The registration period for H-1B cap-subject petitions is approaching! As a reminder, the annual H-1B cap is set at 65,000, with an additional 20,000 numbers available for individuals who have earned an advanced degree from...more
Previously the Department of State announced the NIV Consular processing fees would increase. This Client Alert is to notify MVA Immigration Clients that the effective date of the final rule (88FR 18243) which raises some NIV...more
This Client Alert is to Notify MVA Clients who are Employers that Certain Pandemic Era Policies are Ending. During the pandemic, DHS implemented an inspection deferral policy. Under this policy, employers with employees...more
As many Employers and Foreign Nationals are likely aware, the H-1B CAP Season for USCIS 2024 Fiscal Year rapidly approaches. On Friday USICS announced it will open H-1B CAP registration at noon (12PM ET) on March 1, 2023, and...more
In response to a Lawsuit (Edakunni v. Mayorkas) filed on behalf of Spouses of H-1B and L-1 Visa Holders, USCIS has reached a settlement agreement which it will implement effective today, January 25, 2023....more
1/26/2023
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Form I-129 ,
H-4 ,
H-4 Spouses ,
Immigration ,
L-2 Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Settlement Agreements ,
USCIS ,
Visas
As outlined in our earlier alert, there is now a vaccine requirement for foreign nationals seeking nonimmigrant entry to the United States after international air travel.
On December 2, 2021, the Center for Disease...more
The long awaited Presidential Proclamation rescinding the current COVID-19 travel bans was issued on October 25, 2021. The proclamation becomes effective on November 8, 2021 at 12:01 am EST and replaces the existing bans with...more
10/28/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Foreign Nationals ,
International Travel ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
Travel Ban ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Vaccinations ,
Vaccine Passports ,
Virus Testing
On July 6, 2021, the Department of State (DOS) issued guidance stating that national interest exceptions (NIEs) issued in the last 12 months are being automatically extended for 12 months from the date of approval, and for...more
7/9/2021
/ Brazil ,
China ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Filing Deadlines ,
Immigration Procedures ,
India ,
Iran ,
Ireland ,
National Interest Waiver ,
Presidential Proclamations ,
South Africa ,
Time Extensions ,
Travel Ban ,
UK ,
US Department of State ,
USCIS ,
Visas
The registration period for H-1B cap-subject petitions is rapidly approaching! As a reminder, the registration window opens at noon ET on March 9, 2021 and closes at noon ET on March 25, 2021. All beneficiaries must be...more
Due to recent changes in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, F-1 students currently participating in the STEM OPT extension are eligible to apply for an additional 7-months of work authorization. The deadline to...more
On April 13, 2015, USCIS conducted the computer-generated random selection process (aka “H-1B lottery”) and selected petitions to meet the 65,000 general-category cap and the 20,000 cap under the advanced degree exemption....more
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that effective on May 26, 2015, certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants will be eligible for employment authorization. DHS will focus on employment...more
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, now is the best time for visa holders to review their travel documents and begin planning for renewals if necessary. Planning ahead can alleviate much of the stress of...more
Effective as of September 12th, 2014, fee adjustments have been made to some Immigrant and Non-Immigrant Visas
U.S. Department of State (USDOS) has made adjustments to the fees for the following categories...more
Over the past three years, the L-1 Intracompany Transferee visa category has come under higher scrutiny from USCIS. Petitions for both L-1A Executive/Manager and L-1B Specialized Knowledge classifications continue to be...more
As of August 4, 2014, U.S. Department of State (DOS) has made significant progress and issued most of the worldwide backlog of nonimmigrant (temporary) visa cases. DOS is printing visas for immigrant visas, adoption cases,...more
As of July 31, 2014, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) continues to experience technical problems with the passport/visa system, delaying the issuance of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas at U.S. Consulates. The issue is...more
The Department of Homeland Security has proposed to provide work authorization benefits to spouses of H-1B visa holders. If this proposal is put into effect it will allow dependents to apply for an EAD, or an Employment...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that 172,500 H-1B petitions were received during the filing period which began April 1, 2014. This number includes petitions filed under the advanced degree...more
As of April 1, 2014, USCIS will allow petitioners to submit cap subject H-1B visa petitions; these are petitions for foreign nationals who are not currently in H-1B status such as recently graduated F-1 students or workers...more