New 5-Year Validity Period for Certain EADs, FY 2025 DV Lottery, & Federal Government Funding Update
EAD Update
On September 27, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated policy guidance for certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs).
Most significantly, USCIS increased the maximum available validity period to 5 years for certain initial and renewal EAD categories, including pending adjustment of status applicants with I-765 EAD applications filed under the (c)(9) category, individuals granted asylum, individuals admitted as a refugee, individuals paroled as a refugee, individuals granted withholding of removal, and individuals with a pending application for suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, or relief under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act (NACARA).
While we hoped that additional EAD categories would benefit from the 5-year validity change, the ImLaw team certainly welcomes this new guidance that will benefit our clients. Questions? Contact us at info@imlaw.biz.
Diversity Visa Lottery Registration for FY2025 Opens This Week
The Diversity Immigrant Visa (“DV”) program is a government lottery program to apply for and obtain U.S. lawful permanent residence. There are 50,000 diversity immigrant visas/green cards available each fiscal year to selected individuals from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States. The registration period for the FY2025 DV program is from 12:00 pm (ET) on October 4, 2023, to 12:00 pm (ET) on November 7, 2023. Entry forms are available on the Electronic DV Program website, Electronic Diversity Visa Program (state.gov). Entries can only be submitted during the prescribed period. The results of the DV-2025 lottery will be available on the Electronic DV Program website or or about May 4, 2024.
For more information on the DV Lottery, click here or contact us at info@imlaw.biz.
Federal Government Funded through Nov. 17
The federal government will be funded through November 17, 2023, thanks to Congress passing and President Biden signing a 45-day bill on September 30, 2023. At this time, U.S. immigration cases will continue to be processed as usual by USCIS, U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Department of State (DOS), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). With a federal government shutdown, DOL will be the most affected immigration-related agency since its services are not fee-funded or considered “essential.”
The ImLaw team will continue to provide updates as November 17 approaches.