*Pasricha & Patel Takeaways: *Following the publication of the June 2019 Visa Bulletin by the U.S. Department of State, the USCIS has subsequently announced that with regards to the June 2019 Visa Bulletin, filers for Family-Sponsored Filings must follow the Dates for Filing Chart for the June 2019 visa bulletin. And as for the filers in the Employment-based Filings, they must follow the Final Action Dates chart in the same June 2019 visa bulletin.
Pasricha & Patel Takeaways: U.S. Department of State’s June 2019 visa bulletin shows only slight movement in the employment-based preference categories. In particular, the employment-based 3rd visa preference category numbers for Indian nationals did not move at all, while the EB-2 visa numbers for Indian nationals did move by a few days only.
U.S. Department of State’s May 2019 visa bulletin still shows steady movement in the employment-based 3rdpreference visa category for not only Indian nationals, but also Chinese and Philippine nationals as well. In fact, the Philippines 3rd preference category even advances by three (3) months, from March 1, 2018 in the April 2019 bulletin to June 1, 2018 in the May 2019 visa bulletin.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that starting in May 2019, the I-94 arrival numbers that are assigned to each international traveler arriving in the U.S. will be alphanumeric. That means, instead of just 11-digit long numbers, international travelers will be issued I-94 numbers with combination of digits and letter in their arrival records to the U.S. More specifically, the new I-94s will have 9 digits, followed by a letter in the 10th position, and then a digit in the 11th position. Those international travelers who have unexpired I-94s issued in the present numeric format will continue to remain valid for the duration of their admit until date printed on the paper I-94 and/or the date shown on the public I-94 website.
USCIS has announced that on April 10, 2019, it has completed the random drawing and selection process for the Fiscal Year 2020 H-1B quota petitions, and it determined that it has selected enough petitions to fill both the H-1B regular cap of 60,000 cases, as well as the 25,000 U.S. advanced degree exemption cases (Master’s cap).
U.S. Department of State’s April 2019 visa bulletin continues to show robust movements in the employment-based 3rd preference category, in particular for Indian nationals, advancing by one (1) full month.
The American Dream and the allure of prosperity, success, dignity of labor and freedom of employment have been attracting thousands of people to the shores of the United States of America. Whether they are seeking a better life or greener pastures, fulfilling the ‘The American Dream’ requires you to obtain a visa and clear immigration successfully.