Immigration Blog

Last year’s October visa bulletin saw significant forward movement in dates, especially for EB-3 India, because of the large number of additional employment-based visas that were left over from the family-based preferences.  However, this year’s October visa bulletin is far less impressive.  See the link below: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-bulletin/2022/visa-bulletin-for-october-2021.html At the start of each fiscal year, USCIS...

Many applicants filing for an H-1B, under the previous administration, had to contend with difficult Requests for Evidence, followed by erroneous denials.  According to the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP), a nonpartisan policy research group, the denial rates for H-1B petitions for initial (new) employment was as follows: 24% in FY 2018; 21% in...

Effective October 1, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will now require all applicants seeking permanent residence to complete the COVID-19 vaccine and provide documentation to the civil surgeon before completing their medical exam. This includes applicants filing for adjustment of status in the US and those applying via consular processing. However,...

For employment-based candidates, switching jobs during the green card process is possible, once the I-485, Supp J has been pending for 180 days, without having to go through the arduous PERM process and I-140 filing. The portability rules allow an applicant to switch jobs once the I-485 has been pending for 180 days as long...

USCIS recently announced it will no longer require F-1 students to bridge the gap.  Previously USCIS had required students who filed a change of status application to F-1, to also file a second application in order to extend their current status.  Therefore, someone who entered in B-2 and wished to change to F-1 was required...

USCIS has now closed its Biometrics Processing Unit (BPU) in Alexandria, VA and therefore it is no longer possible to reschedule your biometrics in writing. If you cannot make your biometrics appointment you will need to call USCIS to reschedule this.  You can contact USCIS by calling the contact center at 800-375-5283, however, you must...

Filing a marriage-based petition is often considered to be one of the easiest and fastest ways for someone to obtain a green card.  However, if an applicant entered the U.S. without inspection, in other words illegally, then it becomes necessary to file a Hardship Waiver.  This turns a relatively straight forward process into a much...

Students on F-1 status need to ensure they maintain status.  A failure to maintain status could result in a violation which could have an impact on their immigration future.  At PLG we often see requests for evidence questioning maintenance of status for F-1 students, who have submitted an H-1B cap petition requesting a change of...