August 2019 Visa Bulletin Is Out
The Department of State has published the August 2019 Visa Bulletin. Here is a link and our usual commentary to follow shortly. In the meantime, there are two big high[…]
EB-5 Visa Changes On The Horizon- No Time To Lose
EB5 regulations are set to be published in their final form soon. While we don’t know what the final rules will say, the minimum investments are likely to increase. In[…]
Watson Immigration Law’s 10th Anniversary Pro Bono Fest- a Huge Success!
2019 is the 10th anniversary of Watson Immigration Law! We initially wanted to throw a big party in celebration and invite everyone we know. But as we searched the soul[…]
Tahmina Watson Awarded AILA National Presidential Commendation!
The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), a 16,000 strong membership organization, held its annual conference in Orlando, FL last week. At the conference, Tahmina was awarded the President’s Commendation for[…]
USCIS Expands FIRST: A Fully Digital FOIA System
USCIS announced today that it expanding into a fully digital FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) system, becoming the first government agency to do so. As a brief and general overview,[…]
Expect EB-2/EB-3 Worldwide Retrogression In The Coming Months
According to the Department of State, the EB-2 and EB-3 Worldwide categories, which have fortunately remained current for quite some time, may experience retrogression in the coming months. The demand[…]
H-4s No Longer Simultaneously Adjudicated With H-1Bs Due To New I-539 Biometrics Requirement
It has always been the policy of USCIS to simultaneously adjudicate H-1Bs and H-4s filed concurrently. However, the new I-539 biometrics requirement promulgated in March of this year has[…]
U.S. Considering Possible H-1B Quota for Indian Nationals
The U.S. is apparently considering imposing a percentage cap on H-1B visas for nations that force foreign companies to store data locally. It appears that India would be the first[…]
Presidential Memorandum on Enforcing the Legal Responsibilities of Sponsors of Aliens
Yet another reminder to all of our readers of President Trump’s recent memo making it mandatory for state and local agencies to sue I-864 sponsors for all means-tested benefits that[…]
USCIS Aims to Decrease Processing Times for N-400 and I-485
USCIS announced recently a new strategy aimed at reducing processing times for N-400s and I-485s, both of which have nearly doubled in the past several years. The strategy calls[…]