USCIS published a final rule (the Final Rule) on January 31, 2024, increasing certain filing fees that went into effect on April 1, 2024....more
In addition to the increase in Premium Processing Fees already slated to become effective February 26, 2024, USCIS has announced filing fee increases for almost all other filings, with discounted fees in many cases for online...more
Now is the time to start planning your visa applications for the summer. In addition to reduced appointment availability in many countries due to limited operations and staffing, many nonimmigrant visa (NIV) application fees...more
As the holidays approach and you are considering traveling abroad, it's important to be mindful of the limited consular availability and need for a valid visa stamp to return to the U.S. (unless you're Canadian or traveling...more
Effective May 2, 2022, eligible noncitizen visitors traveling under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) through land ports of entry will no longer be required to complete a paper Form I-94W upon arrival and instead, as they have...more
It's that time of year again – H-1B CAP season! The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for H-1B CAP will open at noon Eastern on March 1, 2022 and will...more
President Trump has issued a new Proclamation that immediately extends to December 31, 2020 its April 22 suspension of certain immigrant visas (family categories other than spouse and children of citizens; employment...more
President Trump has issued a new Proclamation that immediately extends to December 31, 2020 its April 22 suspension of certain immigrant visas (family categories other than spouse and children of citizens; employment...more
Just as FY20's H-1B approved cap cases are reaching the October 1 effective date for their authorized period of employment, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds us that there are changes to the cap lottery...more
Spring is in the air, and H-1B excitement abounds. Now is the time to take stock of your H-1B needs for FY20, which begins on October 1, 2019. ...more
On May 10, 2018, the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) published a Policy Memorandum offering guidance in the calculation of unlawful presence for those in student (F), vocational student (M), or exchange visitor...more
This month: Targeted Site Visits and Restrictions on Computer Programmers in the H-1B Program; Plan B options if you don't win the H-1B lottery.
In the midst of the mad flurry of H-1B cap filings, United States...more
In the midst of the mad flurry of H-1B cap filings, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum that rescinds guidance on H-1B adjudication for certain computer-related positions from...more
Although you may not yet know whether your H-1B petition has been selected for processing under the FY2018 cap, it is never too early to think about alternatives and come up with a feasible Plan B. Now that premium...more
On October 24, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that increased fees for most immigration applications and petitions will be effective December 23, 2016. The fees will increase by an average of...more
For those renewing passports or visas to gear up for holiday travel, be sure to take those photos without your glasses! Effective December 1, 2016, Consular Affairs will no longer accept photographs of visa and passport...more
Canada has a new entry requirement. Effective March 15, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals must now have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to or transit through Canada. A result of the Perimeter Security and...more
The USCIS received more than 236,000 H-1B petitions during this year's FY2017 filing period for the annual supply of 85,000 new H-1B visas (65,000 for regular cap plus an additional 20,000 for workers with a U.S. master's...more
The Department of Labor (DOL) has announced that it will continue to accept emergency requests until midnight on April 29, 2016, for H-2B applications filed on or between April 2 and April 29, 2016. This extension is due to...more
USCIS has issued a new policy memorandum (PM) outlining relevant considerations in assessing whether a position qualifies as a “same or similar” occupation to the foreign national’s previously approved job for purposes of...more
As of November 19, 2015, the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) Chapter 9 “9 FAM” has been revised, rewritten, renumbered and relocated to 9 FAM-e on the Department of State website. This 9 FAM-e is now the authoritative source for...more
We previously provided an alert on the precedential decision Matter of Simeio Solutions, LLC and its holding that an H-1B amendment must be filed whenever a new Labor Condition Application (LCA) is required to change an H-1B...more
6/17/2015
/ Compliance ,
Filing Requirements ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
H-2B ,
H-4 Spouses ,
Immigration ,
Immigration Reform ,
LCA ,
Relocation ,
USCIS ,
Visas
Effective May 26, 2015, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin accepting work authorization for H-4 spouses of two groups of H-1B nonimmigrant workers: those who have an approved I-140 petition...more
Applications for the 2016 Diversity Visa Lottery are now being accepted and must be submitted electronically by noon, Eastern Standard Time, on Monday, November 3, 2014, to be considered. Each year, the United States...more
On Saturday, August 23, 2014, the Department of State dramatically announced that EB-5 visas (for immigrant investors) were no longer available for the remainder of the fiscal year for individuals from mainland China. This...more