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…
SEVIS is administered by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), within ICE, and not by USCIS.SEVP has a website called “Study in the States.” http://studyinthestates.dhs.gov. Universities and sponsors involved in the issuance of F, M, and J visas/status use…
USCIS is amending H-1B regulations. The amendments will go into effect 60 days from October 8, 2020. The Definition of “employer” a person, firm, corporation, company, or other association or organization in the United States which: (1) Engages the beneficiary…
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 Trump administration is expected to expedite the implementation of new H-1B regulations as an Interim Final Rule (IFR), rather than as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). USCIS and DOL Interim Final Rules are expected to substantially modify prevailing…
NOTE: Although the rule was supposed to take effect on October 2, a court in the Northern District of California ruled on September 29 that USCIS cannot implement the new fees or new forms at this time. This could change at…
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…
H-1B applicants: For travel as a public health or healthcare professional, or researcher to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, or to conduct ongoing medical research in an area with a substantial public health benefit (e.g. cancer or communicable disease…
