USCIS Reaches H-1B Numerical Allocations for FY 2025 During Initial Registration Period

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that it has received enough electronic registrations for the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2025 H-1B cap, including the advanced degree exemption (master’s cap). The exact number of cap registrations submitted has not yet been disclosed by USCIS. USCIS began accepting H-1B cap petitions on April 1, 2024. Employers will have until June 30, 2024, to submit petitions on behalf of their selected employees.

EOIR Announces Opening of New Immigration Court in Lowell

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced it will open a new immigration court in Lowell on April 8, 2024, expanding its presence in Massachusetts. The Lowell Immigration Court will have twenty-one immigration judges. EOIR will provide official advance notice to all parties whose cases are reassigned to the Lowell Immigration Court. The new courthouse will be located at 150 Apollo Drive, Suite 100, Chelmsford, MA 01824. If you have questions about the Lowell Immigration Court before it opens, please contact the Boston Immigration Court at 617-565-3080.

USCIS Provides Third Gender Option on N-400 and Announces New Citizens May Request Social Security Updates When Applying for Naturalization

USCIS announced that the revised Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, will provide a third gender option, “X,” defined as “Another Gender Identity.” The 04/01/24 edition of Form N-400 will be the first USCIS form to include the X gender option. Applicants filing this edition of Form N-400 on or after April 1, 2024, will have X immediately available as a gender option on their form.

Applicants who have a pending Form N-400 using the edition in effect before April 1, 2024, may request to update their gender on or after April 1, 2024, as well. For all other forms, individuals must wait until USCIS revises those forms to include the X gender option. The USCIS website provides a chart for foreign nationals to determine if they are eligible to use the X gender option.

Additionally, USCIS announced that applicants filing Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, will have the option to request an original or replacement Social Security number (SSN) or card and update their immigration status with the Social Security Administration (SSA). New citizens may no longer need to visit an SSA field office to apply for an SSN or replacement card or to provide documentation as evidence of their new U.S. citizenship status. 

DHS Extends and Redesignates Temporary Protected Status for Burma (Myanmar)

The Department of Homeland Security announced the extension and redesignation of Burma (Myanmar) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from May 26, 2024, to November 25, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Burma that prevent individuals from safely returning. The Federal Register provides information about how to register as a new or current beneficiary for TPS under Burma’s extension and redesignation.  

USCIS will continue to process pending applications filed under previous TPS designations for Burma. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves a pending Form I-821 or Form I-765 filed under the previous designation of TPS for Burma, USCIS will grant the individual TPS through September 10, 2025, and issue an EAD valid through the same date. 

Under the redesignation of Burma, eligible individuals who do not have TPS may submit an initial Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, during the initial registration period that runs from March 25, 2024, through May 24, 2024. Applicants also may apply for TPS-related EADs and for travel authorization. Applicants can request an EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with their Form I-821, or separately later. 

The Federal Register notice explains eligibility criteria, timelines, and procedures necessary for current beneficiaries to re-register and renew their EAD, and for new applicants to submit an initial application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD. 

USCIS Issues Policy Guidance on New Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Immigration Benefit Requests

USCIS has updated its policy guidance to align with the Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule, which was published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2024, and became effective April 1, 2024. Core elements of the final rule include the following:

• Implementation of a $300-$600 Asylum Program Fee for employer-sponsored Form I-129 and Form I-140 petitions.

• Reduced fees for nonprofits and small employers when filing certain employment-based petitions.

• Codifies existing fee waiver eligibility for low-income and vulnerable populations; expands fee exemptions for certain humanitarian and other beneficiaries; and expands the reduced fee option for certain individuals who apply for naturalization.

• $50 discount for most who file forms online instead of by paper mail, when an online filing option is available.

USCIS also published a FAQ on the Final Fee Rule on its website.

USCIS Announces that Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record Can Be Used Indefinitely

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that any Form I-693, Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, that was properly completed and signed by a civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023, does not expire and can be used indefinitely as evidence to show that the applicant is not inadmissible on health-related grounds. USCIS made this determination in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and based on advances in public health electronic notification. This guidance is effective immediately and applies to all Forms I-693 signed by the civil surgeon on or after November 1, 2023.

USCIS Announces Automatic 540 Day Extension of Certain Employment Authorization Documents

USCIS today announced a temporary final rule (TFR) to increase the automatic extension period for certain employment authorization documents (EADs) from up to 180 days to up to 540 days. The temporary measure will prevent already work-authorized noncitizens from having their employment authorization and documentation lapse while waiting for USCIS to adjudicate their pending EAD renewal applications and better ensure continuity of operations for U.S. employers. This is the latest step by the Biden-Harris Administration to get work-authorized individuals into the workforce, supporting the economies where they live.

IDC is hiring for an Immigration Paralegal!

Immigration Paralegal, Boston, MA – Iandoli Desai & Cronin P.C., located in the historic Charlestown Navy Yard, seeks a business immigration paralegal for a full-time, 40 hrs/week position. We are dynamic eight attorney immigration law firm serving professionals, businesses, and academic institutions. Our clients are leaders in medicine, engineering, bio-technology, and academia. Our paralegals primarily:

• Assist attorneys in the preparation and filing of employment-based immigrant (EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3) and nonimmigrant (H-1B, E-3, TN, L-1A, L-1B, O-1, E-1/E-2) petitions and supporting documentation;

• Assemble petitions and application packages for attorney review;

• Communicate with individual clients, HR representatives and government agencies;

• Help our firm’s clients gather necessary information/documents for filings;

• Use specialized Case Management software to monitor deadlines and expirations and draft petitions and applications;

• Draft support letters and other documents;

• Track client communications and government correspondence; and,

• Additional administrative duties may include: answering phones, scheduling appointments, generating invoices, filing, and other ad hoc tasks

Requirements:

• Must have a Bachelor’s Degree

• Preferably at least two years of previous business immigration work experience.

• Excellent writing, computer, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills due to the time-sensitive nature of many of our firm’s filings.

• A commitment to customer/client service is essential.

• Knowledge of a foreign language is helpful but not required. 

No JDs, LLBs, LLMs, or current/matriculating law students please. Friendly work environment.  We have a hybrid model and allow for up to 2 days of working from home.  Competitive salary, health benefits, matching retirement plan, and PTO.

Please email résumé and cover letter to careers@iandoli.com with “immigration paralegal” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Absolutely no recruiters. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

IDC is hiring for an Immigration Attorney!

We are looking for an Immigration Attorney to join our team.

Our firm is a friendly, collegial, high-volume immigration law firm serving highly-skilled professionals, businesses, academic and research institutions and hospitals. Our clients are leaders in medicine, engineering, bio-technology, and academia.

• Candidates must have a minimum of 2 years of experience with a variety of business immigration applications, including PERM, IV and NIV petitions, O-1, NIW, EB-1A and EB-1B writing experience.

• Must have the ability to manage many corporate clients simultaneously while providing each personalized service and attention.

• The successful candidate will have strong professional credentials, extensive writing and legal research skills, exacting attention to detail, and is highly organized to manage a high volume of cases.

• Should have the ability to interpret, organize and analyze complex legal material quickly and accurately.

• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills are needed.

• Should have the ability to thrive in a team environment.

Candidates must be a member of the Massachusetts bar. Salary commensurate with applicable experience. We hire for the long-term and offer a competitive salary, health benefits and retirement plan. May work remotely up to 2 days per week.

Please email résumé and cover letter to attorneycareers@iandoli.com with “Immigration Attorney” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Absolutely no recruiters. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Firm News

WE ARE CURRENTLY HIRING –

Iandoli, Desai, & Cronin has an immediate opening for a Business Immigration Paralegal.

We are dynamic eight-attorney and twelve paralegal immigration law firm serving professionals, businesses, and academic institutions. Our clients are leaders in medicine, engineering, biotechnology, and academia.  We are currently hiring for a Business Immigration Paralegal position. 

Business Immigration Paralegal:

• Assist attorneys in the preparation and filing of employment-based immigrant (EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3) and nonimmigrant (H-1B, O-1, E-2, E-3, L-1 and TN) petitions and supporting documentation

• Assemble petitions and application packages

• Communicate with individual clients, HR representatives and government agencies

• Help individuals gather necessary information/documents

• Use specialized Case Management software to monitor deadlines and expirations and draft petitions and applications

• Draft support letters and other documents

• Track client communications and government correspondence

• Additional administrative duties may include answering phones, scheduling appointments, generating invoices, filing, and other ad hoc tasks.

Please email résumé and cover letter to careers@iandoli.com with “Immigration Paralegal” in the subject line. No phone calls please. Absolutely no recruiters. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Exclusively working via telecommuting/work-from-home is not feasible. We are in a hybrid model allowing up to 2 days of work from home.