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 [...]
ALERT: Effective May 10, 2016, DHS is amending its F-1 nonimmigrant student visa regulations on optional practical training (OPT) for certain students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from U.S. institutions of higher education. Such F-1 students who have elected to pursue 12 months of post-completion OPT in the United States may [...]
As of April 13, 2016, USCIS revised Form N-400, Application for Naturalization. The revised version is available at uscis.gov/n-400. You may continue to use the 9/13/13 edition of the form until August 9, 2016. USCIS reject and return previous versions of Form N-400 submitted on or after August 10, 2016.
On 3/11/16, DHS published a final rule on the OPT program for students in STEM fields. The new STEM OPT extension is a 24-month period of temporary training and replaces the 17-month STEM OPT extension, and takes effect on 5/10/16. SEVP will host a live webinar on April 14, 2016 from 2 to 3 p.m. [...]
The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) released a STEM OPT hub page on the Study in the States website, to help school officials, students, and employers understand the new DHS final rule on OPT for F-1 students. The website includes a transition plan and training plan, as well as FAQs. Form I-983, Training [...]
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 Department of Homeland Security is issuing a final rule that will allow certain foreign students with science, technology, math, or engineering (STEM) degrees to extend their optional practical training or "OPT" period by 2 years, on top of the 1 year already allowed for graduates in all fields. The rule is scheduled to go [...]
DHS released the final version of the revised STEM optional practical training (OPT) rule today. It will go into effect on May 10th. The final rule will allow F-1 STEM OPT extensions of up to 24 months, replacing the current rule that allows for only 17-month extensions. The rule also includes the “Cap-Gap” relief for [...]