USCIS recognizes that unforeseen circumstances, such as the Feb. 6 earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, may affect your ability to respond to information requests related to your USCIS application, petition, or immigration request. If you cannot submit evidence or respond to a notice or request in a timely manner for reasons directly tied to an unforeseen circumstance, you may show how the disrupting event affected your ability to appear for an interview or submit documents as required. Additionally, if certain immigration documents were damaged, destroyed, or lost, you may request expedited processing to replace those documents.

Please review our Immigration Relief in Emergencies or Unforeseen Circumstances page for further information.

We are automatically extending through Feb. 5, 2025, current Hong Kong DED-related Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) with a Card Expires date of Feb. 5, 2023, and a Category of A-11. The A-11 category code indicates that an EAD is DED-related. You may present this EAD as evidence of identity and employment authorization for your Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

For additional information, please see the DED Hong Kong webpage.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the applicability of the one-year physical presence requirement for refugees and asylees applying for adjustment of status.

Visit uscis.gov/policy-manual for more information.

USCIS announced new designs to improve security of Permanent Resident Cards (also known as Green Cards) and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). USCIS will begin issuing the redesigned cards on Jan. 30, 2023.

For additional information, please see the news release.

The initial registration period for the fiscal year 2024 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 1 and run through noon Eastern on March17, 2023. During this period, prospective petitioners and representatives will be able to complete and submit their registrations using our online H-1B registration system.

For additional information, please see the web alert.

On Jan. 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services released its FY 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, which provides a roadmap for the agency’s workforce to better strengthen capabilities and help the country reach its highest ideals. The plan is grounded in USCIS’ longstanding purpose and core values and a meaningful commitment to make the United States a stronger, more inclusive, and welcoming nation.

For more information, please read the USCIS Strategic Plan.

On Jan. 26, 2023, President Biden announced the extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for eligible Hong Kong residents for 2 years. Eligible Hong Kong residents include those who have arrived in the United States since Aug. 2021, as well as those who were covered under the initial decision. This extension provides Hong Kong residents who are concerned about returning to Hong Kong with temporary safe haven in the United States. USCIS will issue a Federal Register notice as soon as possible to implement the president’s announcement.