New Policies for 2020, Part 1
H1B registration update
The USCIS is announcing the implementation of the
H-1B registration process for H-1B cap-subject petitions.
The initial H-1B petition registration period will begin
on March 1, 2020. Starting then, USCIS will require H-1B
cap-subject petitioners, including those eligible for the
advanced degree exemption, to first register electronically
with USCIS and pay the associated H-1B registration fee
before being eligible to properly file an H-1B cap-subject
petition for Fiscal Year 2021 H-1B numerical allocations.
USCIS intends to close the initial registration period
on March 20, 2020 and will announce the actual end
date on its website. After the initial registration period
closes, USCIS will conduct the initial selection process,
and petitioners with selected registrations will be eligible
to file an H-1B cap-subject petition for those selected
registrations during the associated filing. Petitioners
must register using an online account. USCIS will provide
step-by-step instructions on its website at www.uscis.gov.
USCIS fees increase
The January 2020 Khabar column laid out the
fee increases to take effect this year. Some significant
increases include an 83% increase for Citizenship (N-400)
application—from $640 to $1,170. The cost to file an
adjustment application with ancillary benefits (work/travel
permits) will increase to $2,195 from $1,225 and there
will be new fees for DACA and Asylum petitions, which
were previously filed at no charge. Employment-based
cases are also facing large hikes in fees.
The earliest that the fee increase can take place is in March 2020, so many applicants are filing before the new rates will be effective.
Citizenship testing—also moral character
A DHS memorandum released in May 2019 and titled
“Revision of the Naturalization Civics Tests” announced
there would be changes in the exam questions about U.S.
government and history, as well as the oral test of knowledge
of the English language. The change could take effect
as early as December 2020, although no start date has
been announced. DHS has remained silent on how exactly
the testing will change, but there may be pilot testing in
the fall with volunteers. Based on the comments of the
Trump administration, applicants can assume that the
testing will be more challenging than in previous revisions.
Dec 2019 guidance details 15 examples of “unlawful acts,” such as drunk driving, bank fraud, not filing or paying taxes, and lying to the government.
APPLICATION FINAL ACTION DATES FOR February 2020
|
FAMILY |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
22Aug13 |
22Aug13 |
|
2A |
Current |
Current |
|
2B |
22Aug14 |
22Aug14 |
|
3rd |
22Nov07 |
22Nov07 |
|
4th |
22Nov04 |
01Jul06 |
|
EMPLOYMENT |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
01Jan15 |
01Dec18 |
|
2nd |
19May09 |
Current |
|
3rd |
08Jan09 |
Current |
|
Other |
08Jan09 |
Current |
|
4th |
Current |
Current |
|
5th |
01Sep18 |
Current1B |
DATES FOR FILING VISA APPLICATIONS - February 2020
|
FAMILY |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
22Mar14 |
22Mar14 |
|
2A |
01Dec19 |
01Dec19 |
|
2B |
22Apr15 |
22Apr15 |
|
3rd |
22Jul08 |
22Jul08 |
|
4th |
22Jul05 |
22Jul07 |
|
EMPLOYMENT |
India |
Pakistan/Bangladesh |
|
1st |
15May17 |
Current |
|
2nd |
01Jul09 |
Current |
|
3rd |
01Feb10 |
01Janl9 |
|
Other |
01Feb10 |
01Janl9 |
|
4th |
Current |
Current |
|
5th |
Current |
Current1B |
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