April 2021 Visa Bulletin: EB1 is ‘Current’ for all Chargeability areas

One of the most important factors of securing a green card in the U.S. is waiting for your Priority Date to be Current.

As per April 2021 Visa Bulletin

The biggest and most encouraging news for all EB1 Applicants is that EB-1 is ‘Current’ for all Chargeability areas. The final action dates for the Employment-based EB1 category are “current” for all Chargeability areas including India and China. The Dates for filing of Employment-based Visa application in the EB1 category is also “current” for all countries.

For India and China, EB1 becomes current for the first time since March 2018.

The priority Date “Current” means no backlog or no wait time for a green card. A green card is available to you within the Employment-based VISA preference category.

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US Citizenship Act of 2021 Proposed Policy Changes

Big Hopes for Employment-Based Green Cards

Source : Fact Sheet- US Citizenship Act of 2021

The Employment-Based Green Cards system in the U.S. could see major improvements under the proposed US Citizenship Act of 2021. The legislation aims to reduce backlogs, increase visa availability, and provide more flexibility for skilled foreign workers and their families.

These proposed U.S. immigration Policy Changes could help clear the large backlogs of Green Card applicants. This proposed legislation also would remove the per-country cap that restricts skilled immigrants from any single country to account for more than 7% of Green Cards issued each year.

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I-907, Request for Premium Processing Fee hike

Effective Oct 19, 2020, USCIS has increased the Fee on Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing from $ 1440 to $2500 for all filings ($2,500 if you are filing Form I-140 requesting EB-1, EB-2, or EB-3 immigrant visa classification)

Premium processing provides expedited processing for Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker. EB1A, Aliens Extraordinary Ability EB1A applicants are Eligible for Premium Processing while EB2-NIW Not Yet Available. The Eligibility criteria for the designated classification within Form I-140 is provided at https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/how-do-i-request-premium-processing

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I-944 (Declaration of Self Sufficiency) Discontinued from March 9, 2021

Note: As per USCIS info, Beginning from March 9, 2021, GC applicants should not be required to file Form i-944, Declaration of Self Sufficiency, or any evidence or documentation necessary on that form with their Form I-485, Adjustment of Status. Form I-944 has been discontinued.

Please go through I-944 Form USCIS Instruction for more detailed information on this newly added form in 2020.

According to USCIS

  • Form I-944, “Declaration of Self-Sufficiency” is used by an individual to demonstrate that he or she is not inadmissible based on the public charge ground (Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 212(a)(4)). In other words, the form is used by Green Card applicants to provide information about their financial situation.
  • If you file the form I-485, Adjustment of Status, you should submit Form I-944 to USCIS.
  • If you are exempt from the Public charge ground of inadmissibility as per criteria setup by USCIS, you do not need to file Form I-944.  
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