USCIS Q&As, updated 3/29/12, on post-completion optional practical training (OPT) and F-1 status under cap-gap regulations that permit the automatic extension of F-1 student status for certain students with pending or approved H-1B petitions. Extension of OPT and Cap-Gap regulations
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, [...]
Department of Labor publishes revised Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 Programs.
On Jan. 8, 2010, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued updated guidance to adjudication officers to clarify what constitutes a valid employer-employee relationship to qualify for the H-1B ‘specialty occupation’ classification. This was updated on March 12, 2012. Read the revised and updated Q&A on Employer-employee relationship.
This memorandum provides instruction to Immigration Service Officers who adjudicate R-1 nonimmigrant petitions for aliens who are coming to the United States temporarily to perform religious work, and their dependents. This memorandum outlines the procedure to be used for recapturing time spent outside the United States by R-1 nonimmigrants when seeking an extension of their [...]
Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE) is a tool designed to enhance USCIS's adjudications of certain employment-based immigration petitions. Questions and Answers about VIBE
Validation Instrument for Business Enterprises (VIBE) is a Web-based adjudication tool used by USCIS to validate basic information about companies or organizations petitioning to employ certain alien workers. When a company or business is not found on VIBE, it may result in an Request for Evidence (RFE) Dun & Bradstreet (D&B), launched the process on [...]
During the entire Green Card process, the Priority Date (PD) assumes special significance. It is this date that is used to determine when an applicant may file for Adjustment and finally adjudication to become a permanent resident. In PERM based Green Card applications, the PD is the date on which the PERM Application (FORM ETA [...]
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 [...]
This office participated in an AILA survey for the AILA/Department of State Liaison Committee for an upcoming meeting with DOS. The submission through this survey is not meant for individual case resolution, but rather is being used for an overall tracking of emerging problems and/or trends. We see definite problems with visa issuance at posts, [...]