On Monday, September 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of State (DOS), working in close collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced publicly that all available immigrant visas in the...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Consular Affairs announced that the online registration period for the 2025 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program (DV Program), also known as the Green Card Lottery, will begin on...more
On June 28, 2023, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a new self-service tool allowing benefit requestors and their attorneys and accredited representatives to reschedule most biometric appointments...more
On March 27, 2023, USCIS received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the FY 2024 H-1B numerical allocations (H-1B cap), including the advanced degree exemption, also known as the...more
On December 19, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released information regarding nonimmigrant workers whose employment is terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily. USCIS indicated that...more
12/28/2022
/ Corporate Counsel ,
Expedited Actions Process ,
Foreign Workers ,
Grace Period ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Portability ,
Stays ,
Termination ,
USCIS ,
Visas
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced the opening of the registration period for the DV-2024 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program enables foreign nationals to apply for...more
On August 23, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 65,000 H-1B regular cap and the 20,000 H-1B...more
We previously alerted our readership in May 2022 that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) was implementing premium processing for certain I-140 petitions in the EB-1 and EB-2 categories. The...more
On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USICS) announced that it had received enough electronic registrations during the initial registration period to reach the fiscal year (FY) 2023 H-1B...more
On June 9, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued new policy updates to the USCIS Policy Manual that will clarify the criteria and circumstances for expedited processing; improve the existing request...more
On May 13, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will temporarily suspend the biometrics requirements for certain I-539 applicants for a two-year period beginning on May 17, 2021. ...more
5/18/2021
/ Biometric Information ,
Foreign Nationals ,
H-4 ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
L-2 Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications ,
Visas
On Friday, April 30, 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed that there will be new travel restrictions from India. Specifically, the United States will restrict travel from India starting Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at 12:01 a.m....more
5/4/2021
/ Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Green Cards ,
Immigrants ,
India ,
Infectious Diseases ,
International Travel ,
National Interest Waiver ,
Public Health ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Travel Restrictions ,
Traveling Employee
On April 27, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new policy guidance, to take effect immediately, to address the issue of deference to prior approvals when adjudicating a request for an...more
On Wednesday, February 24, 2021, President Joe Biden issued a proclamation revoking the Trump administration’s orders preventing foreign nationals from moving to the United States on new permanent resident cards (or “green...more
On February 24, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that E-3 visa petitions will now be eligible for premium processing. Beginning on February 24, 2021, petitioners filing Form I-129, Petition...more
As we approach April 1, 2021, employers should be aware of the ever-changing policies and procedures surrounding their requirements to complete the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 (and E-Verify if they have...more
On Friday, February 5, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that the initial registration period for the FY2022 H-1B Cap Lottery will begin on March 9, 2021. ...more
2/9/2021
/ E-2 ,
F-1 Visa ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
Highly-Skilled Workers Visa ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
J-1 Visas ,
L-1 Visas ,
OPT ,
USCIS ,
Visa Caps ,
Visas
On Thursday, January 28, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will be extending deadlines for responding to specific requests from the agency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ...more
2/2/2021
/ Administrative Proceedings ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Filing Deadlines ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Notice of Intent ,
Relief Measures ,
Requests for Evidence ,
USCIS ,
Visa Applications
On Friday, October 16, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will increase fees for premium processing, to take effect Monday, October 19, 2020, as required by the Continuing Appropriations...more
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has announced the opening of the registration period for the 2022 Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. The Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery Program enables foreign nationals to apply for permanent...more
On August 3, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued a Final Rule that alters the USCIS filing Fee Schedule. On average, the filing fees were increased overall by approximately 20%....more
9/9/2020
/ Filing Fees ,
Foreign Workers ,
Form I-140 Petitions ,
Form I-765 ,
H-1B ,
I-129 ,
I-485 Applications ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
Immigration Reform ,
L-1 Visas ,
Naturalization ,
Required Forms ,
USCIS ,
Visas
On June 22, 2020, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation continuing Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020, and suspending and limiting the entry of any individual seeking entry into the U.S. in any of the following...more
6/24/2020
/ Foreign Nationals ,
Foreign Workers ,
H-1B ,
H-2B ,
Immigrants ,
Immigration Procedures ,
J-1 Visas ,
L-1 Visas ,
Non-Immigrant Visas ,
Trump Administration ,
Visas
On May 29, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will resume offering premium processing services for cases involving Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and Form I-140,...more
President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation temporarily suspending entry into the United States of certain categories of immigrants (i.e. those seeking permanent residence)....more
On Tuesday March 17, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a statement indicating that the agency will be canceling all face-to-face appointments, interviews, and events, including asylum interviews...more