Kidambi & Associates would like to congratulate and recognize Attorney Joseph Hohenstein for his excellent work on this case, MANTENA v. Johnson, Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit 2015. The court held that USCIS is required by the portability provisions to give pre-revocation notice to the beneficiary or to the successor employer that it is revoking [...]
A draft version of a revised form I-765, application for employment authorization has been released.
On 12/18/15, the President signed into law the omnibus appropriations bill for 2016. Highlights of Business Immigration Provisions of the Act: The bill extends the EB-5, Conrad 30, Special Immigrant Religious Workers, and E-Verify programs through the end of FY2016. Fee Increase: It also includes the following changes to the currently expired H-1B/L-1 fees for [...]
After employer failed to provide dated website postings and the text of the radio ad, BALCA held that screenshots are "dated copies" and that an audio recording and contract from the radio station confirming when the ad ran was sufficient. (Matter of Waldorf School of Orange County, 11/6/15). Read the BALCA decision.
BALCA determined that employer verified sponsorship upon signing the statement certifying the conditions of employment on the mailed-in application. The application was remanded to CO for further processing on the merits of the application. (Matter of La Hacienda Meat Market, Inc., 11/4/15). Read the Balca decision here.
Denial affirmed where prevailing wage validity period on 9089 was less than 90 days. Validity was actually "90 days from date of determination" but dates were entered incorrectly on 9089. (Matter of Guilbert Tex, Inc., 10/14/15). Read the Balca decision here.
BALCA affirmed denial where the company president's name but not employer’s name was on the NOF. Rejecting the employer's harmless error argument, BALCA said persons providing information to the CO need the employer name as it appears on Form 9089. (Matter of G.O.T. Supply, Inc., 10/6/15). Read the Balca decision here.
The USCIS released this update this morning: H-1B and L-1 petitions filed on or after Oct. 1, 2015, should not include the additional fee that was previously required by Section 402 of Public Law 111-230, as amended by Public Law 111-347, for certain H-1B and L-1 petitions. The additional fee required by Public Law 111-230, [...]
Q. Why is the new (October) Visa Bulletin different? A. The visa modernization initiative announced by President Obama last year is the reason for this change. As part of this initiative, the USCIS and Department of State have formulated a process of determining visa eligibility. Q. Why are there two grids with dates on the [...]
USCIS announced this today. Beginning July 13, 2015, USCIS will resume accepting Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for all Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, H-1B extension of stay petitions. Premium processing requests for Form I-129 H-1B extension of stay petitions received by USCIS before July 13, 2015 will be rejected. We [...]