On Sept. 18, we are updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding residency requirements under Section 320 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended by the Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act. Read the web alert for more information.

On Sept. 17, we issued policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual related to the O nonimmigrant classifications. Read our web alert for more information: USCIS Updates Policy Guidance on O Petitions.

Natural catastrophes and other extreme situations can sometimes affect the processing of your USCIS application, petition or immigration request. Visit our Special Situations page for more information. If you have an appointment and you live in an area that has recently experienced tropical storms, wildfires or other natural disasters, check our office closures page before you come to an office.

On Sept. 2, we updated our policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on Aug. 3, 2020. This guidance becomes effective Oct. 2, 2020. Visit USCIS Policy Manual for more information.

Please see the announcement and memorandum.

On April 18, 2017, President Trump signed the Buy American and Hire American Executive Order, which seeks to create higher wages and employment rates for U.S. workers and to protect their economic interests by rigorously enforcing and administering our immigration laws. It also directs DHS, in coordination with other agencies, to advance policies to help ensure H-1B visas are awarded to the most-skilled or highest-paid beneficiaries. USCIS is working on a combination of rulemaking, policy memoranda, and operational changes to implement the Buy American and Hire American Executive Order. We are creating and carrying out these initiatives to protect the economic interests of U.S. workers and prevent fraud and abuse within the immigration system.