May 2024 Newsletter
Welcome to our May 2024 Immigration Newsletter, which covers select immigration developments in the past month.
We start with our analysis of the State Department's monthly immigrant visa bulletin, which tells us where the government is with respect to processing each immigrant visa category. The May 2024 Visa Bulletin has forward movement only in the family-based immigrant visa categories; the employment-based categories have no movement. None of the categories will retrogress.?More information is below.
Insofar as the H-1B lottery, USCIS completed the H-1B lottery on April 1 and released the number of registrations it received for this year’s H-1B visa lottery: 479,953, resulting in 120,603 selected registrants. This is nearly 300,000 less than last year’s numbers: 780,884. In comparison to last year’s chance of selection of 15%, the chances of being selected in the H-1B lottery for this fiscal year 2025 increased to 25.13%. Our blogpost below provides more data and insights.
On the humanitarian front, USCIS extended and expanded temporary protection for Myanmar (Burma) until November 25, 2025 and for Ethiopia until December 12, 2025.? Additionally, as of April 15, certain Palestinians in the United States may obtain an employment authorization document (EAD), which will be valid through August 13, 2025. More information is below.
In a significant step towards promoting inclusivity, USCIS has added a third gender option, “X,” defined as “Another Gender Identity” on their naturalization application (Form N-400). Other forms do not include this option yet, but the agency is working on how to integrate this option in the future. Our detailed update is below.
Finally, I am delighted to share that I made it in the Top 100 Immigration Lawyers by Lawdragon . I feel honored to be among these outstanding immigration attorneys.
We hope you find our updates helpful. Please contact us if you would like to discuss any of these developments further.
May 2024 Visa Bulletin Released
The Department of State (DOS) has issued its May 2024 Visa Bulletin. In May, there will only be forward movement in the family-based immigrant visa categories. All the employment-based categories will stay the same.? Fortunately, none of the categories will retrogress.
Read more here .
Nearly 500,000 H-1B Lottery Registrations Submitted in March 2024
USCIS has released the number of registrations it received for this year’s H-1B visa lottery: 479,953, resulting in 120,603 selected registrants.*? This is nearly 300,000 less than last year’s numbers: 780,884. In comparison to last year’s chance of selection of 15%, the chances of being selected in the H-1B lottery for this fiscal year 2025 increased to 25.13%.?
Read more here .
Temporary Protection for Burma (Myanmar) Extended and Expanded
Due to the ongoing instability in Burma following the military coup, the Department of Homeland Security has announced the extension and redesignation of Burma for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) until November 25, 2025. Burmese nationals in the United States who currently benefit from TPS will be able to extend their status for an additional 18 months, from May 26, 2024, through November 25, 2025.?
Read more here .
USCIS Provides Third Gender Option on Application for US Citizenship
In a significant step towards promoting inclusivity, USCIS has added a third gender option, “X,” defined as “Another Gender Identity” on their naturalization application (Form N-400), which grants US citizenship to lawful permanent residents. This is the first USCIS form to include a third gender option.?
Read more here .
Work Authorization Now Available for Certain Palestinians
Effective April 15, 2024, certain Palestinians in the United States may obtain an employment authorization document (EAD), which will be valid through August 13, 2025. ?This work authorization is further to President Biden’s memorandum dated February 14, 2024, which allows eligible Palestinians to remain in the United States until August 13, 2025 due to the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Territories. The Presidential policy is called Deferred Enforced Departure (DED).
Read more here .
Temporary Protection for Ethiopia Extended and Expanded
Due to the ongoing armed conflict and grave political instability in Ethiopia, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the extension and expansion of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) until December 12, 2025. Ethiopian nationals in the United States who currently benefit from TPS can extend their status for an additional 18 months, from June 13, 2024, to December 12, 2025.
Read more here .
Thank you for reading! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss any of these developments further.
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