The day has finally come. USCIS has announced the implementation of the electronic registration process for next year’s H-1B lottery, forever changing the landscape of H-1Bs. Instead of preparing and filing completed H-1B petitions and then finding out whether or not that petition was selected in the lottery, employers (or their attorneys) will now electronically[…]
The December 2019 Visa Bulletin was released earlier today. Once again, nothing particularly noteworthy except that the employment-based categories for India continue to see no movement. Commentary: December 2019 For all countries except India, China, Philippines, and Mexico: F2A category priority date remains current, F2B preference advances 31 days to a PD[…]
Today, USCIS continued its unmitigated attack on immigrants and immigration, announcing another proposed rule seeking to greatly limit eligibility for applying for employment authorization. Essentially, those individuals who enter the United States without inspection will be ineligible to apply for employment authorization based on pending asylum applications, except in very limited circumstances. A copy[…]
Poland is the latest country to be designated into the Visa Waiver Program, meaning that, as of November 11, 2019, Polish citizens will be able to apply to travel to the United States for up to 90 days for purposes of business or pleasure without first obtaining a U.S. visa. A small piece of good[…]
USCIS announced that, effective November 29th, the premium processing fee is increasing from $1,410 to $1,440. This is only a $30 increase, but it will be worth monitoring to see whether small fee increases become more frequent. Copied from USCIS: Fee Increase Consistent with the Consumer Price Index Release Date: Oct. 30, 2019 WASHINGTON —[…]
As we all know, significant changes are in store for H-1Bs for FY2020, perhaps the biggest since the implementation of the program. USCIS envisions implementing a registration period where companies will pay a minimal $10 fee and provide information about themselves, the beneficiary they intend to hire, and basic information about the job. USCIS will[…]
USCIS announced today that it was revising the criteria for the Form I-912, which allows applicants to request waivers from filing fee and biometric fee requirements. Previously, the use of mean-tested benefits (such as SNAP and TANF) was used as a factor in considering whether an individual was exempt from paying these fees; the new[…]
After another longer-than-usual wait, the November 2019 Visa Bulletin was finally released yesterday. No particularly noteworthy developments this month. Most categories saw a decent amount of forward movement, with the exception of EB1 India, which remained at its 1 January 2015 priority date. The outlook for that category is not ideal, as it is expected[…]
Today, USCIS released a self-congratulatory statement emphasizing its FY 2019 statistics and accomplishments, particularly in the context of implementing and enforcing Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda. Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli praised the agency’s “significant steps to mitigate loopholes in our asylum system, combat fraudulent claims, and strengthen the protections we have in place.” Of course, those of[…]
Yesterday, USCIS announced that it was clarifying requirements for the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) classification. Mainly, USCIS is now requiring concrete evidence of a court’s intervention to provide relief from abuse, neglect, or abandonment, to ensure that the SIJ classification is not being used as a vehicle to obtain an immigration benefit. Needless to say,[…]