NEWS
July 2022 Visa Bulletin
July 2022 Visa Bulletin is now available. For Family-Sponsored Filings: For all family-sponsored preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for July 2022. For Employment-Based Preference Filings: For all [...]
June 2022 Visa Bulletin
June 2022 Visa Bulletin is now available. USCIS determined that for June 2022, all family-sponsored preference categories must use the Dates for Filing chart. All employment-based preference categories must use the Final Action chart.
USCIS Increases Automatic Extension Period of Work Permits for Certain Applicants
WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that increases the automatic extension period for employment authorization and Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), available to certain EAD renewal applicants, to up to 540 days. The increase, which will be effective [...]
USCIS Service Center Expands Credit Card Payment Pilot Program to All Forms
As part of USCIS’ credit card payment pilot program, the USCIS service centers are now accepting credit card payments using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions, for all forms. The goal of this pilot is to bring USCIS one [...]
Reminder: DHS To End COVID-19 Temporary Policy for Expired List B Identity Documents
DHS is ending the COVID-19 Temporary Policy for List B Identity Documents. Beginning May 1, Employers will no longer be able to accept expired List B documents. DHS adopted the temporary policy in response to the difficulties many individuals experienced [...]
May 2022 Visa Bulletin
May 2022 Visa Bulletin is now available. For all employment-based preference categories, you must use the Dates for Filing chart in the Department of State Visa Bulletin for May 2022.
7 Things to Know About the H-1B CAP
The registration process for the H-1B FY2022 lottery begins shortly, and we have some tips and general guidelines for those looking to file this year. Our office is happy to assist you with these filings at no charge (except the [...]
5 Ways of Improving Your Chances of Filing a Successful H-1B CAP Petition
In 2020 the USCIS implemented a new electronic H-1B CAP registration process. What was once a painstaking process of filing entire petitions with filing fee checks (not to mention legal expenses), has now been simplified. In this linked in immigration [...]
“Remember who you are!” A Nation in Need of Knowing its History
In this blog post, AILA member Vaman Kidambi shares insights into the new USCIS mission statement and how it recognizes and honors our nation's diversity; he also highlights the important work of the American Immigration Council's Center for Inclusions and [...]
How To Create a myUSCIS Account for H-1B CAP Electronic Registration
Prospective H-1B cap-subject petitioners or their representatives are required to use a myUSCIS online account to register each beneficiary electronically for the selection process and pay the associated $10 H-1B registration fee for each registration submitted on behalf of each [...]
H-1B CAP REGISTRATION STARTS MARCH 1ST
FY 2023 H-1B Cap Initial Registration Period Opens on March 1 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that the initial registration period for the fiscal year 2023 H-1B cap will open at noon Eastern on March 1 and run through [...]
USCIS Updates Guidance on National Interest Waivers
USCIS announced updated guidance on adjudicating requests for “National Interest Waivers” regarding job offer and labor certification requirements for certain advanced degree professionals and individuals of exceptional ability. This includes discussing the unique considerations for persons with advanced degrees in [...]
Opportunity for Academic Training Extensions for J-1 College and University Students in STEM Fields
The Directorate of Private Sector Exchange (Private Sector) is announcing an initiative for College and University Student-category exchange visitors participating in academic training in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This opportunity is in response to the [...]
USCIS Issues Policy Alert for O-1 Nonimmigrant Status for Persons of Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
USCIS is issuing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how USCIS evaluates evidence to determine eligibility for O-1A nonimmigrants of extraordinary ability, with a focus on persons in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) fields, as well [...]
2022-Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
Health and Human Services (HHS) notice providing the annual update of the HHS poverty guidelines to account for last calendar year’s increase in prices as measured by the Consumer Price Index, effective 1/12/22. (87 FR 3315, 1/21/22)
USCIS Announces Exceptionally High Number of Employment-Based Visas Available in FY2022
USCIS updated its website to note that there are an exceptionally high number of employment-based visas available this fiscal year, October 2021 to September 2022. There are many more visas available in the first and second employment-based categories than AOS [...]
USCIS Provides Updated Criteria for Determining If a Case Warrants Expedited Treatment
USCIS has updated the USCIS Policy Manual to reflect new guidance on how they determine whether a case warrants expedited treatment. The new guidance is effective immediately. This update: Clarifies the criteria and circumstances under which we generally consider expedite [...]
December 2021 Visa bulletin filing table and additional H-1B CAP selection
Visa Bulletin for December https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-for-december-2021.html For Family-Sponsored Filings: In the F2A category, there is a cutoff date on the Dates for Filing chart. However, the category is “current” on the Final Action Dates chart. This means that applicants in the [...]
USCIS Releases Policy changes for Employment Authorization for Certain H-4, E, and L Non immigrant Dependent Spouses
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address automatic extension of employment authorization for certain H-4, E, and L nonimmigrant dependent spouses. USCIS is also rescinding the 2002 Legacy Immigration [...]
Automatic EAD Extension for Nonimmigrant Spouses
Washington, DC – In a historic settlement with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in Shergill, et al. v. Mayorkas, there will be forthcoming changes made to the Employment Authorization Document (EADs) for H-4 and L-2 dependents. The litigation [...]