News & Analysis as of

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Non-Immigrant Visas

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 -
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

Dickinson Wright

Healthcare in Crisis: Exploring Immigration as a Vital Solution for the United States

Dickinson Wright on

Previously published in Healthcare News and Healthcare Michigan. A recent commentary offers a stark glimpse into future healthcare demands (Harris & Marshall, 2024). During the first two years of the pandemic, the U.S....more

Womble Bond Dickinson

What Is President Biden’s Affirmative Relief Announcement?

Womble Bond Dickinson on

On June 18, 2024, President Biden announced new pathways to legal immigration status for two groups: college-educated “Dreamers” and certain American family units....more

Hinshaw & Culbertson - Employment Law...

Two Executive Actions by Biden Administration Seek to Provide Relief to Immigrant Families and Job-Seeking Dreamers

Yesterday, the Biden Administration announced a new immigration program in the United States aimed at promoting family unity. The program will allow some undocumented spouses and undocumented children of U.S. citizens to...more

Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP

Not Selected in the H-1B Visa Lottery? There are Nonimmigrant Visa Options to Consider

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

Dickinson Wright

USCIS Fee Rule Update: Avoiding Filing Rejections

Dickinson Wright on

The Final Rule published by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjusting certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees went into effect on April 1, 2024. This Final Rule included the...more

Dickinson Wright

The Stealth I-94 Dilemma – Determining Work Authorization Validity

Dickinson Wright on

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

Laner Muchin, Ltd.

Government Filing Fee Increases are Coming for Many Employment-Based Visa Categories

Laner Muchin, Ltd. on

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will be raising the filing fee amounts for many employment-based nonimmigrant visa categories, effective April 1, 2024....more

Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig PLLC

The New H-1B Visa Landscape: Opportunities And Changes In 2024

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

Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

H-1B Cap FY 2025 - What You Need to Know

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday key changes to the H-1B lottery for Fiscal Year 2025, including a beneficiary-centric selection process for H–1B registrations; start-date flexibility for certain...more

Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

USCIS Increasing Fees for Immigration Applications on April 1

The Department of Homeland Security published a final rule Jan. 31 adjusting the filing fees for applications for immigration benefits submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). For most application types...more

Dickinson Wright

USCIS Fee Hikes Effective April 1 – 4 Key Takeaways for Employers

Dickinson Wright on

On January 31, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Final Rule to announce new filing fees for immigration and naturalization benefit requests. The rule is set to take effect on April 1, 2024....more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

H-1B Update: New Rule Focuses on Beneficiary-Centric Improvements

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

USCIS published its Improving the H-1B Registration Selection Process and Program Integrity final rule on Feb. 2, 2024. The new final rule has three basic categories: creating a beneficiary-centric selection process,...more

Holland & Hart - Employers' Lawyers

Navigating USCIS Policy Updates on Extensions of Stay and Change of Status Requests

On January 24, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced significant changes regarding untimely filed requests for change of status or extension of stay for nonimmigrants, particularly under...more

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

USCIS Updates Policy on Untimely Filed Extensions of Stay and Change of Status Applications

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its policy manual to clarify the circumstances under which the agency, in its discretion, may forgive a failure to timely file a nonimmigrant extension of stay or...more

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

USCIS Will Launch Organizational Accounts in February 2024

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced plans to introduce organizational accounts for H-1B fiscal year (FY) 2025 cap filings, H-1B non-cap filings, and associated premium processing requests on...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

USCIS Final Rule Increasing Filing Fees Expected Soon

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

USCIS previously deferred its proposed filing fee increase until early 2024 – and the increase might be coming out very soon! This increase will come on top of the increased premium processing fees that will go into effect on...more

Stevens & Lee

H-1B Fiscal Year 2024 Cap Reached and What’s Next for Fiscal Year 2025

Stevens & Lee on

On December 13, 2023, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it reached the requisite number of H-1B Cap petitions and stopped making further selections for Fiscal Year 2024. Fiscal...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

USCIS Clarifies Policy Guidance for International Students in F, M Status

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has changed its policy manual to make it easier to find and understand all the regulations regarding nonimmigrant students in F and M status. The new guidance consolidates...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Department of State Announces Pilot Program for Stateside Processing of Nonimmigrant Visas

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

The Department of State (DOS) will begin a pilot program for issuing nonimmigrant visas inside the United States on Jan. 29, 2024. The pilot program will be available to a narrowly defined class of nonimmigrants for a limited...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Fees for Premium Processing to increase starting February 26

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced that fees will increase for all requests for Premium Processing. The increases will apply to all requests for premium processing that are postmarked on or after...more

Cozen O'Connor

Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas in the United States

Cozen O'Connor on

The Department of State announced last month that it would unveil a domestic visa renewal pilot program for some H-1B holders. Currently, all visa holders are required to travel to consulates abroad to renew the visa stamps...more

Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP

New Year, New H-1B Visa Updates

The H-1B visa, highly sought after and a valuable route for foreign nationals to ultimately pursue U.S. residence status, will become available for pre-registrations in the lottery submission process in March 2024. We await...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Pilot program for domestic renewal of H-1B visas will go live on January 29

On December 21, the U.S. Department of State issued regulations with details of its pilot program for issuance of renewed H-1B visa stamps in the United States. The pilot program eliminates the need for applicants to obtain...more

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

USCIS Issues New Guidance on F and M Student Visa Classifications

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

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