Demystifying Immigration Law
The Latest on E-2 Visa with Citizenship-by-Investment
Law Brief: H-1B Visas – New Process and New (Upcoming) Deadlines
Employment Visa Restrictions: Past, Present, and Future by Sang Shin
Update from Washington: Employer's Preview of Immigration Restrictions from the Administration
The U.S. Embassy in Havana has expanded visa services to include some temporary non-immigrant visas. Cuban nationals with the following approved petitions will be able to schedule visa interviews at the Embassy:...more
The F-1 nonimmigrant visa status allows noncitizens to study in the United States at U.S. colleges and universities. F-1 students may be eligible for off-campus employment under the following programs: Curricular Practical...more
On April 1, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had selected sufficient H-1B visa preregistrations to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 regular H-1B cap (bachelor’s degree cap)...more
The I-94 record, which determines the validity of a nonimmigrant’s status, often presents challenges that are not expected by the foreign national or their employer. Unfortunately, the failure to be aware of the validity...more
What is an H-1B visa? It may not sound super exciting, but if you are an employer in the tech industry, particularly the high-technology industry, then you know what these are. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) sent a Federal Register notice titled, “Pilot Program to Resume Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas in the United States for Certain Qualified Noncitizens” to the Office of Information and...more
On October 17, 2023, the Department of State (DOS) took the first steps to implement stateside processing of nonimmigrant visas. The DOS notified the federal Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs that it will introduce...more
Every few years, employees working in the United States on nonimmigrant visas such as the H-1B and L-1 are forced to undertake the arduous journey to renew their visas at a consular post abroad. A valid visa is needed to both...more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has rolled out the Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) self-service tool, which is intended to streamline address updates with USCIS....more
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that as of October 11, 2023, the H-2B cap for nonagricultural workers had been reached for the first half of fiscal year 2024....more
Employers throughout the healthcare industry often experience difficulty hiring physicians due to a shortage of healthcare professionals in the United States. Physicians who hold J-1 visa status often require approval of a...more
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has officially implemented its “Simplified Arrival” program that was piloted in various cities from 2021 to 2022 to streamline the arrival process for international travelers at all...more
USCIS shared updated guidance on how it will evaluate evidence for petitions seeking O-1B classification as individuals of Extraordinary Ability in the Arts or in the Motion Picture and Television Industry (MPTV)....more
Employers just received some good news from the federal government that should help reduce the backlog for some visa renewals. Certain foreign workers looking to renew their visas can now do so within the U.S. instead of...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
Happy New Year! As we begin 2023, we would like to share the following recent U.S. immigration-related updates: Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Waivers Extended Until December 31, 2023 On December 23, 2022, the U.S....more
On December 23, 2022, the Department of State announced that the Secretary of State made a determination extending the authority of consular officers to waive in-person interviews for certain nonimmigrant visa categories...more
On December 23, 2022, the U.S. Department of State announced that the secretary of state has extended consular officers’ authority to waive the in-person visa interview requirement through December 31, 2023. This extension of...more
According to a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 34 percent of private-sector employers expanded remote-work options for workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and about 60 percent of those...more
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on May 3 announced a temporary increase—up to 540 days—to the automatic extension period for employment authorization and employment authorization documents (EADs) for certain...more
On May 4, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a vast increase in the length of automatic extensions for certain renewal applicants. A Temporary Final...more
On April 21, 2022, the White House announced a new phase in its pledge to admit 100,000 Ukrainians displaced by the ongoing war. This new program, officially named Uniting for Ukraine, is stated to include a streamlined...more
Today, March 30, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule expanding premium processing for multinational managers, advanced degree holders seeking a national interest waiver, nonimmigrant...more
In addition to the 3.2 million Ukrainians who have fled Ukraine, the United Nations reports that there are more than 6.5 million Ukrainians internally displaced within the country. The United States’ policies and practices...more
For employers who need to hire foreign national talent for STEM or other hard-to-fill positions, an important immigration deadline is around the corner. The electronic H-1B lottery application window started on March 1 and...more