This blog update is about last week’s round-up of the biggest, need-to-know U.S. immigration news recap.
USCIS Address Work Permit Limbo With Longer Automatic Extensions
Good news for EAD renewals! USCIS extended the automatic grace period for certain work permits by a whopping 360 days. This means nearly 800,000 renewals won’t face a gap in authorization. Previously, the extension was only 180 days, but now it’s up to 540!
USCIS estimates that approximately 60,000 to 80,000 employers across the U.S. would have been negatively impacted as a result of the lapse.
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Medical Exams to Remain Valid Indefinitely With New USCIS Guidance
USCIS announced that it has updated the guidelines for Form I-693 validity periods. All Form I-693 Medical Exams completed and signed after November 1, 2023 will now remain valid indefinitely. As of this date, Form I-693s no longer expire.
For all medical exams filed before November 1, 2023, the previous validity period of two years still applies.
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U.S. Government in Talks With China Over Chinese Migrant Crossings
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security are engaged in advanced discussions with the Chinese government concerning the growing number of Chinese migrants entering the U.S. via the Mexico border. Data from Customs and Border Patrol indicate that over 24,000 Chinese nationals crossed in 2023, representing an increase of more than eleven times the previous year’s figures.
USCIS Announces Third Gender Option on Naturalization Form
USCIS announced that a new third gender option “X” (defined as “Another Gender Identity”) will now be available on Form N-400 (Application for Naturalization). Form N-400 is the first USCIS form to include a gender option other than “Male (M)” and “Female (F).”
Starting April 1, 2024, all citizenship applicants using Form N-400 will have the option to select ‘X’ as a gender on the new 04/01/24 form edition. This gender choice will be reflected on their Certificate of Naturalization when issued to those who file using this updated form.
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