Starting April 3, 2017, USCIS will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions. This suspension may last up to 6 months. https://www.uscis.gov/news/alerts/uscis-will-temporarily-suspend-premium-processing-all-h-1b-petitions
We have been receiving USCIS I-797 Notices of Approval for H-1B that is annotated "1B1". The USCIS California Service Center (CSC) has confirmed that this was a technical error that has now been resolved, and that USCIS will reprint corrected approval notices. Amended notices that reflect the H-1B designation will be mailed this week, and [...]
USCIS has released an updated Handbook for Employers, Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification form) rev. 1/22/17
In the backdrop of the Executive Orders and H.R. 670 (H.R.670 - High-Skilled Integrity and Fairness Act of 2017), we have received several questions over the past few weeks regarding the filing of H-1B Petitions for this fiscal year (April 1, 2017). Several of you want to know if salaries are going to spike for [...]
White house press secretary Sean Spicer was just responding to a direct question on whether the President is likely to issue an Executive Order on the H-1B visa. Here's his response: With respect to h1bs and other visas, it is part of a larger immigration reform effort that the President will continue to talk about [...]
USCIS has published a final rule to modernize and improve several aspects of certain employment-based nonimmigrant and immigrant visa programs. USCIS has also amended regulations to better enable U.S. employers to hire and retain certain foreign workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions and are waiting to become lawful permanent residents. This [...]
USCIS provides an updated M-1053, E-Verify User Manual for Corporate Administrators which provides guidance on E-Verify processes and outlines the rules and responsibilities for corporate administrators enrolled in E-Verify. Read the updated E-Verify User Manual
USCIS published a Fee Increase schedule in the Federal Register today. Applications and petitions mailed, postmarked, or otherwise filed on or after 12/23/16 must include new fee. (81 FR 73292, 10/24/16) USCIS Fee Schedule (pdf) A few important Forms and the corresponding fee increases are listed below: Form From To I-129 $325.00 $460.00 I-539 [...]
On February 26, 2015, USCIS hosted a teleconference about new regulatory changes, effective May 26, 2015, that extended eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of certain H-1B nonimmigrants who have already started the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status. Those eligible include H-4 dependent spouses of principal H-1B nonimmigrants [...]
The USCIS has created the Known Employer pilot to assess a way to streamline the process for employers seeking to hire certain workers through employment-based visa categories. By modifying the process by which USCIS reviews an employer’s eligibility to sponsor individuals under certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa classifications, the Known Employer pilot is expected to [...]