NEWS
H-1B
USCIS H-1B Registration Ends
The USCIS Registration for CAP subject H-1Bs ends at noon ET today. Registration Selection Notifications As stated on the USCIS website, the Service intends to notify registrants and their representatives with selected registrations via their USCIS online accounts no later than March 31, 2020. April 1st will be the earliest a selected petition [...]
Form I-9, Employment Verification During COVID-19
DHS Announces Flexibility in Requirements Related to Form I-9 Compliance Due to precautions being implemented by employers and employees related to physical proximity associated with COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it will exercise discretion to defer the physical presence requirements associated with Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) [...]
Reminder: USCIS H-1B Registration Closes at Noon (ET), March 20
USCIS H-1B Registration Closes at Noon (ET), March 20. Other Key Dates: March 1: H-1B registration period opens at noon ET. March 20: H-1B registration period closes at noon ET. March 31: Date by which USCIS intends to notify selected registrants. April 1: The earliest date that FY 2021 H-1B cap-subject petitions may [...]
USCIS Announces Temporary Suspension of Premium Processing for FY2021 Cap-Subject Petitions
USCIS announced the temporary suspension of premium processing service for FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions. Petitioners filing FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions will not be able to request premium processing when USCIS begins accepting cap-subject petitions on April 1. Until premium processing resumes for FY 2021 cap-subject H-1B petitions, USCIS will reject any [...]
2020 H-1B Cap FAQ Webinar
“It is great to see such excellence in US immigration services and all credits to Vaman for the best orchestration on every webinar! It was fantastic! I’m proud to be associated with Attorney Vaman Kidambi, and his firm/team. ” This informative webinar was the second one hosted by Kidambi & Associates that [...]
USCIS Announces H-1B Registration Account Creation
USCIS announced the implementation of electronic registration process for the FY 2021 H-1B cap. Prospective petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions, including those filing for beneficiaries eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register with USCIS. Submitting an H-1B registration requires a USCIS online account. The appropriate type depends on [...]
2020 H-1B Cap Webinar
"Excellent Vaman! The information provided was detail, and brings a in depth awareness for employers in filing H-1B and its impacts!. Always, you and your team are great at what you do! Thank you once again." Our webinar on the H-1B CAP was a great success! The attendees found it very informative. [...]
Quick Reference Guide to Some Important Forms and Fee Increases for H-1B Employers
We have compiled a Quick Reference Guide to Some Important Forms and Fee Increases for H-1B Employers.
The IOWA Caucus Fiasco May Have Lessons For H-1B CAP Registration
In order to be proactive and ensure H-1B CAP petitions are filed on time and with the least amount of disruption, it may be prudent and certainly proactive to commence processing of H-1B petitions as in previous years. I believe it is better to be prepared than find oneself in a situation like the Democrats did in Iowa on Monday night
USCIS Data on Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker Receipts, Completions, and RFEs from FY 2015-2020
USCIS has compiled data on receipts, completions, RFEs from FY2015 to FY2020 for various employment-based non-immigrant visa categories. Read the statistics here.
USCIS Notice of Implementation of H-1B Registration Process for FY2021
USCIS published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the implementation of the registration process for H-1B cap-subject petitions for FY2021. The initial H-1B petition registration period will begin on 3/1/20. USCIS intends to close the initial registration period on 3/20/20 and will announce the actual end date on its website. (85 FR [...]
USCIS Announces Implementation of H-1B Electronic Registration Process for Fiscal Year 2021 Cap Season
USCIS announced that it has completed a successful pilot testing phase and is implementing the registration process in the next H-1B lottery. Employers seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions for the fiscal year 2021 cap, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, must first electronically register and pay the associated $10 H-1B [...]
USCIS Implements $10 Fee for H-1B Visa Registration
USCIS today announced a final rule that will require a $10 non-refundable fee for each H-1B registration submitted by petitioning employers, once it implements the electronic registration system. The final rule, Registration Fee Requirement for Petitioners Seeking to File H-1B Petitions on Behalf of Cap-Subject Aliens, is effective Dec. 9, 2019, and the [...]
DOL Statistics on H-1Bs from Fourth Quarter FY2019
DOL OFLC posted H-1B program statistics as of 9/30/19.
USCIS Adjusting Premium Processing Fee
USCIS announced beginning on Nov. 29, it is adjusting the fee to request premium processing for certain employment-based petitions. The premium processing fee will increase to $1,440 from the current fee of $1,410 for Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, and Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker.
USCIS Announces E-Verify Records Disposal
USCIS announced that on January 2, 2020, it will dispose E-Verify records that are older than 10 years, or dated on or before December 31, 2009. E-Verify employers have until December 31, 2019, to download case information from the Historic Records Report. For more information, please see the I-9 central page.
USCIS 30-Day Extension of Comment Period on Proposed Revisions to the Electronic H-1B Registration Tool
USCIS 30-day extension of a comment period originally announced at 84 FR 30757 on proposed revisions to the electronic H-1B registration tool. Comments are now due 11/8/19. (84 FR 54159, 10/9/19).
USCIS Releases Data on Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker Receipts, Completions, and RFEs
USCIS data on receipts, completions, and RFEs from FY2015 to FY2019 (through 9/30/19) for various employment-based non-immigrant visa categories, including H-1B.
ICE Updates Policy for OPT Students – How to Determine if Employment is in a “Major Area of Study”
On September 27, 2019, Immigration and Customs Enforcement updated and provided policy guidance on how to determine whether a student’s practical training is in an area “directly related” to the student’s major area of study. This is in keeping with the regulations at 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(ii)(A) and is applicable to both CPT and [...]
What to Know and How to Prepare for STEM-OPT Employer Site Visits
In a new development, DHS/Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) has commenced site visits to employer locations that train STEM OPT students. This program began about 12 days ago, and clients have started reporting site visits to verify STEM OPT related information. Advance Notice to Employers: According to the Study in the States website maintained [...]