HEALTHCARE IMMIGRATION WEBINAR

MU Law will be hosting a FREE webinar for our clients and friends on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 2PM Eastern (1PM Central).

Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about:

• Green Card Process for Schedule A
• Healthcare Worker Certificates
• PERM for Healthcare Workers
• H-1Bs for Healthcare Workers
• Priority Dates/Retrogression Predictions

PLEASE JOIN US!

EB-3 RETROGRESSION WEBINAR

MU Law will be hosting a FREE webinar for our clients and friends on Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 3PM Eastern (2PM Central).

 Join us for this FREE webinar to learn more about:

·         What is Retrogression? Why did this happen?

·         Philippines and ROW 

·         What a Healthcare Worker should continue to do during Retrogression  

·         Alternatives to an EB-3?

·         Analysis and Prediction for FY 2024

 

PLEASE JOIN US!

MAY 2023 VISA BULLETIN: EB-3 RETROGRESSION

The Department of State just issued the May 2023 Visa Bulletin. This blog post analyzes this month's Visa Bulletin.

Visa Bulletin 

Table A: Final Action Dates -- Applications with these dates may be approved for their Green Card (Permanent Residency card) or Immigrant Visa appointment.

 

EB	All Other	CHINA	INDIA	PHILIPPINES
EB-1	C	01FEB22	01FEB22	C
EB-2	15FEB22	08JUN19	01JAN11	15FEB22
EB-3	01JUN22	01APR19	15JUN12	01JUN22
Other workers	01JAN20	15APR15	15JUN12	01JAN20

Table B: Dates of Filing

The USCIS is expected to use Table A: Final Action Dates chart for I-485 employment-based filings. A Beneficiary must be current on the above Table A chart in order to file their I-485, Adjustment of Status applications. See: USCIS Visa Bulletin Dates

MU Law Analysis 

The May 2023 Visa Bulletin retrogressed Philippines and Worldwide EB-3 to June 1, 2022.  This means that unless the Beneficiary has a priority date earlier than June 1, 2022, they will unfortunately not be able to proceed with a visa appointment.  MU Law expects that this June 1, 2022 date will not progress until at least October 1, 2023.  The October 2023 Visa Bulletin, which should be released by the State Department in mid-September 2023, will be the next time that we may see forward movement in the EB-3 category. 

On the good news front, China EB-3 actually progressed five months to April 1, 2019.  China EB-2, India EB-3 and India EB3 remained unchanged.  Philippine and ROW EB-3 Other Workers, which is the category for occupations such as Nurse Aides, remains retrogressed but held steady to January 2020.

MEDICAL EXAMS NOW VALID FOR TWO YEARS – USCIS ENDS 60 DAY SIGNATURE RULE

Effective March 31, 2023, USCIS no longer requires that the medical exam (Form I-693) be submitted to USCIS within 60 days of the civil surgeon’s signature.  Medical exams remain valid for two years after the civil surgeon’s signature, regardless of when the underlying immigration application was submitted to USCIS, including I-485 applications for green cards. 

USCIS indicates that this new policy will allow the USCIS to process I-485 applications more expeditiously instead of requesting updated medical exams.  USCIS also clarified that civil surgeons must use the current edition of Form I-693 as of the date of the civil surgeon’s signature and comply with the CDC’s Technical Instructions for Civil Surgeons in effect at the time of the civil surgeon’s signature.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE RAISES NONIMMIGRANT VISA CONSULAR FEES

 Beginning May 30, 2023, consular fees required for certain nonimmigrant visas will be raised according to an updated Schedule of Fees published in the Federal Register.

The fee changes to be put in effect are:

• The application processing fee for non-petition based nonimmigrant visas (such as B-1/B-2 and F-1 visas) will be raised from $160 to $185.
• The application processing fee for H, L, O, P, Q, and R nonimmigrant visas will be raised from $190 to $205.
• The fee for E category nonimmigrant visas will be raised from $205 to $315.
• The processing fee for Border Crossing Cards for Mexican citizens age 15 and over will be raised from $160 to $185.