NewsFlash! EB2 India and China Continue to Advance in June Visa Bulletin
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the June 2015 Visa Bulletin this afternoon. The employment-based, second preference (EB2) category for people born in India and China continues to move...
View ArticleOnline I-94 Information Useful, but Only for Entry / Exit Information
In May 2014, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) made it possible for travelers to access their respective I-94 arrival / departure records. This database provides a person's most recent I-94...
View ArticleImmigration Options for Nepali Nationals Impacted by Earthquakes
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has the discretion to grant special consideration for various immigration benefits during times of natural disaster, civil unrest, or other adverse...
View ArticleJune Visa Bulletin: EB2 India and China Advance
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) June 2015 Visa Bulletin is now available. The employment-based, second preference (EB2) cutoff date for India continues to advance, as does EB2 China. The news is...
View ArticleAnalysis, Predictions, and Trends: EB2 India May Advance Less Than Predicted
Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), offers analysis of visa bulletin trends and predictions for the June 2015 Visa Bulletin, as...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Effective May 26th, Premium Processing Temporarily Suspended for...
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced today that, effective May 26th, the agency "…will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H1B Extension of Stay petitions until...
View ArticleStudents Targeted in Sophisticated SEVIS Fee Scam
Representatives from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are cautioning foreign national students against falling prey to a new,...
View ArticleNewsFlash! USCIS Releases FAQs for H-4 EADs
This afternoon, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released filing guidance and answers to a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the regulation that will allow...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Last-Minute H-4 EAD Reminder and Clarifications
As has been widely publicized, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin to accept applications for employment authorization documents (EADs) from qualifying H-4 spouses on...
View ArticleUSCIS FAQs Address Many H-4 EAD Questions (Part 1)
As expected, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on May 20, 2015, regarding the newly-created H-4 employment authorization document...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Form I-765 Revised for New H-4 EAD Filings
On May 22, 2015, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a revised Application for Employment Authorization (form I-765). This revision includes the changes needed to accommodate...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Aug 19 Deadline for H1B Amendments for Employee Relocation
Employers who are required to file amended H1B petitions due to employee worksite changes must do so by August 19, 2015. USCIS guidance, issued May 21, 2015, interprets H1B amendment requirements in...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Lawsuit to Block H-4 EADs Fails First Court Test
As expected, a federal court has denied a motion for a preliminary injunction filed in an effort to block the new regulation granting qualifying H-4 spouses the ability to apply for employment...
View ArticleFinal Rule Allows F-2 & M-2 Dependents to Study Part Time
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released a final rule that will now make it possible for dependents of F-1 and M-1 students to study in the United States on a limited basis....
View ArticleBIA Decision Brings Uncertainty to Priority Date Retention After I-140...
Many immigration strategies in employment-based cases rely upon the ability to retain the priority date between permanent resident (or, "green card") case filings for the same individual. It is widely...
View ArticleDHS Proposal on EADs for I-140 Beneficiaries, but Rule Change may be Long Way...
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are in the initial stages of proposing important regulatory changes affecting employment-based...
View ArticleUSCIS Sets Aug 19th Deadline to File H1B Amendments for Employee Relocation
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released interim guidance addressing employer obligations for filing amended petitions for H1B workers who have been moved to new worksites....
View ArticleDHS Requests Congress to Modify EB5 Immigrant Investor Program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has asked Congress to make changes to the employment-based, fifth preference (EB5) immigrant investor program. The goal of this request, which was made by...
View ArticleExpect RFEs on I-485s as Cutoff Dates Advance
Foreign nationals with long-pending adjustment of status applications (form I-485) should anticipate being issued requests for evidence (RFEs) as the visa bulletin cutoff date approaches the priority...
View ArticleFAQs Address Many H-4 EAD Questions (Part 2)
As discussed in Part 1 of this article, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finally published answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on May 20, 2015, explaining the new...
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