Jan142021
The United States Government can grant the O visa classification to a non-immigrant temporary worker who possesses extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics, or who has a demonstrated record of extraordinary achievement in the motion picture or television industry and has been recognized nationally or internationally for those achievements. The classification...
Jan82021
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is releasing a final rule changing the next lottery for H-1B specialty occupation visas from the current random selection process to one based on an individual’s wages. The final rule is to be published on 01/08/2021 and will be effective 60 days from the date of publication. Per USCIS...
Two federal courts have struck down two government rules designed to reduce the number of visas issued to skilled foreign workers. It is anticipated that a third federal court will follow the same path. The two government rules (one from the Department of Labor and the other from the Department of Homeland security) impose salary...
The Department of Homeland Security (hereafter “DHS” or its agency “USCIS”) proposes significant revisions to the regulations governing the Affidavit of Support (I-864). These proposed revisions published on October 1, 2020, are set to take effect within 30 to 60 days from their publication. What is the Affidavit of Support? The affidavit of support, Form...
On October 8, 2020, the Department of Labor (DOL) has issued an interim final rule (IFR) to incorporate changes to the computation of prevailing wage levels. The wage adjustments will affect the processing of H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 temporary work visas, as well as the permanent labor certification program (PERM) applications. The IFR is effective...
Oct82020
On October 1, 2020, Congress passed a new Bill (Emergency Stopgap USCIS Stabilization Act was included in Division D, Title I of the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2021 and Other Extensions Act) increasing USCIS Premium Processing Fees from $1,440.00 to $2,500.00 for most cases. The good news is that the Bill also expands the immigration petitions...
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published the New H-1B regulation. This appears to be in the effort to restrict legal immigration that has enhanced the American economy for centuries. The rule is an interim final rule (IFR), it is therefore vulnerable to legal challenges in federal court. See article DHS is Taking Final...
The current administration is now taking a big step in its agenda to restrict immigration. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking the final steps for the publication of new H-1B regulation. It is going to be the first time that this administration’s restrictions on H-1B visas will be officially published under a rule....