November 5, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) has issued critical guidance for employers whose immigration filings were disrupted during the federal government shutdown. From October 1 through October 31, 2025, OFLC ceased all case…
The October 2023 visa bulletin is out and it shows EB3 Final action dates have moved by three years from 1st January 2009 in September 2023, to 1st May 2012 in the October 2023 Visa bulletin. EB2 Final action dates…
During April 8, 2022 USCIS Open Form at AILA’s spring conference USCIS stated its position is that it is not possible to change the basis of a pending I-485 through the interfiling process where the I-140 was approved as an amendment…
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California set aside the DHS interim final rule, Strengthening the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program, and the DOL interim final rule, Strengthening Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Aliens…
USCIS has stated the dates for early filing chart can be used for all employment and family categories, except for family-based F2A (Spouses and children of Permanent Residents) who must use the final action dates chart. As F2A is current…
The Department of Labor (DOL or the Department) is amending regulations governing the issuance of prevailing wages for permanent labor certifications and Labor Condition Applications (LCAs) to increase the wage levels under the Department’s four-tiered wage structure. Level I Wage:…
The U.S. Government can only give out a limited number of Green Cards (or Immigrant Visas or visa numbers) every year: 226,000 for Family-Based immigrants and; 140,000 for Employment-Based immigrants. The law limitshow many can be used for each country and each category. However, there may be additional visas in some fiscal years, as some unused visa numbers from the prior fiscal year can get carried over to the next fiscal year. The U.S.Government uses the Visa Bulletin to keep track of visa numbers and to give you a tool to determine when you can file your case and when your case can be approved. TERMS YOU SHOULD KNOW TO USE DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S (DOS) VISA BULLETIN Priority Date: The “Received Date” of I-130 or I-140 Immigrant Petition at USCIS. (One exception is if your I-140 is based on a Labor Certification, then it’s the LC…
On September 30, 2020 the President signed H.R. 8337, while the law takes effect immediately, the increased fees and expanded availability of premium processing will not take effect until USCIS is able to implement them. The bill: Expands premium processing…
In 1998 before the promulgation of the current PERM regulations, The Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA) issued an en banc decision in FRANCIS KELLOGG, 1994-INA-465 and 544, 1995-INA 68 (BALCA Feb. 2, 1998) (en banc). Kellogg involved three…
With the current downturn in the economy, many employers are pressured to reduce the salary paid to their employees. Reducing the pay of their H-1B employees is tricky due to the obligations of an employer under the H-1B regulations. The…
