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08 Mar, 2024
Release Date 03/08/2024 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has received enough petitions to meet the H-2B cap for the second half of fiscal year (FY) 2024 and is announcing the filing dates for supplemental H-2B visas for the reminder of FY 2024 made available under the FY 2024 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule . H-2B Cap for Second Half of FY 2024 USCIS has received enough petitions to meet the congressionally mandated H-2B cap for the second half of FY 2024. March 7, 2024, was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date on or after April 1, 2024, and before Oct. 1, 2024. We will reject new cap-subject H-2B petitions received after March 7, 2024, that request an employment start date on or after April 1, 2024, and before Oct. 1, 2024. We continue to accept H-2B petitions that are exempt from the congressionally mandated cap. This includes petitions for: Current H-2B workers in the United States who wish to extend their stay and, if applicable, change the terms of their employment or change their employers; Fish roe processors, fish roe technicians and/or supervisors of fish roe processing; and Workers performing labor or services in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and/or Guam (until Dec. 31, 2029). Filing Dates for Second Half of FY 2024 Supplemental Visas The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) jointly published a temporary final rule on Nov. 17, 2023, increasing the numerical limit (or cap) on H-2B nonimmigrant visas by up to 64,716 additional visas for all of FY 2024. These supplemental visas are available only to U.S. businesses that are suffering irreparable harm or will suffer impending irreparable harm without the ability to employ all the H-2B workers requested in their petition, as attested by the employer on the DOL Form ETA 9142-B-CAA-8 (PDF) . These supplemental H-2B visas are for U.S. employers seeking to petition for additional workers at certain periods of the fiscal year. Below are the filing start dates for each of the remaining supplemental visa allocations under the temporary final rule: For employers seeking workers who are nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, regardless of whether such nationals are returning workers: USCIS will begin accepting petitions for employers requesting an employment start date from April 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2024, on March 22, 2024. USCIS began accepting petitions from employers with employment start dates from Oct. 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, in November 2023. A cap count for this country-specific allocation is available on the Temporary Increase in H-2B Nonimmigrant Visas for FY 2024 page. For employers seeking returning workers for the early second half of FY 2024 (April 1 to May 14): USCIS will begin accepting petitions for the additional 19,000 visas made available to returning workers regardless of country of nationality on March 22, 2024. For employers seeking returning workers for the late second half of FY 2024 (May 15 to Sept. 30): USCIS will begin accepting petitions for the additional 5,000 visas made available to returning workers regardless of country of nationality on April 22, 2024. USCIS will stop accepting petitions under this temporary final rule received after Sept. 16, 2024, or after the applicable cap has been reached, whichever occurs first. USCIS has already announced that we have received enough petitions to reach the cap for the additional 20,716 H-2B visas made available for returning workers for the first half of FY 2024 with employment start dates on or before March 31, 2024. Additional information on the FY 2024 supplemental visas is available on the Temporary Increase in H-2B Nonimmigrant Visas for FY 2024 page. Reminder: Upcoming Changes in Required Fee and Form Editions for H-2B Petitions On Jan. 30, 2024, USCIS announced a final rule , published in the Federal Register, that adjusts the fees required for most immigration applications and petitions. The new fees will be effective April 1, 2024. There will be no grace period for filing the new version of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker , because it must include the new fee calculation. H-2B petitions postmarked on or after April 1, 2024, must include the new fees and be filed on the 04/01/24 edition of the form or we will not accept them. USCIS has published a preview version of the 04/01/24 edition of Form I-129 (PDF, 2.07 MB) . https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-reaches-h-2b-cap-for-second-half-of-fy-2024-and-announces-filing-dates-for-the-second-half-of Last Reviewed/Updated: 03/08/202
13 Dec, 2023
Release Date 12/13/2023 WASHINGTON – Consistent with its September announcement, the Department of Homeland Security today published a Federal Register notice reiterating the extensions of the periods to re-register for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) under the existing designations of El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, and Sudan. As previously announced, the re-registration period for each country is changing from 60 days to the full length of each country’s current TPS designation extension. The 18-month re-registration period for current TPS beneficiaries under the designation of: El Salvador is currently open and now runs through March 9, 2025; Haiti is currently open and now runs through Aug. 3, 2024; Honduras is currently open and runs through July 5, 2025; Nepal is currently open and runs through June 24, 2025; Nicaragua is currently open and runs through July 5, 2025; and Sudan is currently open and now runs through April 19, 2025. Extending re-registration allows current TPS beneficiaries to submit Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status , at any time during the full extensions of the TPS designations of these six countries. They also may submit Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , to obtain an Employment Authorization Document, if desired, during the full extension period. This announcement does not change the previously announced extensions of the TPS designations for these six countries, and it does not change the eligibility requirements. This re-registration extension is solely for TPS beneficiaries who properly filed for TPS during a previous registration period. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas previously announced on June 13, 2023 , that he would rescind the previous administration’s terminations of TPS designations for El Salvador, Honduras, Nepal and Nicaragua and extend the TPS designations for these countries for 18 months. Re-registration periods under these TPS designations were initially set at 60 days; however, DHS reevaluated the length of the re-registration period due to the unique circumstances surrounding these designations. On Sept. 8, 2023, DHS announced the extension of the re-registration periods for these six TPS designations to the full length of the TPS designation extension. Limiting the re-registration period to 60 days for these particular beneficiaries might place a burden on applicants who cannot timely file, but who otherwise would be eligible to re-register for TPS. In particular, ongoing litigation resulted in overlapping periods of TPS validity that were announced in several Federal Register notices, which may confuse some current beneficiaries. This notice allows beneficiaries of these countries who have not been required to re-register for TPS for the past few years due to litigation to re-register through the entire designation extension period. The Federal Register notice does not change the previously announced extensions of the TPS designations for these six countries. It does not change the eligibility requirements or add any newly eligible beneficiaries. It simply extends the period when existing beneficiaries may re-register for their benefits.  For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and LinkedIn . https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-publishes-federal-register-notice-announcing-the-extensions-of-re-registration-periods-for Last Reviewed/Updated: 12/13/2023
27 Nov, 2023
Release Date 11/27/2023 USCIS’ Tampa Asylum Office is moving to a new location. Effective Dec. 11, 2023, the new address will be: 3924 Coconut Palm Drive Tampa, Florida 33619 The current location will close to the public on Nov. 29, and the new location will open to the public on Dec. 11. We will begin accepting mail at the new location on Nov. 29. However, the Tampa Asylum Office will not have walk-in hours until Dec. 13. This move will not affect the Tampa Asylum Office’s jurisdiction. The Tampa Asylum Office will continue to adjudicate asylum claims filed by individuals residing in western and northern Florida as well as portions of central Florida. If you are an asylum applicant and you have been scheduled for an asylum interview, carefully review your interview notice for important information about your asylum interview, including where to go for your interview. As a reminder, asylum interviews are by appointment only. See the Asylum Office locator for more information about asylum office locations and services. For more information about what to expect at your affirmative asylum interview, see our Preparing for Your Affirmative Asylum Interview webpage. https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/tampa-asylum-office-moving-to-new-location Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/27/2023 
21 Nov, 2023
Release Date 11/21/2023  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced today that we are expanding myProgress (formerly known as personalized processing times) to Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status , and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status . myProgress will initially only be available for family-based or Afghan special immigrant I-485 applicants. myProgress provides applicants with access, in their online account, to personalized estimates of their wait time for major milestones and actions on their case, including their final case decision. While estimates are based on case type and historical patterns, they are not a guarantee of timing, and cannot take into consideration all possible unique application processing factors. myProgress was implemented to improve customer experience by proactively addressing applicant concerns as to the status of their benefit requests while waiting for a decision, demonstrating our commitment both to supporting the Executive Order 14058 on Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government Mandates , and to reducing the need for case status inquiries. This effort is part of USCIS’ Strategic Plan to enhance the experience of the people we serve. We anticipate that the expansion of myProgress will increase transparency in the adjudication process. In addition to Form I-485 and Form I-821, myProgress is available for applicants with a USCIS online account who file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization ; Form I-131, Application for Travel Document ; Form N-400, Application for Naturalization ; Form I-90, Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card ; or Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative . To view myProgress, applicants must first create a USCIS online account or log into their online account and select their pending application. If they filed online or linked one of the applicable forms to their online account using an online access code, they will see a myProgress tab for their application. The myProgress tab displays the estimated wait time until their case has a decision, along with a checkmark beside milestones as they are completed: Confirmation that the application was received; Movement of the application through preprocessing and adjudicative steps; and Case decision. Applicants will still need to visit the public Check Case Processing Times webpage to determine if they are eligible to file an Outside of Normal Processing Times service request. https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-expands-myprogress-to-form-i-485-and-form-i-821
27 Oct, 2023
Release Date 10/27/2023 Certain renewal applicants who have filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, qualify for an automatic extension of their expiring employment authorization and/or employment authorization documents (EADs) while their renewal application is pending. Starting today, those who are eligible will receive 180-day extensions in accordance with existing regulations, including those who have applied for or have received Temporary Protected Status or asylum. In May 2022, however, USCIS announced a temporary final rule (TFR) that increased the automatic extension period for EADs available to certain EAD renewal applicants from up to 180 days to up to 540 days. Today’s change is not retroactive; all previous up to 540-day automatic extensions will remain in place. USCIS is in the process of determining whether there is a need for a new regulatory action similar to the May 2022 TFR, notwithstanding past and ongoing operational improvements and efforts to accelerate EAD processing more broadly. As announced in the 2022 TFR, automatic extensions of employment authorization and EAD validity will be the original up to 180-day period for those eligible applicants who timely file a Form I-765 renewal applications on or after Oct. 27, 2023. For individuals who received an increased automatic extension period under the TFR, the increased automatic extension will end when they receive a final decision on their renewal application or when the up to 540-day period expires (counted from the expiration date of the employment authorization and/or their EAD), whichever comes earlier. Meanwhile, USCIS recently published a Policy Manual update increasing the maximum EAD validity period to five years for initial and renewal applications approved on or after Sept. 27, 2023, for the following categories: Certain noncitizens who are employment authorized incident to status or circumstance, including those admitted as refugees, paroled as refugees, granted asylum, and recipients of withholding of removal; and Certain noncitizens who must apply for employment authorization, including applicants for asylum and withholding of removal, adjustment of status, and suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal. USCIS is making every effort to help avoid gaps in employment and/or employment authorization documentation for noncitizens with pending EAD renewal applications, and to help reduce EAD processing times, including by dedicating additional personnel and implementing processing improvements to decrease the median processing time for certain EAD applications to 30 days.  USCIS remains committed to reducing EAD processing times and preventing undue expiration of timely-renewed EADs. For more information, visit our Automatic Employment Authorization Document Extension page . Last Reviewed/Updated: 10/27/2023 https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/certain-renewal-applicants-for-employment-authorization-to-receive-automatic-180-day-extension
18 Oct, 2023
Release Date 10/18/2023 Biden-Harris Administration continues strategy to provide lawful pathways and reduce dangerous irregular migration WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced a new family reunification parole process for certain nationals of Ecuador, advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s effective strategy to combine expanded lawful pathways and strengthened enforcement to reduce irregular migration. The Family Reunification Parole processes promote family unity, and are part of the comprehensive measures announced in April by DHS and the Department of State, and are consistent with the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection’s objectives to strengthen national, regional, and hemispheric efforts to create the conditions for safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration. The new process is for certain nationals of Ecuador whose family members are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and who have received approval to join their family in the United States. Specifically, Ecuadorian nationals and their immediate family members can be considered for parole on a case-by-case basis for a period of up to three years while they wait to apply to become a lawful permanent resident. “The Family Reunification Parole process promotes family unity consistent with our laws and our values,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Establishing this process for certain Ecuadorian nationals will ensure more families can access lawful pathways rather than placing themselves at the mercy of smugglers to make the dangerous journey. Those who do not avail themselves of family reunification parole or other lawful, safe, and orderly pathways and attempt to enter the United States unlawfully will continue to face tough consequences.” Certain nationals of Ecuador who are beneficiaries of an approved Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative may be eligible to be considered for parole under the new process. Qualifying beneficiaries must be outside the United States, meet all requirements, including screening and vetting and medical requirements, and must not have already received an immigrant visa.  The Family Reunification Parole process begins with the Department of State issuing an invitation to the petitioning U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family member whose Form I-130 on behalf of an Ecuadorian beneficiary has been approved. Beneficiaries awaiting an immigrant visa could include certain children and siblings of U.S. citizens and certain spouses and children of lawful permanent residents. The invited petitioner can then initiate the process by filing a request on behalf of the beneficiary and eligible family members to be considered for advance travel authorization and parole. The Family Reunification Parole process allows for parole only on a case-by-case and temporary basis upon a demonstration of urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit, as well as a demonstration that the beneficiary warrants a favorable exercise of discretion. Individuals paroled into the United States under this process will generally be considered for parole for up to three years and will be eligible to request employment authorization while they wait for their immigrant visa to become available. When their immigrant visa becomes available, they may apply to become a lawful permanent resident. The Immigration and Nationality Act provides the Secretary of Homeland Security with the discretionary authority to parole applicants for admission into the United States temporarily on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Previous Secretaries across different administrations have similarly exercised the parole authority to establish other family reunification parole processes administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, including the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program in 2007 and the Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program in 2014. DHS announced new FRP processes for Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras in July and the modernization of FRP processes for Cuba and Haiti in August. The Federal Register Notice for this FRP process will be published soon with detailed information on the application process and eligibility criteria. Last Reviewed/Updated: 10/18/2023 https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-announces-family-reunification-parole-process-for-ecuador
29 Sept, 2023
Release Date 09/29/2023 News release originally published by the Department of Homeland Security. Redesignation Allows Additional Eligible Venezuelan Nationals Who Arrived in the U.S. on or Before July 31, 2023 to Apply for TPS and Employment Authorization Documents  Venezuelan Nationals Who Enter After July 31, 2023 are not Eligible for TPS. Those Who Do Not Enter the U.S. via Lawful Pathways Will be Subject to Enforcement Consequences WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security is previewing a Federal Register notice for an 18-month extension of Venezuela’s 2021 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation and a separate redesignation of Venezuela for TPS. The notice explains how to register for TPS under Venezuela’s redesignation and how to re-register for the extension. Applicants for TPS are eligible to apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) during the duration of the TPS designation. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced on September 20, 2023 the extension and redesignation of Venezuela for TPS for 18 months due to extraordinary and temporary conditions in Venezuela that prevent individuals from safely returning. Individuals may be eligible if they have continuously resided in the United States on or before July 31, 2023, and been continuously physically present in the United States on or before October 3, 2023. The redesignation of Venezuela for TPS (Venezuela 2023) will allow an estimated 472,000 additional Venezuelan nationals (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Venezuela) to file an initial TPS application. Venezuelan nationals who arrived in the United States after July 31, 2023, are not eligible for TPS. Those who do not enter through one of the many lawful pathways will be subject to enforcement consequences. Since May 12, we have removed or returned over 253,000 individuals to 152 countries, including to Mexico. DHS has removed or returned more family members in the last 4 months than in any previous full fiscal year. Under the new redesignation of Venezuela (Venezuela 2023), 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 October 3, 2023 through April 2, 2025. Applicants can apply for a TPS-related EAD by submitting a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , with their Form I-821, or separately later. Applicants may also submit Form I-765 online. The extension of TPS for Venezuelans who are already registered (Venezuela 2021) runs from March 11, 2024 through September 10, 2025 and allows approximately 243,000 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through September 10, 2025, if they re-register and continue to meet TPS eligibility requirements. Re-registration is limited to beneficiaries of TPS under Venezuela 2021. Current beneficiaries under TPS for Venezuela must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period from January 10, 2024, through March 10, 2024, to ensure they keep their TPS and work authorization. DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants may receive a new EAD before their current EAD expires and is automatically extending through March 10, 2025, the validity of certain EADs previously issued under Venezuela 2021. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will continue to process pending applications filed under Venezuela 2021. Both initial applicants and re-registering current beneficiaries who have a pending Form I-821 or Form I-765 as of October 3, 2023 do not need to file either application again. If USCIS approves an individual’s pending Form I-821 re-registration application, USCIS will grant them TPS through September 10, 2025. Similarly, if USCIS approves a pending TPS-related Form I-765, USCIS will issue the individual a new EAD that will be valid through the same date. The Federal Register notice explains the eligibility criteria, timelines, and procedures necessary for current beneficiaries to re-register and renew EADs under Venezuela 2021, and for new applicants to submit an initial application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD under Venezuela 2023. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and LinkedIn . Last Reviewed/Updated: 09/29/2023 https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-previews-federal-register-notice-extending-and-separately-redesignating-venezuela-for-temporary
21 Sept, 2023
Release Date 09/21/2023 WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today announced the extension and redesignation of Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from November 21, 2023, to May 20, 2025, due to ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary and temporary conditions in Afghanistan that prevent individuals from safely returning. The corresponding Federal Register notice provides information about how to register for TPS as a new or current beneficiary under Afghanistan’s extension and redesignation. After reviewing the country conditions in Afghanistan and consulting with interagency partners, Secretary Mayorkas determined that an 18-month TPS extension and redesignation is warranted because conditions, including armed conflict, that support Afghanistan’s TPS designation are ongoing. “Today’s announcement to extend and redesignate TPS for Afghanistan allows us to continue to offer safety and protection to Afghan nationals who are unable to return to their country,” said Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas . “DHS will continue to support Afghan nationals through this temporary form of humanitarian relief.” A country may be designated for TPS when conditions in the country fall into one or more of the three statutory bases for designation: ongoing armed conflict, environmental disasters, or extraordinary and temporary conditions. Afghanistan’s designation is based on the serious threat posed by ongoing armed conflict; lack of access to food, clean water and healthcare; and destroyed infrastructure, internal displacement and economic instability. The extension of TPS for Afghanistan allows approximately 3,100 current beneficiaries to retain TPS through May 20, 2025, if they continue to meet TPS eligibility requirements. The redesignation of Afghanistan for TPS allows an estimated 14,600 additional Afghan nationals (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Afghanistan) who entered the United States since the last continuous residence date of March 15, 2022, and who have been continuously residing in the United States since September 20, 2023, and continuously physically present in the United States since November 21, 2023, to file initial applications to obtain TPS, if they are otherwise eligible. Certain OAW parolees may also be eligible to file late initial applications for TPS. Re-registration is limited to individuals who previously registered for and were granted TPS under Afghanistan’s prior designation. Current beneficiaries under TPS for Afghanistan must re-register in a timely manner during the 60-day re-registration period from September 25, 2023 through November 24, 2023, to ensure they keep their TPS and employment authorization. DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants may receive a new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before their current EAD expires and is automatically extending through November 20, 2024 the validity of EADs previously issued under Afghanistan’s TPS designation. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will continue to process pending applications filed under the previous TPS designation for Afghanistan. Individuals with a pending Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status , or a related Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization , as of September 25, 2023 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 Afghanistan, USCIS will grant the individual TPS through May 20, 2025, and issue an EAD valid through the same date. Under the redesignation of Afghanistan, 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 September 25, 2023, through May 20, 2025. 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. Afghan nationals who were granted parole under Operation Allies Welcome, or re-parole, may apply for and receive TPS, if eligible. Applying for re-parole does not affect a TPS application, and being a TPS beneficiary does not affect an application for re-parole. Eligibility for ORR-funded services that extend to qualifying Afghan parolees, including those granted re-parole under the new re-parole process, require Afghans to maintain parole. TPS beneficiaries are not eligible for certain Afghan parolee benefits if their parole lapses. DHS cannot provide legal advice but encourages Afghan parolees to seek any more durable immigration pathways, like asylum and adjustment of status, for which they may be eligible. The Federal Register notice explains eligibility criteria, timelines, and procedures necessary for current beneficiaries to re-register and renew EADs, and for new applicants to submit an initial application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD. Last Reviewed/Updated: 09/21/2023 https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/secretary-mayorkas-announces-extension-and-redesignation-of-afghanistan-for-temporary-protected
18 Sept, 2023
Release Date 09/18/2023  On Sept. 13, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued a decision finding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Final Rule unlawful and expanding the original July 16, 2021 injunction and order of vacatur to cover the Final Rule. However, the court maintained a partial stay of the order for “all DACA recipients who received their initial DACA status prior to July 16, 2021.” See the Memorandum and Order (PDF, 1.35 MB) and Supplemental Order of Injunction (PDF, 72.53 KB) . Accordingly, current grants of DACA and related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) remain valid until they expire, unless individually terminated. However, USCIS will continue to accept and process DACA renewal requests and accompanying applications for employment authorization under the DACA regulations at 8 CFR 236.22 and 236.23, as it has since October 31, 2022, in accordance with this decision. USCIS will continue to accept initial requests, but per the order, not process initial DACA requests. Currently valid grants of DACA and related EADs will continue to be recognized as valid under the Final Rule. This means that individuals with DACA and related EADs do not have to submit a request for DACA or employment authorization until the appropriate time to seek renewal. https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/important-update-on-deferred-action-for-childhood-arrivals For more information on DACA, please visit our USCIS DACA webpage. For more information on USCIS and our programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook , and LinkedIn . Last Reviewed/Updated: 09/18/2023
25 Aug, 2023
Release Date 08/25/2023 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating guidance in our Policy Manual to provide clarification on voter registration access at our administrative naturalization ceremonies. The updated guidance: Affirms that USCIS provides access to voter registration services at each administrative naturalization ceremony, including information regarding points-of-contact for voting and voter registration; Provides that USCIS offices request that election officials from state or local government election offices attend ceremonies to distribute, collect, and review voter registration applications, and to officially register new citizens to vote; Affirms that USCIS offices coordinate with non-partisan, non-governmental organizations for voter registration services when state and local government election officials are not available; and Provides that, to the extent feasible, USCIS offices invite governmental or non-governmental organizations offering on-site voter registration services the opportunity to introduce themselves and address the naturalization candidates before the ceremony. For consistency and efficiency, USCIS also created the Form N-401, Voter Registration Services Attestation (PDF, 273.71 KB) , for non-governmental agencies to submit a one-time request per field office to participate in administrative naturalization ceremonies. This guidance is immediately effective. This update demonstrates USCIS’ commitment to support Executive Order 14019, Promoting Access to Voting , by promoting and encouraging the exercise of the right to vote, removing any agency obstacles that may prevent new citizens from registering to vote at naturalization ceremonies, and expanding access to voter registration.  For more information, please see the policy alert (PDF, 318.85 KB) . https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-updates-voter-registration-guidance-for-naturalization-ceremonies Last Reviewed/Updated: 08/25/2023
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