Your resource for all things immigration.
On May 12, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will begin premium processing cap-subject H-1B petitions requesting premium processing, including petitions seeking an exemption for individuals with a U.S. master’s degree or higher. Continue reading “Alert: Premium Processing for FY 2017 H-1B Cap Petitions to Begin May 12”
Today, the European Commission met to discuss whether it should continue to allow U.S. and Canadian citizens the privilege of visiting the region without the necessity of a visa. The Commission asked governments and European Union lawmakers to provide recommendations by no later than July 12. Continue reading “EU Threatens to Revoke U.S. and Canada Visa Waivers”
Last week, President Obama authorized the elimination of a ban on Cuban access to the international banking system, which in turn would allow a Cuban national to make a living in the United States without requiring that person to emigrate. As a result, the door now is open for Cuban baseball players to legally play for a Major League Baseball (MLB) club while maintaining a permanent residence in Cuba. Continue reading “Recent Changes to the Trade Embargo May Facilitate Cuban Baseball Players Being Able to Legally Play for MLB Teams”
On April 18, 2016, the United States Supreme Court will be on the verge of deciding an immigration case that could not only have a profound effect on our immigration policy but on the limits of a president’s powers, as well. Continue reading “Immigration Reform: Where are we today?”
On January 23, 2016, Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle of the U.S. District Court for the District of Colombia granted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s motion to extend the stay of the vacatur of the STEM OPT rule from February 12, 2016 to May 10, 2016. This decision is zealously being opposed by the Washington Alliance of Technology Workers. Continue reading “Decision on STEM OPT Program is Delayed Until May 10, 2016”
Given the current global surplus in most commodities like wheat, corn and oil driving down prices and farm income, the emergence of new market that would demand U.S. agribusiness products would be timely and welcome indeed. Continue reading “Cuba: The Next Frontier for Agribusiness Products”
As many have noticed, the processing of H-1B extensions at the California Service Center and Vermont Service Center continue to be extremely slow, and the backlog is causing significant hardships for those affected individuals. Continue reading “USCIS Processing Delays for H-1B Extensions Continue”
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would hear the U.S. Department of Justice’s appeal of the Fifth Circuit’s 2-1 ruling upholding the preliminary injunction issued against President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration. Continue reading “Breaking News: SCOTUS to Hear DOJ’s Appeal of the Fifth Circuit’s Decision in State of Texas v. U.S.”
Traditionally, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) has used the complaint of a single H-1B employee to investigate a company’s entire H-1B program. Following the latest decision from the 8th Circuit, this approach is likely to cease. Continue reading “8TH CIRCUIT DENIES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR”
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is at it again. On November 24, 2015, USCIS published a notice in the Federal Register of proposed changes to the Form I-9. The publication of the notice initiated a 60 day public comment period that will remain open until January 25, 2015. Continue reading “USCIS proposes new changes to Form I-9”