If an H-1B petition filed on your behalf did not make the 'Random Selection Process', you have certain options. If you are currently in F-1 status with an OPT, students in STEM programs could immediately apply for a 17-months extension of Optional Practical Training. A. Eligibility for STEM extension: The student must have a bachelor's, [...]
DHS issued advance copies of two proposed rules for foreign high-skilled workers, including a rule that would extend the availability of employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of principal H-1B nonimmigrants and a rule to update the regulations for H-1B1, CW-1, E-3 nonimmigrants, and EB-1 immigrants. Courtesy - AILA. Read the proposed rule to [...]
As part of the Administration’s continuing commitment to attract and retain highly skilled immigrants, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced the publication of two proposed rules, including a rule to extend employment authorization to spouses of certain H-1B workers, and a proposal to enhance opportunities for certain groups of highly-skilled workers by removing [...]
In January 2012, the Department of State introduced a two-year visa interview waiver pilot program. This pilot program was one of the cornerstones of President Obama’s initiative to improve and speed up the visa process for certain categories of travelers to the U.S. This pilot program has now been made permanent. According to new 9 [...]
ICE press release on $34 million settlement agreement involving Infosys, an Indian consulting, technology and outsourcing company alleged to have committed systemic H-1B and B-1 visa fraud and abuse of immigration processes and also agreed to enhanced corporate compliance measures. Read the article on Infosys Settlement Agreement.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today published a revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 for use. All employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each employee hired in the United States. Improvements to Form I-9 include new fields, reformatting to reduce errors, and clearer instructions to both employees and employers. The Department [...]
BALCA reversed the denial, finding that the CO ignored the employer's experience requirements stated in Item H-14 and incorrectly interpreted the alternative education requirements as alternative employment requirements. (Matter of General Electric Co., 1/22/13) Read the BALCA decision. [Courtesy - AILA]
The U.S. Embassy, New Delhi, India announced the expansion of the visa interview waiver program. This will allow certain Non Immigrant Visa applicants seeking to renew a visa that expired within the last 48 months to obtain a Visa without an interview. The program streamlines processing for the following: Under the current Interview Waiver [...]
BALCA held that where a resume showed a broad range of experience, training and education, the employer had a duty to investigate the applicant given its willingness to accept a "combination of education, training, or experience." Applicant's qualifications(pdf). [Courtesy - AILA]
The Internal Revenue Service announced important interim changes to strengthen its procedures for issuing Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) from now through the end of the year. Designed specifically for tax-administration purposes, ITINs are only issued to people who are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number. Read the news release. 2012 ITIN [...]