We Are Not Open For Business – the Death of the L-1B Visa Program
Our latest blog post. Please read the entire post at http://blog.kidambi.com.
L-1 Visa Program Lacks Consistency and USCIS Officers Require Training Concludes OIG Report
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (OIG) report on the L-1 visa program finds that Service guidance regarding specialized knowledge is not applied consistently and that more training at both CBP and USCIS is needed. For instance, the Report states this about the L-1B program: In our 2006 report Review of Vulnerabilities [...]
U.S. Embassy, India announces the expansion of the visa interview waiver program
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 [...]
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Letter on L-1B Program
In a significant letter, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce discusses industry experience in how the L-1B Program is administered by the Department of State.
USCIS Announces New Filing Option on Behalf of Canadian TN & L-1 Non-immigrants
Beginning October 1, 2012, USCIS will begin accepting the Form I-129, Petition for Non-immigrant Worker, filed on behalf of Canadian citizens who are outside the United States and seeking classification as a TN non-immigrant. New filing optionTN and L1
Charting H-1B users, as attention shifts to L-1
A news article from ComputerWorld reports that as H-1B visa use stagnates, experts say changes to less strict L-1 could bring U.S. job losses. For sure, the H-1B occupies the center of the workforce visa debate. But there has been little effort in Congress this term to change the H-1B cap, which remains at 85,000, [...]
New Proposed Rule Will Offer Longer L-1 Validity Periods based on Reciprocity Schedules
Why is the Department promulgating this rule? Current Department regulations require that L visa duration be limited to the validity period of the petition, which, under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, cannot exceed three years. Petitioners may apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for extension of petition validity in increments of up [...]
AAO Reverses L-1 Denial Based on Qualifying Relationship
The AAO reversed the L-1 petition denial and found the petitioner only needed to document that the transfer of ownership interest between the foreign entity and existing owner occurred, noting that USCIS's focus on the purchase price was misplaced. [Courtesy- AILA] AAO L1 reversal
H1B and L-1 Fee Increase with Immediate Effect (8/20/10)
On Aug. 13, 2010, President Obama signed into law Public Law 111-230, which contains provisions to increase certain H-1B and L-1 petition fees. Effective immediately, Public Law 111-230 requires the submission of an additional fee of $2,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $2,250 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions postmarked on or after Aug. 14, [...]
USCIS Removes Receipt Requirement for Certain H and L Adjustment Applicants Returning From a Trip Outside the United States
"This rule removes the requirement that certain H and L nonimmigrants returning to the United States following a trip abroad must present a receipt notice for their adjustment of status applications to avoid having such applications deemed abandoned. The purpose of this narrow change is to remove an unnecessary documentation requirement from the regulations that [...]