USCIS ANNOUNCES END OF COVID-RELATED FLEXIBILITIES

USCIS has notified the public that the Covid-related flexibilities in responding to several types of notices and requests have ended. First announced in March 2020, during the height of the Pandemic in the United States, USCIS began granting an automatic deadline extension for the following notices and requests: Requests for Evidence, Continuations of Request Evidence, Notices of Intent to Deny, to Revoke, and to Rescind, Notices of Intent to Terminate Regional Centers, Notices of Intent to Withdraw TPS, and Motions to Reopen an N-400 Pursuant to 8 CFR 335.5, Receipt of Derogatory Information After Grant. With the end of these flexibilities coming to a head, any decision (request or notice) dated after March 23, 2023, must comply with the form instructions listen on the correspondence.

FY 2024 H-1B REGISTRATION PERIOD CLOSES

The H-1B cap registration period for FY 2024 ended March 20^th at 5pm. USCIS has stated that they expect to notify employers of lottery results by March 31. The selection notices that employers receive will state whether the registration was selected under the regular or advance degree quota. Starting April 1, USCIS will begin accepting H-1B cap petitions on behalf of lottery selectees. The petition filing period will end no earlier than 90 days after the filing period opens. The precise end date of the H-1B cap filing period will be listed on the H-1B selection notice.

CERTAIN UKRAINIAN REFUGEES MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO EXTEND THEIR STAYS IN THE US

DHS has said that certain Ukrainians who entered the U.S. at land border shortly after Russia's invasion and were given permission to stay for one year may be eligible for an extension on their authorized stay. This extension is available to some 25,000 Ukrainians who entered the country between February 24, 2022 and April 25, 2022 and who were authorized to work and live in the U.S. for a period of one year. Eligible Ukrainian refugees do not need to apply for an extension for their parole and work permits. According to a DHS spokesperson, DHS will proactively make available online an updated arrival record form with the extended parole period.