Policy Updates

EB-1B applicants from Iran are likely to face more intensive manual vetting and potential delays. In the absence of a bilateral sharing agreement, DHS will likely maximize internal federal database checks to compensate for the lack of cooperation from the Iranian government.

The fee hike raises the cost for Iranian researchers seeking expedited adjudication. While Iranian applicants may face additional administrative processing, this specific fee increase is a uniform financial impact.

Section 2(h) maintains the full suspension of immigrant entry for Iranian nationals. While the proclamation provides an exception for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution, most high-skilled EB-1B applicants will be barred from entry unless they are dual nationals of a non-designated country or obtain a national interest waiver.

Given existing geopolitical tensions, enhanced vetting protocols often result in lengthy Section 221(g) administrative processing for Iranian researchers. This policy formalizes more rigorous scrutiny of their institutional affiliations and research history.

While the fee increase is standard, Iranian applicants may face additional hurdles due to currency fluctuations and international banking restrictions when paying increased USD-denominated fees.

Despite other geopolitical hurdles, Iranian applicants in the EB-1B category must comply with the same fee requirements as other ROW countries. The court order adds a layer of financial uncertainty to their immigration path.

While streamlining the process, mandatory electronic payments may pose challenges for Iranian applicants if they are attempting to pay fees from accounts subject to international banking restrictions. Most EB-1B fees are paid by U.S. employers, but personal payments could be complicated.

While Iranian applicants face unique administrative hurdles, the modernization of fee payments provides a more efficient method for handling USCIS costs. This does not bypass any existing security or travel-related restrictions.

Iranian nationals often face lengthy Section 221(g) delays; any discrepancies in research credentials discovered under this policy could lead to immediate inadmissibility. The enforcement adds a layer of complexity to an already difficult adjudication process for Iranian academics.

Given the history of security-related bans and extreme vetting, Iranian researchers will likely face intense questioning regarding their ideological alignment. Past government-mandated affiliations or public statements could be misinterpreted as anti-American, leading to denials.

Given the complex administrative processing often faced by Iranian applicants, this policy provides a critical buffer. Locking in the CSPA age earlier helps ensure that children do not lose eligibility due to lengthy security clearances or visa wait times.

Iranian academics seeking EB-1B status must pay the updated filing fees. While Iranian applicants often face additional administrative processing (221g), this specific update only affects the base filing fee.

Given the intensive background checks often associated with certain nationalities, this guidance ensures that Iranian petitioners are informed of derogatory information found during the process. This allows them to address security-related or other concerns directly.

Given that Iranian nationals often undergo rigorous administrative processing, the indefinite validity of the I-693 is particularly helpful in preventing the need for multiple medical exams during long wait periods.

Iranian EB-1B applicants, who often face additional administrative processing, will benefit from the removal of this specific medical requirement. This streamlines the domestic portion of their green card application process.

Iranian nationals in the EB-1B category must follow the new filing instructions. Given the complexities of Iranian immigration, following standard procedural updates is critical to avoid additional administrative hurdles.

Iranian nationals with scheduled biometrics or interviews on Jan. 9 will face a minor delay. This administrative closure does not affect the security screening processes often associated with this group.

Visa Bulletin Advancement: EB-1 Rest of World (2023-10)

The Department of State advanced the EB-1 Final Action Date for Rest of World chargeability to Current in the 2023-10 bulletin. Applicants in this category can now file or have their cases adjudicated without priority date restrictions.