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Visas Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) OPT

Follow this channel for insights, news, and commentary on a wide array of visa-related matters by leading immigration lawyers and law firms. Now more than ever; stay in the know.
Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

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

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

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

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

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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

Help! I have foreign national employees who were not selected in the H-1B registration lottery, what are their options?

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

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

Supreme Court Rejects Challenge to OPT Program for Foreign Students

The Supreme Court of the United States has declined to hear a challenge to a visa program that allows foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges and universities to work in the United States for up to three years. The...more

Littler

New Federal Lawsuit Against DHS Alleges APA Violations, Erroneous H-1B Visa Denials

Littler on

A lawsuit filed on August 10, 2023 against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleges that the agency violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. § 702, by exceeding its authority and determining that a...more

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

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

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

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

USCIS Expands Premium Processing for Certain F-1 Students

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

ArentFox Schiff

Time for Employers to Decide Who They Are Sponsoring for H-1B’s - Update

ArentFox Schiff on

It’s that time of year again when employers have to decide who they are sponsoring for an H-1B visa. What to Know - - The lottery registration period will be from noon EST on March 1, 2022 to noon EST on March 18, 2022,...more

Burr & Forman

So Your Employee Wasn’t Selected in the H-1B Lottery… Now What?

Burr & Forman on

On March 30, 2021, USCIS announced completion of the initial FY2022 H-1B Cap-Subject lottery selection process.  Beginning April 1st, those selected were eligible to start filing.  But what if your employee was not selected? ...more

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

USCIS Provides Filing Flexibility for International Student OPT Work Authorization Applications Affected by Service Delays

On February 26, 2021, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it was offering additional flexibility for international students affected by the delayed issuance of receipt notices for Form I-765,...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

New USCIS Flexibility Benefits For Foreign Students With OPT Work Authorization

Last week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced changes that will be good news for foreign students seeking Optional Practical Training in areas related to their major areas of study. First, the 14...more

Williams Mullen

New Electronic H-1B Registration Process Confirmed for Fiscal Year 2021

Williams Mullen on

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed it will utilize a new electronic registration system for the Fiscal Year 2021 H-1B lottery.  By way of background, the H-1B visa program allows companies in the United...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

H-1B Work Permit Filings: Will You Beat the Cap? (Updated)

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Seyfarth Synopsis: Employers should identify as soon as possible any current employees and employment candidates who may require H-1B work permit sponsorship before October 1, 2021, given that it is anticipated USCIS will...more

Dorsey & Whitney LLP

Litigation may be Key in Response to Rising Denials of Employment-Based Visas. What Strategies Should Employers Consider when...

Dorsey & Whitney LLP on

Many U.S. employers have recently experienced frustration over legal obstacles to keeping high quality foreign-national employees. These valuable employees have often been with the company since finishing a degree and...more

Carlton Fields

Employers Must Plan Ahead to Mitigate H-1B Visa Processing Delays

Carlton Fields on

The Trump Administration has passed no new immigration legislation or regulation. However, the administration’s stated focus on protecting the American worker, as articulated in its 2017 Buy American and Hire American...more

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

Return of Petitions Not Selected in the H-1B Lottery Triggers “Cap Gap” Considerations

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on May 3, 2017, that data entry for the FY2018 H-1B visa lottery has been completed and that petitions not accepted under the lottery selection process will...more

Mintz

Work and Travel Guidance for F-1 Students with Pending H-1B “Change of Status” Applications and “Cap-Gap” Employment Authorization

Mintz on

This advisory summarizes key travel and employment issues if you are an F-1 student with Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment eligibility valid to April 1, 2017 or later, and an H-1B filing on your behalf has been...more

Carlton Fields

What will U.S. Business Immigration Look Like Under A Trump Administration?

Carlton Fields on

More than 10 days have passed since the election results were revealed, and the United States now has a businessman as its president-elect ready to take office on January 20, 2017. However, despite his business background, it...more

Mintz - Immigration Viewpoints

A Preview of Business Immigration in 2016: OPT (Part 2/6)

From proposals to overhaul OPT to decreasing the number of H-1Bs, 2016 is already proving to be an interesting year for business immigration. In a series of posts, the Mintz Levin team will provide an overview of the cases,...more

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

F-1 Optional Practical Training Proposed Rule Released; Work Authorization Expanded for STEM Students

The long-awaited proposed rule on F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) was published in the Federal Register on October 19, 2015, by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The proposed rule is titled “Improving and...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

DHS Publishes STEM OPT Rule - Potential New Benefits and Requirements

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

On Monday, October 19, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published its eagerly anticipated STEM Optional Practical Training (“OPT”) rule in the Federal Register for a 30-day comment period ending on November...more

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