News & Analysis as of

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services › OPT

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a federal agency under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. The USCIS... more +
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a federal agency under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. The USCIS performs a broad variety of administrative functions, including processing visa and naturalization petitions, as well as applications for asylum and refugee status.  less -
Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP

USCIS Updates Guidance for International Student Visa Classifications

Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP on

USCIS provided updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual with regard to the F-1 and M visa classifications utilized by international students for vocational, graduate and post-graduate study at U.S. academic institutions....more

Littler

USCIS Updates Guidance for F-1 Students on OPT and STEM OPT Eligibility

Littler on

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

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

DHS Updates STEM Designated Degree Program List for 24-Month STEM OPT Extensions

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on

On July 23, 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) added the category of Environmental/Natural Resource Economics (03.0204) as a qualifying field of study to the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List. DHS did...more

Shipman & Goodwin LLP

E-Verify: What Manufacturers Need to Know

Shipman & Goodwin LLP on

Most U.S. employers and workers have heard of E-Verify, but what is it? More critically, is it required for your manufacturing business?  E-Verify is a free internet-based program, run by U.S. Citizenship and...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Navigating Delays: The F-1 STEM EAD Waiting Game Considerations for Employees and Employers

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

Recent processing time trends at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) are raising concerns for both Employers and F-1 visa holders relying on automatic extensions of work authorization while awaiting the...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Alternative Options for Foreign National Employees Not Selected in USCIS’ FY 2025 H-1B Registration Lottery

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

The H-1B Electronic Registration Selection Process debuted in March 2020 for fiscal year 2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions. The barrier to entry dropped significantly with the introduction of the electronic registration...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Immigration Options Remain for Employees Not Selected in the H-1B Cap Lottery

Holland & Knight LLP on

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has completed its annual H-1B cap lottery selection process for fiscal year 2025. Given the high number of lottery registrations and the fixed number of...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

USCIS Updates Policy Manual on F, M Visa Status International Students’ Present Intent-to-Depart

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

Students studying in the United States in F or M visa status must have a foreign residence that they have no intention of abandoning. A new USCIS policy manual update has clarified that being the beneficiary of a PERM...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Employers, Get Ready: H-1B Cap Lottery Season Is Almost Here

Holland & Knight LLP on

Beginning March 6, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will conduct its annual H-1B Cap Lottery to award H-1B slots for professional workers in specialty occupations. There are a total of 85,000 visas...more

Littler

USCIS Updates Policy Guidance for International Students

Littler on

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated guidance in its policy manual regarding international students within F and M student classifications. This new guidance consolidates and provides greater...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

USCIS Issues New Guidance on F and M Student Visa Classifications

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on

On December 20, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its official policy manual chapters on F and M nonimmigrant student classifications....more

Akerman LLP - HR Defense

A Modern Approach: USCIS Proposes to Update the H-1B Program

Akerman LLP - HR Defense on

USCIS is proposing to modernize the H-1B visa program by streamlining eligibility requirements, improving program efficiency, providing greater benefits and flexibilities for employers and workers, and strengthening integrity...more

Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP

New Proposed H-1B Regulations and Stateside Visa Renewals – November 2023 Update

Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP on

Significant modifications to the H-1B visa program are expected to be implemented by the Department of Homeland Security. The agency issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) that would “modernize the H-1B specialty...more

Holland & Hart - Employers' Lawyers

Talent Without Borders: Immigration Insights – August-September 2023

Holland & Hart - Employers' Lawyers on

Second Round of H-1B Cap Registration Selection – United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducted a second round of the H-1B cap lottery between July 28th and 31st for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. The new...more

Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP

DHS Expands STEM OPT Fields for International Students

Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP on

On July 12, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) added eight fields of study to the Designated Degree Program List qualifying F-1 students to secure a STEM OPT (science, technology, engineering, mathematics...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Not Selected for an H-1B? Alternate Work Authorization Options in the United States

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on

The statutory limit of H-1Bs available per fiscal year is 65,000 for those who have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, with 6,800 reserved for citizens of Chile and Singapore. An additional 20,000 are reserved for those who...more

Holland & Knight LLP

Not Selected in the H-1B Lottery? Now What?

Holland & Knight LLP on

Each year in March, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) conducts a lottery to award H-1B slots to enough foreign workers to meet its 85,000 visa annual cap. This number includes 20,000 slots reserved for...more

Quarles & Brady LLP

Taking Luck Out of the Equation: Alternative Immigration Pathways for Foreign Nationals Not Selected in the H-1B Cap Lottery

Quarles & Brady LLP on

On March 27, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the FY2024 H-1B cap lottery was complete. The results: a historically low selection rate—with many multinational companies reporting that...more

Quarles & Brady LLP

USCIS Announces Premium Processing Expansion for F-1 OPT and STEM OPT EAD Applications

Quarles & Brady LLP on

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has announced an expansion of "premium processing" for F-1 foreign students who are seeking employment authorization related to Optional Practical Training (OPT) and...more

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Announces a Phase-In of Premium Processing and New Online-Filing Procedures for Certain...

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP on

USCIS has expanded premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM OPT extensions. Specifically, for a fee of $1,500, eligible applicants can request that USCIS adjudicate their...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

USCIS Expands Premium Processing Eligibility to Certain F-1 Students Seeking OPT or STEM OPT Extensions and Makes Online Filing...

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

Seyfarth Synopsis: In its continued efforts to increase efficiency and reduce burdens to the overall immigration system, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the expansion of premium processing for...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

USCIS Expands Premium Processing for Certain F-1 Students

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,... on

On March 6, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced “the expansion of premium processing for certain F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) and F-1 students seeking science,...more

Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP

Premium Processing Available for Certain F-1 EAD Applications

Gibney Anthony & Flaherty, LLP on

OVERVIEW As previously forecasted, USCIS has now expanded premium processing service to I-765, Applications for Employment Authorization, filed by certain F-1 students seeing work authorization in connection with Optional...more

Roetzel & Andress

Think Early: How to Prepare for This Year’s New H-1B Filing Season

Roetzel & Andress on

With a shortage of workers in many sectors of the U.S. professional labor market, employers continue to seek qualified candidates among the non-U.S.-citizen population, including recent graduates of U.S. colleges. ...more

CDF Labor Law LLP

FY 2024 H-1B Lottery Registration Period Opens March 1

CDF Labor Law LLP on

Employers who recently hired F-1 foreign students and wish to continue to employ them beyond the one or three years of Optional Practical Training employment authorization should contact immigration counsel and start making a...more

175 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 7
Next »

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
Sign up Log in
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide