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
It's that time of year again: H-1B CAP season! The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) initial registration period for H-1B CAP will open at 12 p.m. ET on March 1 and run through 12 p.m. ET on March 17, 2023....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 November 19, 2018, the Department of Labor (DOL) implemented amendments to its attestation-based Labor Condition Application Form ETA 9035/9035E, which is a prerequisite filing by employers sponsoring workers in the H-1B,...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
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
On March 11, 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published its final rule on enhancements to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program for F-1 international students in science, technology, engineering...more
H-1B Cap season is approaching, and, with a similar flurry to file petitions for eligible specialized knowledge workers expected for April 1 as we experienced in 2015, H-1B employers should carefully consider the obligations...more
On December 31, 2015, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register in furtherance of President Obama’s executive action to modernize, improve and clarify certain...more
In a recent meeting between the Verification and Document Liaison Committee within American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and USCIS’s Verification Division and ICE Homeland Security Investigations, further guidance...more
Where is the Foreign Affairs Manual?
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...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
If you filed an H-1B petition that did not get accepted for processing under the FY2016 Cap, you are not alone. This year a record number of 233,000 petitions were filed in a mad scramble for the annual supply of 85,000 new...more
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
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published an Interim Policy Memorandum (PM-602-0097) on June 6, 2014, supplementing Chapter 21.2(e) of the Adjudicator’s Field Manual regarding exercising discretion...more
The H-1B CAP season has come to a close and both employers and employees now anxiously await confirmation that their filings have been accepted for processing. The statutory cap of 65,000, as well as the 20,000 cap under the...more
Snapshots of both big picture and meaningful small-scale developments in the world of immigration.
This month: a technology giant's hefty immigration fine and its implications, an improved interactive website for...more
11/13/2013
/ B-1 ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Fines ,
Fraud ,
H-1B ,
India ,
Infosys ,
Layoffs ,
PERM ,
USCIS ,
Visas