Job Changes May Impact Your Approved I-140
Moving from one employer to another in the best of circumstances can be stressful. For a foreign national who has an approved I-140, however, moving to a new employer – or even just to a new position...
View ArticleU.S. Consulates in India Increase Availability of Visa Appointments
USTraveldocs.com, which handles visa appointment services for U.S. embassies and consulates, has issued a public notice, advising stakeholders of a large, temporary increase in visa appointment...
View ArticleSupreme Court Refuses to Rehear DACA Case
On October 3, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a request by the Obama administration to rehear a case that has halted implementation of the President’s Deferred Action for Parents of Americans...
View ArticleNovember 2016 Visa Bulletin Check-in: Explanations and Predictions
Charles Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division for the U.S. Department of State (DOS), supplies monthly visa bulletin explanations. This month’s update related to the November 2016...
View ArticleNonimmigrant Visa Revocation Update for Those with DUI
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) implemented a policy on November 5, 2015 that requires consular officers to revoke the nonimmigrant visas of individuals arrested for, or convicted of driving under...
View ArticleUSCIS Unveils New Carrier Documentation for LPRs
On September 30, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced the release of form I-131A, a new form that “… allows lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to apply for a travel...
View ArticleTemporary Protected Status Extended for Nationals of Nepal
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has extended the temporary protected status (TPS) designation of Nepal for an additional 18 months, to June 24, 2018. This TPS designation was granted...
View ArticleDHS Adds Nine Airports to Global Entry Program
On October 4, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the addition of nine airports to the Global Entry Program (GEP). The GEP allows the...
View ArticleImportance of End-Client Letters for H1Bs Filed with EVC Model
A large percentage of the H1B petitions filed with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) each year involve employment in the so-called “E-V-C” (employer-vendor-client) model. In...
View ArticleUSICS to Release New “Smart I-9”
Publication of a new employment eligibility verification form (form I-9) is expected on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website by November 22, 2016. Employers are allowed to...
View ArticleMost USCIS Filing Fees to Increase on Dec 23, 2016
On October 24, 2016 the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted a notice in the Federal Register announcing an increase in filing fees for most types of immigration filings. These fee...
View ArticleUnderstanding the Hindu Marriage Act Helpful for U.S. Immigration
Since 2006, couples in India who wed under the Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 are required to register their marriages. Contrary to what many believe, however, under Indian law, a failure to register one’s...
View ArticleDecember 2016 Visa Bulletin: EB2 India Advances to Feb.2008
This afternoon, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the December 2016 Visa Bulletin. In the employment-based, second preference (EB2) category, the cutoff date for India moves ahead by three...
View ArticleImportance of Monitoring the I-94 Expiration Date
For nonimmigrants temporarily in the United States, perhaps the most important date to track is the expiration date of one’s I-94 arrival / departure record. The I-94 record used to be issued in paper...
View ArticleValidity of H1B Visa “Stamp” Following a Change of Employer
In order to enter the United States in H1B status, a foreign national typically must first obtain an H1B visa foil (commonly referred to as a visa “stamp”) from a U.S. consulate or embassy. This visa...
View ArticleUSCIS Guidance on Waivers Based on Extreme Hardship
On October 21, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released the updated version of the extreme hardship policy section of its policy manual. This section guides USCIS...
View ArticleOverview of December 2016 Visa Bulletin
Last week, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) released the December 2016 Visa Bulletin. Once again, there is no change in the dates for filing (DF) chart from the previous month. As for the final...
View ArticleLegal Framework Will Impact President-Elect Trump’s Immigration Policies
Due to his campaign rhetoric vowing to toughen immigration rules and enforcement, many immigrants and nonimmigrants are nervous about how the recent election of Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of...
View ArticleNewsFlash! Advance Copy of final I-140 EAD and More Released!
An advance copy of the final rule, entitled Retention of EB1, EB2, and EB3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers, has been released; it is scheduled to...
View ArticleForeign Language Immersion Schools May Qualify Under Q-1 Cultural Exchange...
On October 24, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum that adopts the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) decision in Matter of R-C-C-S-D- as official...
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