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Immigration News Briefs

Provided by Humera Subhani

November 2024

Green Card Validity Extended to 36 Months

Effective September 10, 2024, USCIS automatically extended the validity of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) to 36 months for lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who file Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card.

LPRs who properly file Form I-90 to renew an expiring or expired Green Card may receive this extension. Form I-90 receipt notices had previously provided a 24-month extension of the validity of a Green Card.

USCIS has updated the language on Form I-90 receipt notices to extend the validity of a Green Card for 36 months from the expiration date on the face of the current Green Card for individuals with a newly filed Form I-90 renewal request. On September 10, USCIS began printing amended receipt notices for individuals with a pending Form I-90.

These receipt notices can be presented with an expired Green Card as evidence of continued status and employment authorization. This extension is expected to help applicants who experience longer processing times, because they will receive proof of lawful permanent resident status as they await their renewed Green Card.

If you no longer have your Green Card and you need evidence of your lawful permanent resident status while waiting to receive your replacement Green Card, you may request an appointment at a USCIS Field Office and they may issue an Alien Documentation, Identification, and Telecommunications (ADIT) stamp after the Form I-90 filing.

Priority Date Retrogression Guidance for CSPA

On September 25, USCIS updated guidance in its Policy Manual, clarifying how to calculate the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA) age for noncitizens who demonstrate extraordinary circumstances.

The updated guidance:

Clarifies that the CSPA age calculation of an applicant who established extraordinary circumstances and is excused from the “sought to acquire” requirement uses the date that the immigrant visa first became available when the immigrant visa is continuously available for a one-year period without any intervening visa unavailability; and
Clarifies that under circumstances where the immigrant visa became available and then unavailable, the CSPA age calculation may use the date an immigrant visa first became available if the applicant demonstrates extraordinary circumstances for not applying for adjustment of status before the immigrant visa became unavailable.

A previously announced policy did not address the effect on the CSPA age calculation for a noncitizen whose extraordinary circumstances for the purpose of excusing the “sought to acquire” element existed within the period a visa first becomes available. USCIS states that this updated this guidance will ensure efficient and consistent adjudication in these cases.

APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR NOVEMBER 2024

FAMILY	India	Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st	22Oct15	22Oct15
2A	01Jan22	01Jan22
2B	01May16	01May16
3rd	15Apr10	15Apr10
4th	08Mar06	01Aug07

EMPLOYMENT	India	Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st	01Feb22	Current
2nd	15Jul12	15Mar23
3rd	01Nov12	15Nov22
Other	01Nov12	01Dec20
4th	01Jan21	01Jan21
5th	01Jan22	Current1B

DATES FOR FILING VISA APPLICATIONS - NOVEMBER 2024

FAMILY	India	Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st	01Sep17	01Sep17
2A	15Jul24	15Jul24
2B	01Jan17	01Jan17
3rd	22Apr12	22Apr12
4th	01Aug6	01Mar08

EMPLOYMENT	India	Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st	01Apr22	Current
2nd	01Jan13	01Aug23
3rd	08Jun13	01MARar23
Other	08Jun13	22MAY21
4th	01Feb21	01Feb21
5th	01Apr22	Current1B