USCIS Releases Data on H-1B Receipts, Completions, and RFEs
USCIS releases data on H-1B receipts, completions, and RFE from FY2015 to FY2019 (through 3/31/19).
USCIS Will Begin Premium Processing for Remaining H-1B Cap-Subject Petitions on June 10, 2019
USCIS will begin premium processing for all remaining FY2020 H-1B cap-subject petitions on 6/10/19. Petitioners may file a Request for Premium Processing Service, with the USCIS service center processing their petition on that date. USCIS will not use pre-paid mailers between 6/10/19 and 6/24/19. Read the news release.
HandiCAPping Anyone? Making Sense of the H-1B Random Selection Process
On May 17th, the USCIS announced it had completed data entry for all fiscal year 2020 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected in the computer-generated random selection process, including those selected under the U.S. advanced degree exemption. Now, the Service will begin returning all H-1B cap-subject petitions that were not selected. This process usually takes approximately 8-14 [...]
USCIS Announces TSC to Begin Accepting Certain Forms I-129
USCIS announced that on 5/20/19, the Texas Service Center (TSC) will begin processing Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, for certain H-1B cap-exempt petition. Read the news release.
USCIS Completes Data Entry of FY2020 H‑1B Cap-Subject Petitions
Today, USCIS announced that it had completed data entry for all FY2020 H‑1B cap-subject petitions selected in the computer-generated random selection process, including those selected under the U.S. advanced degree exemption. USCIS will now begin returning unselected petitions. Additionally, USCIS may transfer some Form I‑129 H‑1B cap-subject petitions between the Vermont and California Service Centers.
White House Issues Memo on Combating High Non-immigrant Overstay Rates
The White House issued a memo on combating high non-immigrant visa overstay rates. Among other things, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the AG and Secretary of Homeland Security, shall provide recommendations of actions to take to reduce nonimmigrant overstay rates from certain countries. Clients should take particular note of the fact that [...]
USCIS Will Begin Premium Processing for Certain FY2020 Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions on May 20, 2019
Premium processing for FY2020 cap-subject H-1B petitioners requesting a change of status on Form I-129 will begin on 5/20/19. For all other FY2020 H-1B cap-subject petitions, it will begin in June 2019 or later. From 5/20/19 until 6/3/19, final notices will not be sent using prepaid mailers. Read the USCIS news release. [...]
USCIS Completes the H-1B Cap Random Selection Process for FY 2020
On April 10, USCIS used a computer-generated random selection process to select enough H-1B petitions to meet the congressionally-mandated regular cap and the U.S. advanced degree exemption for fiscal year (FY) 2020. After completing the random selection process for the regular cap, USCIS also determined that it has received a number of petitions projected as [...]
Uptick in Site Visit and NOID/NOIR Activity
We have received credible reports from clients and other practitioners that the number of site visits targeting Consulting companies has increased significantly in the past several weeks. Employees should be made aware that site inspectors could call on them at the end client site unannounced. When this happens, employees must politely ask to see the [...]
USCIS Reaches FY 2020 H-1B Regular Cap
USCIS has received a sufficient number of petitions projected as needed to reach the congressionally-mandated 65,000 H-1B visa regular cap for fiscal year 2020. USCIS will next determine if they have received a sufficient number of petitions to meet the 20,000 H-1B visa U.S. advanced degree exemption, known as the master’s cap. The agency [...]