Your resource for all things immigration.
The optional practical training (OPT) program allows students here on an F-1 visa (who have either graduated or been pursuing a degree for 9 months) to work in their chosen field of study for one year. Continue reading “Proposed New Rule May Save the STEM OPT Program”
For the last half a century, the United States and Cuba have been separated by more than just the 247 miles between the Port of Miami and the Puerto de la Habana. Because of the economic embargo in place for much of that time, the two countries have been worlds apart. Continue reading “Bridging the Divide: Cuba Today”
Each month, the Department of State (“DOS”) publishes current immigrant visa availability information in its Visa Bulletin. The Visa Bulletin indicates when statutorily limited visas are available to prospective immigrants based on their individual priority date. Continue reading “USCIS and DOS Attempt to Clarify Increasingly Complex Visa Bulletin Situation”
Since 2010, dependent employers have been required to pay an additional filing fee of $2,000 for certain H-1B petitions and $2,250 for certain L-1A and L-1B petitions. Continue reading “Filing Fees Lowered for H-1B and L-1 Dependent Employers”
Earlier this month, USCIS, in coordination with the Department of State (“DOS”), announced that it was revising the procedures for determining visa availability for applicants waiting to file for employment-based or family-sponsored preference adjustment of status applications. Continue reading “Not So Fast! Department of State Releases Updated Visa Bulletin for October 2015”
Effective September 24, 2015, USCIS will suspend final adjudication of employment-based Adjustment of Status Applications. Continue reading “USCIS Suspends Final Adjudication of Employment-Based Adjustment Applications Until October 1, 2015”
If Congress is unable to arrive at an agreement on the 2016 federal budget, the Federal government may shut down, resulting in the suspension of some immigration services. Continue reading “Government Shutdown Possible: Immigration Delays”
A technical “glitch”, the result of a software update implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) on September 1, 2015, prevented some employers from filing PERM applications later in the month. Continue reading “Technical Problem Affects PERM Filings”
Despite the fact that parts of President Obama’s executive actions on immigration currently are being challenged in court, the administration is moving forward with its promise to modernize our antiquated immigration system. Continue reading “Moving Into the 21st Century”
When I was young, someone once asked me who my sports hero was. Without hesitation, I responded: Roberto Clemente. Considering the fact that no other Puerto Rican athlete had achieved the same level of admiration, respect, and love, the answer was easily accepted. Continue reading “Giving Your All”