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.

In the August 2024 visa bulletin, advancements are seen in several Family-Based categories, while most Employment-Based categories show no movement. F2A and F3 categories have seen significant advancements in most countries in chart B, the Date of Filing chart while only F2B for Mexico has seen a 7d advancement in chart A, Final Action Dates. For Employment-Based categories, Indian applicants got lucky since both charts show about one month’s advancements for EB2, EB3 and other workers from India. According to the Department of State, the high demand and number use in EB-3 may require a retrogression in the upcoming visa bulletins.

USCIS has updated its Policy Manual to include guidance on adjusting status based on the Diversity Immigrant Visa (DV) Program. Effective immediately, this update consolidates existing policies from the Adjudicator’s Field Manual. It provides clear guidelines on eligibility, visa availability, required evidence, and the Child Status Protection Act for DV applicants.

As of July 1, 2024, USCIS has expanded its Case Status Online tool to include intercountry adoption forms, I-600A, I-600, I-800A, I-800, and their Supplements. Applicants and representatives can now check case status online, reducing the need to call or email. This update aims to improve efficiency and provide timely information on case progress.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced new resources to combat gender-based violence. This includes a new Directive and Instruction for a victim-centered approach and a dedicated web page. Key updates involve mandatory training for personnel, policy requirements for T and U visa agencies, and resources for dealing with trauma.