set by the Immigration and Nationality Act. No more EB-2 visas will be issued until the next fiscal year begins on October 1, 2024. Employers and workers seeking EB-2 visas must wait until FY 2025. This follows last month’s announcement that EB-3 (Other Workers) and EB-5 visas were also exhausted for FY 2024.

USCIS will celebrate Constitution Day and Citizenship Day on September 17, 2024, as part of Constitution Week from September 17 to 23, honoring the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and Citizenship Day, created in 1952. USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou highlighted the agency’s efforts to promote citizenship and reduce barriers to immigration benefits. More than 17,000 new citizens will be welcomed in 400 naturalization ceremonies nationwide throughout the week.

The October 2024 U.S. Visa Bulletin shows notable progress in most employment-based categories on the dates for filing chart, while the final action dates chart reflects more modest changes. A key update is the nearly two-year advancement for EB-3 Worldwide in the final action dates, allowing more applicants to proceed with their cases. USCIS has confirmed that for October 2024, adjustment of status applications will be accepted based on the dates for filing chart.

Starting June 26, 2024, nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors (F, M, J visa holders) who receive a Form I-515A from U.S. Customs and Border Protection must email their required documents to SEVIS.I-515@ice.dhs.gov instead of mailing them. This change speeds up processing and reduces costs. Required documents include Form I-515A, an endorsed Form I-20 or DS-2019, and Form I-94. Those who received the form earlier can also email documents but should not resend anything already mailed. Mailing will be accepted until September 30, 2024.

Effective August 28, 2024, DHS is establishing a new C40 category on Form 1-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The C40 category is for individuals with a pending Form I-914, Application for T Nonimmigrant Status, whose application is determined to be bona fide and meets the prima facie standard, and who apply and are approved for employment authorization. T nonimmigrant status is for certain noncitizens who are or have been victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons.

Starting September 5, 2024, two new visa classifications will be implemented for noncitizens transiting the U.S. to join foreign trade vessels and engage in lightering activities. The C-4 visa allows transit to join a lightering vessel, while the D-3 visa permits crewmembers to perform lightering work. Applicants can also apply for a combined C-4/D-3 visa, allowing up to 180 days of stay, unlike the 29-day limit for C-1 and C-1/D visas.