Your resource for all things immigration.
Last month, U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services (USCIS) announced a proposed rule that would allow certain international entrepreneurs to enter the U.S. for a period of up to two years so that they could start or scale their businesses if granting such a stay would provide “significant public benefit through substantial and demonstrated potential for rapid business growth and job creation.” Continue reading “Who is Eligible for Parole Under the International Entrepreneur Rule?”
When President Barack Obama unveiled his Immigration Accountability Executive Actions in 2014, a measure supported by the National Association of Manufacturers, the media was focused on how the current administration’s immigration initiatives would affect the millions of undocumented workers. Continue reading “U.S. Manufacturers Need Immigration Certainty to Grow Economy”
Summer is here, and most business immigration practitioners are breathing a sigh a relief that the H-1B season is over. At the same, however, many are scrambling to find a visa alternative for employers whose H-1B petitions were not chosen. Continue reading “Our Immigration Policy Shouldn’t be Left to Chance”
On May 4, 2016, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) published a notice in the Federal Register for comment in connection with a proposed increase in fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefits. After the required 60 day comment period, USCIS will publish a final rule in the Federal Register with the what the actual filing fees will be. Continue reading “USCIS Proposes Hike in Filing Fees”
On May 2, 2016, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) notified stakeholders and the public that it completed data entry of all fiscal year 2017 H-1B cap-subject petitions selected by its random computer-generated lottery. Continue reading “USCIS Finishes Data Entry of H-1B Cap Subject Petitions”
As a reminder to all U.S. employers, H-1B season is almost here! United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will start accepting new H-1B petitions for fiscal year 2017 on Friday, April 1, 2016. As such, employers should start immediately identifying current and future employees who will require sponsorship for new H-1B petitions. Continue reading “Planning Ahead: H-1Bs for FY2017”
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”
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”
In its continuing effort to increase user-friendliness, USCIS has simplified the process for paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee –currently $165 – online in its electronic immigration system. Continue reading “Payment Process for Immigrant Fees Simplified”
Due to a contempt hearing scheduled for August 19, 2015 in the case of the State of Texas v. United States, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is taking radical measures to recover all three-year Employment Authorization Document (EAD) cards issued prematurely under President Obama’s November 20 executive actions to over 2,500 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) recipients. Continue reading “Knock, Knock: Who’s there?”