I-485

April 2024 Visa Bulletin – (Finally) Notable Forward Movement in Employment-based Categories

The U.S. State Department has released the April 2024 Visa Bulletin which is the seventh Visa Bulletin for the new fiscal year.  The headline in the upcoming month’s Visa Bulletin is positive forward movement:  notable forward movement in [...]

By |2024-03-14T11:39:32-04:00March 8th, 2024|Articles, I-485, News, News Alert, Visa Bulletin|

USCIS Increases Filing Fees Starting April 1, 2024

The Department of Homeland Security has just released the final rule that significantly changes the USCIS fee schedule, including adding new fees, establishing multiple fees for nonimmigrant worker petitions and increasing the premium processing time limit. The rule and the new fees [...]

By |2024-02-13T11:34:12-05:00January 31st, 2024|Articles, Employers, Fees, H-1B, I-485, News, News Alert|

What To Do If My I-485 Green Card is Approved (in Error) When My Priority Date is Not Current?

One of the happiest moments for an I-485 Adjustment of Status applicant is the day their employment-based I-485 is approved and their green card is ordered for production in mailing.   However, [...]

By |2024-01-07T15:50:50-05:00January 7th, 2024|AOS, Articles, I-290B, I-485, News, News Alert|

Can I Travel Abroad While My I-485 Application is Pending? Risks and Considerations to Avoid Abandonment.

For applicants with pending I-485 applications, understanding the rules and requirements of international travel is essential in order to avoid denial due to abandonment.   This article discusses the rules and requirements that must be [...]

By |2024-01-29T16:52:34-05:00December 10th, 2023|Articles, I-485, News, News Alert, Travel|

USCIS Increases Maximum EAD (and AP) Validity Period to Five Years

USCIS has announced (and already implemented) that certain work authorization documents (EAD) will be issued with validity of up to 5 years; a significant increase from the current 2-year maximum.   Similarly, advance parole documents (issued separately or together as [...]

By |2023-10-22T07:26:44-04:00October 21st, 2023|Articles, I-485, News, News Alert|

When Is The Best Time to Complete the I-485 Medicals? I-693 Medical Exam Validity Explained

Among the surge of I-485 applications over the past several months, our office has fielded hundreds (at least) questions as to what is the best time to prepare and submit the required I-693 medical exam [...]

By |2023-04-21T15:31:05-04:00April 21st, 2023|Articles, I-485, News, News Alert|

Details of the New Public Charge Rule (Effective from December 23, 2022)

Starting December 23, 2022, a new Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility final rule is in effect (see the full USCIS policy alert).     The final rule details how USCIS will apply the public charge ground of inadmissibility and [...]

By |2023-01-05T12:35:54-05:00January 5th, 2023|Articles, I-485, News, News Alert, Policy|

I-485 Applicants To Receive Separate EAD/AP Documents Instead of Combo Cards

USCIS has recently changed its practices and is no longer issuing the combo EAD/AP card for I-485 applicants who file concurrent I-765 EAD work permit and I-131 AP travel permit applications.    Citing efforts to eliminate backlogs in EAD applications, USCIS is approving EAD and AP applications separately -- most often the I-765 EAD application [...]

By |2022-10-19T09:44:13-04:00October 19th, 2022|Articles, I-485, News, News Alert, Travel|

Congratulations on Your Green Card Approval – Next Steps and Action Items

One of the most exiting moments for a green card applicant is receiving the "New Card Produced" status update or the actual I-485 approval notice or green card in the mail.   Congratulations!    This article contains additional steps and considerations for new green card holders, with focus on employment-based immigrants. Travel or Employment While Waiting [...]

By |2024-01-07T15:53:53-05:00August 25th, 2022|Articles, I-485, News, News Alert|

I-485 Interfiling: How to Transfer the Underlying I-140 Petition for Faster Approval

On January 21, 2022, USCIS announced a revised procedure regarding the process of transferring the underlying basis of a Form I-485 to a different employment-based I-140 preference category (a process often called “interfiling”). If an I-485 applicant has [...]

By |2023-01-10T07:29:58-05:00January 27th, 2022|AC21, Articles, I-485, News, News Alert|

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