U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a memorandum on May 4th instructing the field to issue decisions rather than RFEs in many cases.  In response to this memo, the American Immigration Lawyers Association USCIS Liaison Chairman has been engaging in comprehensive discussions with USCIS officials in order to clarify the instructions.  Further explanation on the memorandum is expected.

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Consular posts in China are currently unable to schedule appointments for visa interviews due to Chinese government action that resulted in the closure of the visa information and appointment call center.  Applicants will be seen on a first come, first served bases after the appointments that had been scheduled on or before April 23 are exhausted.  Prospective visa applicants are being advised to refer to each post’s website, where more information and specific instructions on visa interview procedures are posted and regularly updated.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be issuing a new version of the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or Form I-766, the document that serves as proof to employers that an individual is authorized to work in the United States.  The new card includes a magnetic strip, a two-dimensional barcode and other security features to prevent counterfeiting and fraud. 

USCIS expects to issue the new cards in early June 2004, according to a press release.

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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has releases a memorandum to local immigration offices outlining new procedures to be followed when filing an I-485 application to adjust status when there is an I-130 pending at the Service Center.  For those applicants for whom an immigrant visa is immediately available, they may now file an I-485 application for adjustment of status with the I-130 Receipt Notice from the Service Center along with the I-485 and other documents required.